The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-06-26
KNITTING PLAN PERFECTED

Work for Chapters in Supplying Ar
ticles for Destitute Women ana
Children Abroad.
Plans have been completed for 1
new knitting program to be carried
out by the Red Cross chapters of thu
land in behalf of the destitute il
European countries. Details and in
structions have been sent from Divi.
sion Headquarters with respect to the
issuance of yarn in hand to be made
into stocking, sweaters and mufflers
for children, and shawls for women
1t is urged that every energy be bent
to speed up production as the need
for such articles abroad is very great.
Details for the program in question
have been given exhaustive considera-
tion at headquarters, with view to
harmonizing the after-war situation at
home with the urgent need stated in
the cables that have been received
from the commissions in Europe. One
of the recent cables on the subject
stated that unlimited use can be made
of children's stockings and strongly
recommended that the yarn available
when the knitting of garments for our
soldiers ceased, be utilized with as
little delay as possible for knitting
them for the benefit Of destitute chill
dren in adj parts Of the world.
Another of the many cablegrams
describing needs with respect to refu-
gees declared that distress through
out the world daily presents picture
of greater despair. The situation was
such, it was stated, that the American
Red Cross organization in Europe
could not hope to cope with it ade-
quately with the resources at their
command. AS heretofore indicated
the most that the Red Cross can pos
sibly hope to contribute is supplement
taIy emergency aid to the govern
mental programs that are being map
ped out. One of the most effective
forms this emergency aid can take, IL
has been pointed out, is in
the furnishing of garments for refu-
gees which are needed in unlimited
quantities.
Refugees all over the world, who
nave been driven from their homes by
he varying forces of war, have been
Tor several years in rags or with prac-
.ically no clothes at all. Pitiable
stories have been flashed across the
ocean about thousands upon thousands
If children who are barefooted and
while snow and ice are up
m the ground. In many countries,
wen if articles such as are in demand
ould be manufactured and paid for,
he matrial to make them is totally
acking. In all of these countries,
however, the American Red Cross has
and is prepared to make
distribution. "The need" says one
''is great TO a degree
which few at home can possibly rea
ize. Every article furnished will give
Warmth to a body which otherwise
would lack proper clothing, and each
will actually prevent suffer
ng."
There seem to be no territorial lin
Is within the whole vast area of the
ecent theaters of war marking the
equirements for articles such as the
led Cross Chapters in America will
e able to supply. Northern France,
'elgium, Italy, Rumania, Serbia,
'reece, Montenegro, Palestine, Al
ania, Poland---all these and other
Duntries have their refugee problems
terrifying proportions; and the
sfugee problem invariably involves
Ick Of proper clothing.
How many Manchester women who
i'll enjoy safe, warm, comfortable
omes next winter will see that one .
these poor, barefooted little ones is /
rovided with two pairs Of warm q
ockings and sweater? Some Of
iem need to be very small for at the
ed Cross meeting in Bennington last .
eek Mr.. Smith stated that the weight
five year old children in Poland 8
'erage 20 pounds! He also stated
at in Petrograd ther are no children
ider two years Of age! Can we with 8
I'D our help7 II