The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-04-30

cases anu CRATES anu StOuL CdAf d.
bags, and stored near an elevator on
one of the floors of the huge United
States Army Supply Base in South
Boston, is the complete equipment for
a 100-bed field hospital-cots, mat
tresses, blankets, bed linen, chairs,
tables, medicines, surgical dressings,
operating room supplies and mess
equipment.
Each of the cases, crates and bags
carries upon it the emblem OF the
American Red Cross and these words:
American Red Cross Mobile Disaster
Unit, New England Division"
On the rolls of the New England
Division of the American Red Cross
are listed nearly 100 physicians and
surgeons, specialists, nurses, medical
social service workers, cooks, stenog-
raphers and helpers-the personnel
of this Mobile Disaster Unit
Day after day the equipment waits
in its $50 containers in the big Army
warehouse Day after day the doctors
and nurses, the relief workers, cooks
and others go about their customary
duties in homes and hospitals in and
about Boston.
But if a great rush of waters, de-
scending from the melting snow and
ice in the reaches of fields and hills
| suddenly overwhelms some part OF
| one of our New England communities
| this spring, killing and injuring its
| people, sweeping away their homes
and possessions, and creating havoc
| in its industries. or if disaster in any
| other hideouS form comes upon us
then this Mobile Disaster Unit viii
spring to instant activity. Five-tor
| auto trucks will roar their way will
all speed to the Army Supply Base
where husky workers will load thu
i waiting equipment onto them. Tn
telephone will carry an 1mperatlv
summons to the doctors and nurse
and relief workers who are enrolle'
for disaster service, and they vii
). drop their daily tasks and mobiliz
at an appointed place, prepared to g
to any part of our New England state
of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
Massachusetts and Rhode Island an
remain as long as needed.
Within a very few hours Of the tim
the first news of the disaster is re
ceived by the officers of the Me-
England Division, and the need TO
outside relief verified, personnel an
equipment will be rushing over tn
road OF hurrying by train to the seen
of the disaster, ready to establish
hospital that can care for from
hundred to a hundred and fifty suffer
ers.
Authorized by Congress
The first public service OF tn
American Red Cross after it was e!
tablished 80 years ago was succorin
the victims of q forest fire in Mich
gan. Since that time the have
wrought by flood, drought, pestilenc
tornadoes, earthquakes, shipwreck
explosions and fires has called for il
creasingly frequent and extensi'
participation by the Red Cross in o
. ganizing, coordinating and administe
V ing relief In fact, one OF its chi
t services at home and abroad has bet
in connection with relief operation
a following disaster. 1t has raised al
/ administered the expenditure of mi
lions of dollars for the relief OF hui
" dreds of thousands of disaster victim
:, in this and other countries since
r organization. All through the gre
war it provided relief in great disa
- tiers having no connection with t
r fighting overseas.
The American Red Cross Is e
pressly authorized by Congress
or function as disaster relief organic
ton and the American people ha
~ now come to look upon the Red Gre
er as their agency in disaster rel
operations. 1t has developed Co
us prehensive disaster relief organizati
II. centering in the Director General
Civilian Relief at National Headqu;
VI ters in Washington and consisting
he skilled and experienced disaster
&c lief administrators and field age
zee and facilities for modelling funds a
ne supplies.
as During the past few months 4
officers at National Headquarters 6