Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-01-26

The Red Cross Christmas Membership
Drive was followed, in England, with the
keeaest interest. Henry p. Dawson,
chairman Of the Red Cross War Council,
has just received the following cablegram
from London:
astonishing success Campaign Mem
bership as announced in London press
reused greatest enthusiasm London Chap
ter. Warmest congratulations on result
of your efforts"
CHEER AND CHOCOLATE.
With over half her civil population
gone, and with 10000 more dependent
upon charity for existence. Venice had
sober Christmas, contrasting strangely
with the gay scenes of other years Over
700 people stood in line for their Christmas
dinner at soup kitchen taken over and
operated for the American Red Cross by
Consul B. Harvey Carroll.
Perhaps loneliest of all was the lot OF the
wounded soldiers and sailors in the Ven
etian hospitals, now cut off entirely from
relatives and friends. Last year they
all had Christmas packets from home;
this year there would have been nothing
for anyone, had not Consul Carroll
arranged for an American Red Cross
Packet for $50 men In Ospdale Bauer,
originally naval hospital, and now adapt
ed for the use of soldiers who come IN
wounded from the front. Each packet
contained one box OF cigarettes, and
package Of simple cream candy with
almonds. called Torrone, and much
priced by the soldiers. These were dis
tributed through Miss Constance Fletcher
an English woman, and the only Red
Gross nurse at the hospital.
Miss Fletcher tells the following story.
illustrative of why Consul Carroll puts
candy packets along with bandages,
surgical dressings and hypodermic needles
among the urgent supplies he is drawing
upon the Red Cross for;
Recently a soldier was brought in
suffering from % shrapnel wounds. He
WAS absolutely helpless. His suffering
WAS intensified because he could not be
placed in position which would ease his
pain. After the poor fellow was bandag-
ed up, sat beside him, not knowing what
TO do or say. Then found in my pocket
caramel and slipped it into his mouth.
The room was nearly dark, and he lay there
with the sweet inShis mouth until it was
all gone, and then whispered These other
fellows don't know what good time we
are having.
JUNIOR RED CROSS.
The Junior Red Gross Membership is
the only recogn zed agency for war relief
in the schools of Massachusetts,, according
TO the decision of the Advisory Committee
of School Superintendents, called by DR..
Payson Smith, State Commissioner of
Education, TO consider the eighty organ
izstions for war relief that have asked
help from the Massachusetts schools.
In letter sent to a'lschool superintendent
IN the state, recommending the organ +
ization of School Auxiliaries the Advisory |
Committee says:
'The Red Cross, bearing government !
endorsement with established inter
national rights and providing for every /
phase of civilian and war relief, seems to !
furnish most logically the means Of .
including in one organization all activities
OF this kind.
'In connection with he junior organ !
ization. it appears that much latitude is !
allowed in the way funds may be secured, j
IN the kinds OF work to be undertaken ,
and in the disposition either OF funds or !
of material This feMbility leaves con- !
siderably in the hands of school committee