The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-07
100000 RAISED
FOR ALLIED RELIEF
National Committee Makes Public Its
Annual Report, Showing vast
and Enormous Work.
CONTRIBUTED By PUBLIC
Amount Was Given in Small sums as
Result of Special Appeals-fsaised
at "a Cost of About IL Cents on the
One Dollar.

Having raised with it's associated
committees. more than $l0,0o0,0O0
since it's inception in 1915. the Ma
tional Allied Relief Committee, Inc
through its oficers-Edwin q. Mer-
riIl. vice president of the Central
Union Trust company, chairman, ana
John Moffatt, vice chairmau-has just
made public its annual report
This vast sum, contributed by the
public throughout the United states
has been chiefly given in small sums
az the result OF special appeals for
the various committees associated
with II. In the early part OF this year
the committee was Incorporated I'M
der the laws of the state of New ork
relating to charitable associations,
and took over the activities in America
of the Committee Of Mercy League
of the Allies, the Wynne- Beavn am
bulance, formerly the Italian War Re
lief committee, Bien Etre du Biesse,
the Committee for the Relief OF the
Belgian Prisoners in Germany and the
Charities of the Queen of the BelglanS'
the motor transport volunteers, High
land Regiments fund Belgian Refu-
gee fund. American Womens War
Relief fund, Imperial Association for
Disa bled Naval and Military oiflcers-
Allied Home for Munition WORKERS
A special committee was also appoint
ed TO take charge Of appeals for the
Millicent Sutherland ambulance.
All the money which has been
raised has been at cost not exceed
ing ii cents on the dollar. but lately
through special efforts, the cost ~
rising funds has been reduced TO be
low cents on the dollar Since Jan
~ Cf 24Eg 4,A has bee n
raised for the National Allied Relief
committee.
The report prepared by Mr. Mer-
rjH. after reciting these facts, states
After the United States entered the
war in April, 1917. and particularly
after the president appointed war
council for the American National
Red Cross to adapt that organization
TO the tremendously increased oppor-
tunitles for service, II became evident
that there was no longer need for
many Of the committees that had been
organized TO raise money for the relief
of the allies. The great success OF
the first Red Cross drive for $500
100000 in June, 1877, made it clear
that the American people were awake
10 the needs for money in large
amounts to alleviate distress and suf-
fering.
The members of the National
Allied Relief committee realized the
situation and took steps to adapt its
work TO the new conditions During
the summer of 1917 one appeal on
behalf of the sufferers in that part Of
France which had then been recently
evacuated by the Germans, brought in
about 500 0o0. thereby showing that
many contributors were sttll glad To
have an opportunity to give money for
SPECIFIC purposes, but It was evident
that the time had come to eliminate
a great many of the money raising
com mittees in order to concentrate
ail efforts upon the larger needs
The extraordinary results achieved
by the American Red Cross in its
second great drive which has pro-
duced nearly sl70,000, 900 for general
relief purposes makes the figures OF
the National Allied Relief committee
seem very small The needs of the
suffering world are. however, so great
that there stIli seems to be a place for
This committee, particularly in thi,
case where the work of the Nationa
Allied Relief committee does not con
fiict in any way with the work of the
larger organizations, The officers anC
directors OF the committee expect Il
. AlSS GltHtS iDT pun poses anu ItS0!
supplementary to the activities of the
American Red Cross, and in no sense
in competition herewith. There are
many desirable relief organizations il
France and elsewhere which do no
at present seem to fail within tht
scope of the Red Cross. and the polio,
of the National Allied Relief com
mIttee viii be TO send out its Appeals
for purposes of this kind as il ha
been doing for some months past
The committee does not expect to ash
( fer money for general relief purposes
as the Red Cross is now amply able I,
lake care of the larger relief problem
, in a most efficient way.
The National Allied Relief com
mittee has not entered into any agree
men of cooperation with the Ameri
can Red Cross. but in tire rcorganiza
ton of the committee its officers hav
been in close touch with the commit
tee on cooperation between the Re-
Cross and other societies. of which
! MIR. c. A Coffin, of New York. is chair
man. We are confident that our en-
deavor to simplify existing condition
among outside relief organization
met with thl entire a""-0Nai of tina
committee and we sinai "ndeavor L
make the future activities OF our com
mittee acceptable to them and no