The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-03-27
RED CROSS NOTES
Clothes VIII Be Received All Week
and Next Monday at the Middle
kauff Building

Distress among the refugees of the
countries occupied by German armies
on account of lack of clothing, shoes
and bedding has grown beyond the
capacity of their governments to con-
troll it, and the American Red Cross
has been requested to furnish relief
to the suffering people. To accomp-
lish this a clothing-collection cam
paign in the United States has been
arranged for the week of March %
81 to provide 10000 tons of personal
furnishings, 1000 tons of which must
be raised by the Southwestern Divi-
sion Of the Red Cross, comprising
the states of Missouri, Kansas Ar
kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Every report and survey from
abroad by Red Cross and Government
officials Enthusiastically show that the
clothing problem faced by those re-
turning to their devasted homes is
one of the most serious dangers they
have to face, and it is equally clear
that it is to America that the suf-
fering people must turn. The rea-
son they must look to America and
the outside world for aid is that ev-
en- though they had the raw material
they would be unable to make use of
it, because one of the acts of the
German occupation was to destroy or
take away all machinery that might
become useful to the people should
they return to their homes. Conse-
quently clothing has to be furnished
them by such countries that have the
facilities to make it. While the
French, British and Italian Govern
ments are doing all that can be done,
they have been unable to catch up
with the needs of their own popula-
ton and the refugees of France and
Belgium. The Red Cross has deter
mined to care for not only these re-
fugees but THE destitute people of
all the countries of the Allies, includ-
ing Frace, Belgium, Italy, Roumania,
Serbia, Greece, Czecho-Slovakia, Asia
Minor, Palestine, Poland and the
Southern Slav countries. The re
fugees of France and Belgium num-
Der 100000 and of the other coun-
tries several million more.
The people of the Balkan countries
are in even greater need than the
people of France and Belgium, for
the former have been within reach of
the Governments, the Red Cross and
other relief organizations through
out the war; but the later have been
eXiles for two years and more, at the
beginning of which they had but the
clothes on their backs when driven
from home The rough and perilous
life they have ben compelled to live
soon reduced these to rags, and there
have been no additions, except from
pieces of carpets, burlap and blan-
kets held together as best the owner
could. They have no shoes since the
original pair fell to pieces. There is
no leather. They have had no bed
ding since the last article of this was
used as make-shift clothing. Thus
miserably clad they have been COM
PEELED to endure the utmost severi-
ties of climate, seasons, travel and
brutality of their conquerors.
Through every possible medium the
plight of these people will be brought
home to the American people, so that
the clothing collection campaign may
result in as widespread and suf-
fcient relief as the circumstances de-
mand. Americans will not be asked
to make sacrifices, for that is I'M
necessary. Only the cast-off, unused
or surplus clothing is desired, shoes
of every size, bedding, pieces of cloth
canton flannel, underclothes, etc.
Really, every article of clothing of a
worth-producing substantial kind
will be of the greatest use. These
things represent but little value to
Americans and unusually can well be
spared. They will be of the utmost
value to people who are suffering
and will be appreciated more than the
giver can imagine.
This campaign will take place when
Americans are changing from heavy
to lighter wearing apparel. Much
of the heavy clothing will not be
again worn Much, ordinarily, will
be put away and forgotten, become
damaged or lost. Thousands of suits,
coats, dresses, cloaks, soft hats, stock
ings, pajamas, parts of clothing, shoes
boots, blankets, comforts, sheets, and
millions of articles that represent
Americans surplus supply of clothing
and household equipment should be
donated to the millions of people who
badly need even the barest essentials
of comfort and who have proven
themselves worthy of the highest con-
sideration of all the peoples of the
world
This campaign differs widely from
the clothing collection last year.
Then it was for the benefit of only
the Belgians and the American Red
Cross handled only the collection
Now all of the destitute people of all
of the countries associated in the wa1
with the United States are to be help
cd aod Tho Apoorioap Rod CrOSS mr.