The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-26

in charge of the Fargo Red Cross
branch headquarters, and now Red
Cross field secretary for the South
eastern district Of North Dakota,
calls attention to many points OF
importance in the following timely
article on Woman's Contribution TO
Red Cross Work:
In this crisis of a great world
war. the work of women is of vital
Importance. 1t is our task to convert
cold metal coin and green bank notes
into warm and suitable garments
and surgical dressings for the wound
ed and sick. Added to this has come
the call for us to prepare garments
| for the refugees and the repatriates
| of Belgium and France. who are now
absolutely destitute and who would
perish without the care and assist
ance which is being provided them
| by the Red Cross organization.
| Everywhere throughout the country
women have responded to the call
and are still responding in increased
numbers and with increased eff1cl-
ency. We have learned and must
still learn many lessons from this
war and from our part in it, lessons
of exactness, promptness, thrift and
efficiency.
Maximum Quality Urged.
Major Grayson NJ. p. Murphy who
was at the head of Red Cross work in
France for six months, has said tnat
transportation is the great problem
of the war. that it is in fact the
greatest problem that confronts us.
We have therefore learned that we
must prepare only such garments as
are absolutely needed and can be
Immediately utilized, and that we
must make them Of maximum quality
and with maximum workmanship, In
order that the greatest possible good
to the greatest number may be ac-
complished by using the least posi-
BILE space in transportation. The time
has long since gone by when we could
say that any article would be &C
ceptable, or that any garment would
be gladly received. We now know
that on account of the lack Of fuel in
France, and the consequent scarcity
Of hot water. that the washing must
be done in streams and the garments
pounded out on stones. Only the best
Of fabrics, of the greatest durability,
made in the strongest way can stand
this test and we. women Of the Uni
ted States resent the thought that
our boys, our soldiers either in Amer
lea or France, are in any sense OBJ
jects of charity, the recipients OF
makeshift garments. We feel that
1t is our duty and privilege to OUTFIT
them for the great and terrible I'M
dertaking in which they are en-
gagged, in the best and most com
plete manner possible. Nothing but
the best should be given them. 1t
seems almost unnecessary to say |
that it would be a wicked waste Of ,
valuable space to send into France |
any article that could not be inn |
and continuously utilized. |
Under these circumstances the A. r., |
G. Ieaflet No. 500 on War Relief |
perfect article is Of more value to |
the Red Cross and to the child who |
makes IT., than twenty imperfect |
ones" This is equally applicable to |
the work Of women. A garment that |
can be washed and repeatedly used !
is the equivalent OF twenty garments
that would go to pieces in the first
and it has the added merit
Of requiring only one-twentieth of
the space in transportation. Hence
we are insisting in our work upon
care in every detail, that the but
tons and tapes may be securely fas-
tened and all seams and edges we'll
turned in and secured.
Saving OF Material.
I'm line with the conservation de-
nanded Of our people in every line
Of consumption, we are also demand
ng the greatest saving Of material in
the cutting of our garments. The
patterns and cutting guides devised
BY Mrs. Viles, Of the Northern divis-
on, have been productive Of a won
ierful saving Of material. BY the
Use Of these patterns 1t is estimated
hat a saving Of 33h yards is effect
ID in the making Of a dozen sets OF
BAHAMAS, cOnvalescent gowns, hos
oital bed shirts, and operating gowns.
AN improved system OF folding ,
md packing has been worked out at
Northern Division headquarters. so !
hat the greatest economy Of space is
Effected in the shipping of goods. !
In order that no unnecessary gar {
nent may be made and sent, two
woman representatives Of the Amer
can Red Cross were sent to France
n the summer, and they have studied
he situation carefully and have re-
'orted upon the articles to be made !
nd the specifications for these gar
nents. One woman is kept continu- &
lily in France studying, these prob
ems, and any special needs or any
hanges in these garments thought }