The Washington times., 1918-10-13


-. Active IN Relief Work Since 1914
der one roof has done away with the dupli-
cation Of effort so prevalent in the opening
months Of the war and has reduced the
overhead to q minimum. There are no
elaborate OFFICES, nor highly paid, ineni-
cient executives to eat up the contribu-
ttons which should properly go to relief
work.
At the same time the work of these two
committees preserves two of the most val
uable assets OF foreign relief work.
The men and women who founded and
maintain these various and widespread
relief organizations are among the most
prominent In social and financial circles,
both here and abroad. Although contribut-
ing largely to the great American relief
organizations, they feel that they do their
best work for the particular form Of relief
which they have themselves evolved for
conditions with which they are personally
IN touch.
And, secondly, and by no means least
important, Is the advantage to be gained
by contributing to foreign countries
through their own well established and re-
sponsible committees. An example Of this
is the work Of the French Heroes Lafay-
ette Memorial Fund through the Secours
de Guerre. This organization is one Of
the best known relief committees in
France. II was founded by the Paris po-
lice in 1914 for the care of penniless and
homeless refugees pouring into the Paris
railroad stations. II has taken over and
rebuilt the Convent of St Sulpice. where
II houses and feeds daily 5000 souls, des-
titute refugee women and children, inca
pacitated soldiers and poilus from the north
Of France, whose families are in Ger
many's hands and who have been given a
few days leave. OF these people 500 are
orphan children. The resources Of France
have been strained to the utmost. Taxa
ton, Victory Loans and the depression in
business caused by the war. have made it
almost impossible for the French to sup
port completely all their own relief work.
The French Heroes Lafayette Memorial
Fund has given considerable financial sup
port to this work The worthiness of the
cause is evidenced by the fact that the
5000 people are fed at the cost Of 80 cents
apiece a day.
The fund has been asked by officials of
the French Government to assist in the
care of orphan children. So many of these
poor and innocent sufferers have poured
into Paris during recent battles. that the
already organized agencies are insufficient
" NoAC lbl bhtAii 20 meet lulS emergency
the French Heroes Fund raised within a
week over 100000 which was instantly
forwarded intact to France That was
only a beginning. The work increases
daily.
The President Of the French Patronage
Committee is NJ. Clemenceau. Prime Min
lister of France; the chairman of the
French Executive Committee is Judge
Walter Berry, president of the American
Chamber Of Commerce in Paris; the treas
urer in France is Ridgely Carter, of
Morgan, HaTjes ct Gle. who is also the
treasurer Of the American Red Cross in
France; while the vice-chairman of the
Executive Committee in Paris is Robert
Woods Bliss, Of the American Embassy.
John Moffat is the executive chairman of
the Fund and conducts its work in Amer
ica from the offices at No. West Forty
fifth street, where is carried on under one
roof and under Mr.. Moffat's direction all
Of the multiple activities centering about
these war relief organizations, and where
for any Of these Funds may
be sent, care OF James A. Blair, Jr., treas
urer of the National Allied Relief Com
mittee