The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-09-24
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER "a, 1918.
CAN YOU RESIST THIS APPEAL?

The Red Cross drive for 5000 tons of nee
essary clothing for Belgium started yesterday
and will continue during this week, ending Mon
day September 30th
At the request of Herbert Hoover chairman
Of the Commission for Relief in BELGIUM, the
Red Cross has undertaken to gather from the
American people supply of garments that will
keep the population of Belgium from what Mr..
Hoover, in cable to Henry P. Dawson, calls
threatened Shame, suffering disease and IN
some cases DEATH America alone, the cable
continues, is able to see these people through
the winter in ''decency and safety"
Yesterday every chapter of every division,
covering the whole United States. started an
intensive drive to which every single household
in the country is asked to contribute something
in the way Of old clothes and necessary house
hold articles.
Few Americans realize that it is through this
channel alone that people of Belgium can obtain
the absolute necessities of wearing apparel to
cover their bodies. Not only the poorer classes,
but people of every position and estate are in
such destituton as the American mind can
scarcely conceive. All stocks of clothing and
raw material that were in Belgium at the out
There are absolutely NO imports except those
which the Commission for Relief in Belgium
has been permitted to make and these naturally
have never been sufficient for the people of the
entire people. There is a world shortage of cloth
ing and raw material, so that even the limited
purchases that the Commission has previously
made are no longer possible But one relief re-
mains for Begiun-what the rest of the worlG
GIVES-what individuals give from their owr
wardrobes. Of the rest of the world America
is the most able, the best equipped for such
giving.
The following extract from letter, writer
recently to an American by a Belgium woman
OF position clearly indicates the dire straits OF
the country:
Perhaps you will laugh the letter
reads when you hear that I wear cloak
made from my husbands garde civique
overcoat, waist made from his football
shirt, and skirt evolved from dyed bed
sheet. Mother had a suit made out of a
tablecloth, J. and NJ have cloaks made of
Woolen blankets and S. dress of burlap
But all this is only amusing in comparison
with the wretchedness of the population
Still when all is said and done we remain
calm and confident of victory"
When woman who, until four years age
was used to every luxury of life, every comfor
that wealth and position in society ordinaril
nsures, when such a woman can write poldngl
Of wearing burlap frocks and her husbands cas-
off shirt and call it Amusing" the while sh
declares that she and the people Of her countr
are "calm and confident Of victory it seem
little enough that Americans, every one, Shout
send of their abundance to so hard-pressed an
dauntless people.
Every American family has something t
give. Every Martinsburg family can spare
dress or@.S coat or some bed covering An,
ching that can supply the ordinary daily neec
81 a people without clothes, or the means to d
tain clothes of their own effort, is needle
Don't send evening frocks, top hats, stiff Ia
Of any sort-men's women's; don't SCI