The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-07
RED CROSS PLANS
| EXTENSIVE DRIVE
Sixteen Thousand Graduate Nurses
Enrolled and Others Needed for
Active Service.
NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDS
Stations, Dispcnsarics, Military and
Base Hospitals Esta biished through
out France-2O, 900 French Chill
dren Protected.

The state council of defense gave
out New Year story yesterday show
| ing in some detail how the American
people are facing the beginning of
the year from the point of view of
war relief. The statement liz in part
as follows:
The Red Cross begins its work for
1918 with a huge roll of new mem
bers. Appropriations already made
have used up nearly half of the one
hundred million dollar war fund sub
scribed last summer. A drive for a
second fund win have to be made
this spring.
Sixteen thousand graduate nurses
are enrolled with the Red Cross AL
ready 1871 OF these nurses are in
France. AIS more are at work in
the cansonments and stations over
here. Those selected and organized
for service with the military forces
but not yet modified number 2.s4s
This gives "a total of e.ss2 Red Gross
nurses in active service.
1t liz estimated that. 1000 Of the
$4,000 trained nurses OF the country
Will be needed by the end of next
year. The grey clad army nurse is
the best symbol OF tbs work of the
Red Cross. But the society has shown
people other ways of doing their BIT
besides nursing
American women are making in
Red Cross work rooms and in their
homes surgical dressings. knit goods
hospital garments, and comfort kits
to an estimated value for the year Of
s3s. 400 900.
The surgical dressings go to every
ship in the navy and to 1000 war
HASN'T "a in hahIFI N FRA
The Red Cross has promised to ship
TO France 10000 dressings month
for the next six months.
More than 100000 worth of
yarn has been purchased or ordered
for the Red Cross. to be knitted into
sweaters and mufiiers. This great
volume Of volunteer production In
America supports a huge distribut-
ing establishment In France.
Four hundred men In the trans
portation department there 2re hand
ling $50 tons Of supplies A day. A
warehouse personnel Of 1873 operates
a storage capacity OF 100000 tons.
More than 400 motor cars. most OF
them heavy trucks. are in service.
Not fer from one hundred Red
Cross canteens and rest stations have
been established 1T the front. in
Paris, and at important railway CEN
tiers. over 10000 French children
are being cared for by the society. At
Evien. near the swiss border. is
great American hospital for children
that are being repatriated from points
behind the German lines
+ Five large military hospitals.
great tuberculosis hospitai near Paris,
and twenty civilian dispensaries in the
American army zone are being op-
Grated Fifty base hospitals have
been organized In America by the
Red Crosse. More than dozen of
them have aIreadv been sent 10
France, Each unit WAS planned tn
take care OF 500 beds. but several OF
those in service have been INCREASED
to twice or four times the unit size.
Forty-five ambulance companies a
total of $3.50 men, have been raised
by Red Cross chapters and mustered
into the army Sledicai service. The
year 1918 starts off under the dark
est war cloud that has ever overhuns
the land But never was Il war cloud
provided with more respondent
lining of silver than the American Red
Cross society the entire nation,
modified for charity--ts setting
against the darkness OF the present
hour.