Douglas Island news., 1918-05-24
RED CROSS WORK
In War Stricken France, as Told by Delegate Who Is Helping to
 Receive Them
OF REPATRIATION

A phase of tho Red Cross work In France Of which little ls know here ,causc there is SO much Go tell of tho horrors of tho war is tho repatriation of the women and children and old men who arc re- ! turning Co their homes from back of Che German lines In letter from somewhere in France" which is printed in Che Detroit Free Press. Irving Clark, of Grand Rapids. Mich. writes to a friend In Ann Ar bor:
 "You know ! was sent down Tore Co assist iu receiving tao fruncI sr. patriatos from French territory back Of the German lines. who are being sont back now by thc Germans. ga they won't be eating German food. rhoy are mostly old people and woe mon and children. We helped to receive one convoy of four hundred in an adjoining department he Nantes-Pyronecs, for which also ] nm Che Red Cross delegate.
 We shipped one hundred toms of .oal there for these people, and it lrrivcd the day before they did. lf you could sec Che women and chil- dreu who live there, carrying heavy loads of wood on their backs from forest two miles away, you would appreciate how welcome this Amer ican fuel was. We had a half-ton for each family and distributed it by means Of cards, on which was printed. "Gift of tho American Red Cross. We had a big supply Of clothing on hand too. and whom they arrived in the station we had hot drinks served. Have also organ lzcd vegetablc-gardens In which they can work. the Red Cross providing the tools and seed.
 "Our great effort, however. Is to get them established in decent lodg lngs. where they can lead a normal family life. Just now ! am prcpar- Ing Co receive convoy here. The French committee with which [ cooperate is hunting up lodgings. The local government will pay Che first months rent, and my job Is to set tho furniture. Am having Che necessary things made here. and WIG win sell them on small monthly payments at 70 per cent of their cost
 eve give to those who can moi pay. and through the French ou-
 horitics at Evian. who examine these people when they come thru yo know who can pay and who car not. Am having beds made with -olding beds and boadpiccc. so as Go. bc easily transported Co their homes lttor thc war. We provide beds and bedding. kitchen tables. bu0cts hairs and stoves. This plan of soll- Ing furniture has been tried over a period of two years by thc English Society Of Friends at Troycs, and has been found thoroughly practical and satisfactory. spent a week there studying their methods before 'oming down here.
 "Thc profect Of this department has appointed me to the official dc. 1artment commission for relief Of refugees, and am also a member 1t tho scmi-oniclol voluntary com- nittcc engaged in Che same work. md composed largely of wealthy refugees from Rclms. Soissons otc. Thus | am working in close coorcrG lion with an French relief agencies md incidentally Itahovs Che con0- dcnco Of French officers and indie wduals in Che Red Cross. 10 was in response Co @ direct request from Inc rrcnch Minister of the Interior that wc decided Co concentrate our ef- forts on aiding these repatriotcs. who are now arriving daily from Germany at tho rate Of 7O0o @ week.
 "Thc simple fact of thc presence of a Red Cross delegate in com- rrritv stimulates official and nri- vato effort. and perhaps that is thc greatest service we render"