The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-14
CAIRO 0-CAPE AIR ROUTE TO Z
WITNESS FIRST FLIGHT IN FALL; :.
: PLANES over DARKEST AFRICA

used for military than civil purposes,
but may become a section Of an all
Tentative route via Egypt and the
Arabian Coast to India. Major Carr
has been responsible for the survey
and preparation of this route.
Until full reports of the African
survey parties have been received one
cannot speak definitely about this
great air route. 1t is probable that A
combination Of flying boats and aero.,
Piahes wlll be used at the start of the
service. The first machine will prob
apiy De hown from Cairo to the Cape
IN october or November this year
eventually accommodating 1900,
school for children accompanying
prospective mothers, childrens hcsni-
tai w'sh 100 beds. and a model dairy
farm Rat provides fresh milk anil
other nourishing food for children and
mothers who need it,
The success of the Red Cross plan
has prompted the city Of Rouen to
place social workers in all ito hospi-
tails, dispensaries, public schools and
normal schools. and to provide play.
grounds at all the primary schools,
Additional dental clinics for the chm.
dren are also to be stAbLshed. The
numerous requests from other parts
OF France for information concern.
ing the plan indicate. according to
officials of the department.. that thu
system may be adopted with sligh>
notifications throughout France.
Word OF the action taken By the
French officials reached here almosx
simultaneously with the arrival In thu
country of Major Walter r. Ramsexs
tof St. Paul, Mimi. the American phys
a cia nh ~ hA
directed its operation up to . few
weeks ago. Major Ramsey. associate
professor OF ped.atries OF the UnivUeS
sity Of Minnesota. IL An authority o.
social service and child welfare work.
being the author OF several stAndAA3
works dealing with the latter subject
He has served the American Red CreSe
overseas for more than . year. In
recognition of what ne has done Tor
the children and mothers Of the Seine
fnferieure--in point Of population this
second prefecture in France-the ON
Gals presented him with gold medal.
He received another gold medal from
the city of Rouen. 800
In June. 1918. the American ReA
Cross was asked by the French and
Belgian Joint Refugee committee, to
send medical assistance to Rouen.
which. due TO the influx OF thousands
ttpil PVikidD1 ana FtoF lIlc4 IAuCS.
had grown from a city of 10000 to
one OF about 100000. A great pro-
portion .of the new corners were re-
fugees. A majority OF the children
coming under this classification, The
government of Belgium having been
removed from Brussels to LIE Havrs.
not far from Rouen, accounted for
the rush OF Belgian refugees to the
latter city.
S,.,n. p.-.., -, ...,-r.a A. -.
Rouen district by the Red Cross He
found the refugees and their children
packed in castles and other extremely
old buildings that encircle the towns
famous cathedral. the conditions un-
der which they were trying to live in
these sixteenth century structures oe-.
ing anything but desirable. With
sickness on all sides and the dangers
OF an epidemic due to undernouriah-
ment and unsanitary living always i'm
minent. these thousands Of refugees
were practically without medical at
tention. The few French and Belgian
physicians who had not been modified
during the four-year struggle were
needed by Rouen's civilian popula-
ton and in local military hospitals.
After meeting the emergeney-needs
Of the refugees, Major Ramsay's next
move Was 10 establish a dispensary
for the children in building that had
been provided by VI. Charles Lelle-
mond project OF the ne-Inferieure.
Mr.. I.alle mond had become deeply IN.
terested in the American doctors plAr
TO sA~e the children and provide prop
err medical treatment for the prospec.
tive mothers.
Major Ramsey assembled stHf
OF French women at the clinic. many
OF whom had seen war service during
4 nreHHiip1 HnNAPAA2
of children were treated there daily.
In a majority OF cases Major RAM
sey found the children needed food
more than medicine while survey Of
their homes disclosed conditions that
made il Impossible for them to keep
well. To bring about an improvement
IN this latter situation, school for
social workers was organized. The
French and Belgian authorities pro-
vided pupils who. after a theoretical
and practical course. visited the homes
of the refugees and instructed them
along sanitary lines.
With the assistance Of the mayor
of Rouen. Major Ramsey arranged 10
receive a daily list Of the newborn
babies, SO that the mothers and IA
fants might not want for proper at
tention. In this connection the Red
Cross also sent letters to the fathers
of their babies and assuring them that
their families were being well cared
for.
Midwives are one Of the most I'm
portant institutions in France, about
80 per cent OF the children born being
delivered by them. The association
of midwives being inclined to resent
the interest of DR. Ramsey and his
associates in their field, but their hear.
" cooperation was eventually enlisted
through the establishment at the clinic
OF a course OF lectures for them These
were largely attended.
: The placing OF social worker In
one of .touens twelve maternal
schools. was followed by such strik-
ing results that the minister Of edN-
cation OF France asked that they b
installed In the other similar institu.
tions and the primary schools.
A dental clinic for the children Or.
ganiz.d with the help OF the Amer.
lean army and the General hospital,
of Rouen, the latter supplying a dem
fist. was next on the program OF ex-