The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-04-29

and exquisite fans. There are all sorts
and conditions of gold and silver Thin
bles, bracelets, chains, 'fobs, cigarette
cases, matchboxes, cuflinoks, studs,
umbrella and cane tops, toilet articles
and coins--the last being ancient,
modern, foreign and domestic ::
Other features are medals of every
! description, and collection of mill
tary buttons. which represented the
personal admiration of many bud.
ding hero for the fair. donor; Onr
young woman tennis champion" has
contributed trophy cups she has won,
while among the presentation cups. is
one inscribed, ITO the Sixth Cavalry
from Well-wishers, on the Eve of the
| War, Chickamauga, April, 1885,
The uses of the Fund have varied
/ from, time to time as the program Of
the War Department has developed.
At the outset, before the $3.50, 900, 900
! appropriation for the Air Service was
made by congress, the committees
energies were directed toward train
ing and equipping aviators, in cooper.
; alton with the Aero club of America.
Through these activities the first prac-
teal impetus was given to our new
flying force, and working nucleus
| formed, which was afterward taken
over. by the government. -.
When the volunteer naval aviators
he"an training at Bayshore, L.. !. they
had no hospital, something which was
prime necessity, as the men were
constantly suffering injuries and find
ing that their provision for first aid
was most inadequate.
This need was reported to Mrs.
bartlett, chairman Of the Aviation
Committee, and in less than a week
| work was begun on a hospital whose
every dollar of cost was supplied oy
the treasure and trinket fund.
During the fist six months of its
existence the fund has amounted to
nearly $4,000, most of it coming
from unused or cast-off articles. This
has been expended according to tie
call of the day, the hour or the mo-
ment, as conditions change. There
have been distributed thousands OF
knitted garments-scarfs, helmets,
socks, wristlets, sweaters addl-
ton to the costly equipment of the
aerial soldier and sailor, which COM
prises leather flying coats and breech-
es or one.piece leather suits, g:oves.
goggles and other provisions for his
comfort and safety while in the air,
where the thermometer falls as he
rises. ...-...,
Now that the government signal
corps has undertaken. to supply flying
equipment, the present demands are
varied. Every man going across needs
lat least one heavy army blanket and a
Penn roll, the latter serving as
portable, waterproof bed, most COM
forting on the ocean trip and, word
comes from the other side, also in
= rance, where the nights are cold. An
aviator, coming up from the Mexican
border, finds that his trunk, contain
ing his wearing apparel, including uni.
forms, has gone astray; his monthly
pay is not yet due; he is stranger
in New York, and-he sails tonight!
Fortune directs him to the treasure
and trinket stronghold, and he is sent
forth with enough warm clothing to
prevent pneumonia on the voyage.
The calls upon the officer-aviator's
pay are many-so many that it some
times seems to melt away, for the list
includes his personal equipment; uni
forms; food, no small item nowadays:
wife or other dependents to provide
for; insurance. and otter heavy toll
for Liberty Bonds; subscribed to with
youthful enthusiasm and desire to
aid his Uncle Samuel.
The Aviation Committee has large
and far.reaching plans for the imne>
date and the distant future, and how
thoroughly they are carried out must,
of necessity, depend upon the Ameri-
can public.
High endorsement of the commit
tees work is contained in letter
from the Acting Secretary of War
urging that this useful and patriotic
service should be generously helped
by our people"