New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-11-20

government furnishes the material di-
rect to the Red Cross division which
apportions it to the chapters to be
made up.
From this change naturally fol-
lowed the purchase of our garment
material all cut SO that our cutting
department has become an assembling
place only, with greatly increased
capacity for turning out product.
''Our practice Of giving a knitted
outfit to each new soldier as he left
for camp has also been abandoned by
direction of headquarters, who find it
more practical to equip the men at
their training camp through the Red
Cross field director.
''In all these changes you will note
a determined effort on the part of the
organization to meet conditions
frankly and to increase production.
The untiring band Of women who are
meeting these conditions in our work.
rooms will think I have done scant
Justice to the subject of changes,
but I could not begin to enumerate
the changes in details, orders and
directions to which they have uub-
mitted with extreme good nature.
I'VE have also broadened, increased
our scope and added new departm ents.
Here, again, the wonderful organiza-
ton of the American Red Cross should
have all the credit, for our chapter
has but followed out the directions as
best it could of our divisional head.
Other Branches of Activity.
In common with all other chapters
we formed last November a home
service department of civilian relief.
This was a new and difficult under
taking. The war bureau was already
working committee appointed by the
mayor with a clerk paid by the city.
with certain funds at it's disposal
and with a sub-comm ittee on relief
dealing with the very problems that
tho home service program covered.
I'VE have a committee on first aid.
and some classes in home nursing
were held last winter, though there
has not been the call here for this in
struction that should have been. We
held campaign for the enrolment Of
nurses for overseas duty last June
and enrolled nine, with eigh for home
defense. We have now just completed
the government QUESTIONABLE and
card catalog for nurses of all grades.
Another activity that we have I'M
dertalken is the collection Of used
clothing for the Belgians and French.
We have shipped eight large boxes
through the Duryea Relief in the
course of the year. We sent twenty
one in the spring through the Red
Cross, and have just completed the
shipment of $4,000 pounds that was
all collected October in whirlwind
campaign.
1--WE have a conservation commit
tee collecting material needed by the
government, and another committee
on personnel seeking people for Red
Cross service overseas and helping
them to prepare their papers. IA num-
Der of recruits have enlisted for this
service and several are now awaiting
their summons; one from New Britain
has SO far seen foreign service in the
Red Cross and two others are on their
way.
Finally. we have a big committee
handling the shipment of soldiers
Christmas packages in the post office
Women Aid Greatly.
Our regular and most important
work I have not yet mentioned. Day In
and day out, the year through, the
women Of New Britain have been sew
ing, knitting and making dressings for
the hospitals. until the figures are
quite astonishing.
The people OF New Britain have
supported the Red Cross loyalty, not
alone In the work as shown by the
output just referred to, not alone In
the great spring money drive, but by
a series of gifts direct to our chap
ter, the result, At entertainments too