The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-17
BELG|ANS IN NEED
OF WINTER CLOTHES
Red Cross VIII Conduct Clothes Drive
Next Week--Givc Good Old
Clothing.

Especial to The Richmond Virginian.)
Washington. Sept 1s.--Ten million
men. women and children in the oc-
cupfed parts of Belgium and France
again look to the American people to
provide them with clothing to get
through the coming winter. On the
success of the second clothing drive
which the American Red Cross, at
the request of the Belgian relief COM
mission, will launch on September %
and continue for one week, depends
whether these sorely-tried people are
to have enough covering for their
poorly nourished bodies during the
cold weather
Five thousand tons of clothing is
the minimum amount the Red Cross
hopes to ship to these people as a
result of this drive. An equal amount
was collected in the clothing cam
paign last March. and for some time
past has been in the process of dis
tribution in Belgium and Northern
France, but at least as much more is
needed according to Herbert c,
Hoover, chairman OF the commission
for the relief of Belgium. In an APP
peal to the American people for
hearty response TO this worthy call.
Henry F. Dawson, chairman of the
Ndt COuHCli ol tne american ikeu
Cross, says in part:
Back OF the German wall that for
four years has hemmed IN brave lit
tie Belgium and her neighbors in
Northern France, 10, 10000 human
beings look to us for clothing as we'll
as food. Even the well-to-do lack
necessities and the poor are in the
direst need All stocks of clothing
and raw material have long since been
~. a l. u
lmercial imports since the first devasta
ton of the country. The quantity of
materials that the commission for re-
lief has been permitted to import for
manufacture into clothing has never
been sufficient, and now the world is
short both OF clothing and raw ma
terial. We cannot purchase what is
needed.
: But you can give II.
Every household in the land has
Isonfe spare clothing, worn or out
grown, OF little value here. but des-
perately needed by the destitute there.
They have been reduced to fashion
ing garments from -four sacks, old
blankets, sheets, and tablecloths,
which have now almost disappeared.
and shoes from scraps of carpet and
jute sacks. To-day 1t costs eight dol
liars to have a pair Of shoes resoled.
: or DfuilnR, SdtkS StuIeh WIN WI y
LEAVES or moss serve as mattresses.
Everywhere the need for blankets Is
tremendous. Hospitals and other In
stitutions- suffer for want of sheets. In
some places whole families sleep to-
gether to share n single blanket
ITO relieve a plucky and long II
fering nation we must open up our
stores OF partly used clothing. Ths
value of these supplies is inestimah|e.
Your unused garments will clothe our
oppressed allies as human beings
should be clothed. save them from
suffering, disease and death by pro-
tecting them against the cold and raw
winters of Mort ern Europe
Garments of every kind, for both
sexeS. and all ages. are needed. ac-
cordine 10 the appeal Also piece
goods which can b. made into sheets,
blankets. and baby clothes, Only gar
jments of Strong materials viii ne &C
icepted Apparel OF h.msJ m atertal or
fancy clothing will not be taken,
Prospective donors are reminded 1t
will not be necessary TO mend the gar
ments as the repair work will give
employment to the thousands OF de-
stitute women in the occupied regions.
Collections will be made through the
'chapters Of the Red Cross The drive
will be from Monday to Monday IN
elusive