The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-07-12
ALL CHAPTERS MUST
EXPECT CHANGE
Of ORDERS
Emergencies Must Be Met
And War Conditions
Now Prevail
A Letter to the Chapters.

A Letter to the Chapters.
In letter received from DR.. Sna-
vely, Director of theBureau of Devel-
opment, much of interest to the va
rious Branches is set forth
On account of it's length only a
few extracts can be given now.
| "The women of the country thru
the RED CROSS are producing enor-
NOUS quantities of Surgical Dres-
sings, Hospital and Refugee Gar
ments, and other useful articles. . = &
There is paparently no limit to the
generosity and devotion of these
RED CROSS workers. 3 80
The RED CROSS today is one Of
the greatest manufacturing enter
prises of the world, and the wise di-
rection of this energyand enthusiasm
presents many serious problems.
We want every RED CROSS worker
to understand the situation as it
gradually develops so that we may
have that cooperation on the part Of
every one that goes with true un-
derstanding of RED CROSS aims
and purposes. =
| 1t was not humanely possible at
the outset to make any dependable
estimates of the quantities and rel
ative proportions in which the various
kinds of articles should be produced
The difficulty of making esti-
mates must be obvious to all.
1t required time and opportunity
to study the situation.
Thus far we have been able to
meet all demands, and at the same
time do anothe big thing.
This is the creation of great stock
of necessary articles so that emergen-
cies, and emergencies are the rule of
war, might find us ready.
Every thing produced is of posit-
i've value, it seems impossible ever to
figure on having too much.
If there was no limit to the a
mount of raw material available IN
the country, and the shipping space
which might be used to transport the
completed articles to the point OF
need, the policy of almost unlimited
production might be justified. But
there is limit and so it is not only
wise but necessary that we put the
entire production as rapidly as pos
sible. on a basis of our best estimates
of our most urgent needs, so that
while we care for the RED CROSS
requirements adequately, we may at
the same time be conserving the re-
sources and transportation facilities
now so sorely tried. * =
''The Situation Today" Surgical
Dressings
The rate at which Surgical Dres-
sings have been produced has been
constantly increasing and is now at
point higher than our estimates lndl-
cate as necessary for some months to
come. This rapidly increasing produc-
ton has strained the capacity of the
manufacturers of raw materials to
such extent that there has been Sc
rious difficulty in securing sufficient
gauze and other materians used IN
making dressings.
"Our Department of supplies IS
working in close cooperation with
the Government to see that regular
quantities of these materials are Sc
cnred for RED CROSS work. All
necessary orders have been placed
with the manufacturers, with every
help that can be given the situation
bv Government priorities. For a
while there will still be delay IN
getting the material into some parts
of the country.
"If the Chapters will take steps to
limit their production of Dressings
to the exact kind and quantities spec
;ficallv called for by the DIVISION
thew NAV feel assured that the situa-
jtion is being we'll cared for. This
does not mean however, that any
women who are willing to work need
bo idle because of lack Of opportunl-
tv There is urgent need for other
Linds Of RED CROSS work, as will
be seen by the statement that follows
Hospital Garments, Refugee Car
ment.. Comfort Kits, Knitted Goods $
"For months past careful studies
have been in progress, not only by
our commission abroad, but by our
IDenartment in this country, working
lin close cooperation with the Army