Evening star., 1936-03-22
RED CROSS BASE
KNOWS NO REST
Day and Night Vigil Kept by
Entire Staff Since Flood
Toll Began.
BY FRANCES LIDE.


Tuesday will keep from rs to 100 men
and women fast at their desks and
telephones at National Red Cross
headquarters for at least another
week.
Mobilized for disaster relief at the
first news of the impending Eastern
food, the staff has lost track OF time.
Sleep, food, day, night-these are
words which have no personal sisnifi-
canoe. Today was expected to be as
busy as any other day.
The recipe for sustained work Is
simple. When you are suddenly weak
drink q cup Of coffee hastily pre-
pared on an electric grill. When you
can 60 no longer-an hour or so OF
rest on a nearby cot.
None, from Admiral Cary T. Gray
son, chairman, down to weary mes
senger boys, has spared himself. Nor
will there be any let-up in the stren-
uous schedule until local directors In
the entire emergency area have the
situation we'll in hand. Asked how
long day-and- might work would con.
tinue, barring further flood develop
ments, Admiral Grayson said yester-
day; For at least another week"
Demands Tremendous.
The fourth floor of the administra-
ton building-where disaster work Is
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES be a mad house
were it not for the long experience OF
those in charge. AS it is, with red
tape relentlessly cut and directors re-
lying on personal knowledge rather
than files for quick decisions, the de-
mands are tremendous. Fourteen
States are calling for relief and ma
tional headquarters must direct each
individual problem.
The lob of "co -ordinating co-opera.
ton" Is in the hands Of Colin Herrle,
assistant to Robert z. Bondy, national
director Of disaster relief. (Bondy Is
at Johnstown. Pa
Herrle was at the telephone yes
terday when the reporter saw him.
He has been at the telephone for days.
With the exception Of possibly two
hours sleep on Wednesday and Thurs
day nights, he worked from Tuesday
to Friday night without rest, and he
was back at the Job yesterday morn
ing. His case is typical. Directors,
secretaries, stenographers, press serv-
ice men, telephone operators, messen-
ger boys-an have forgotten what 1t
is to stop.
Relief Helpers Directed.
In Herrle, however. are centereo
contacts with local directors through
out the food area. When field work.
ers at Wheeling, w. Va, asked Tor
assistance to 5000 marooned persons,
he arranged with the U. S. Coast
Guard to rush boats down from Chi
cago. When food and medicine were
requested for marooned boys and men
in c. C. c. camp at Remove. Pa. he
arranged for Army bombing planes to
ny over the area and drop down
supplies. Familiar with every county
in the affiicted area, he tells local
workers what schools and public
buildings might be used to care for
the homeless. And he directs agencies
such as the U. S. Air Service and
Coast Guard to places where their
services are needed. Most Of this Is
done over the telephone.
To assist in meeting the food crisis
the Red Cross has constant reports
from weather bureaus in all sections
of the country. These reports, re-
ceived over a direct wire. are re-
layed to affected areas. Many other
Government services and private agen-
cies are at Red Cross disposal and at
the first signs of need the public Is
ready with contributions.
Fund Receivers Busy.
Not the least of the administrative
burden falls on those who receive
donations and get them in shape for
distributions pleasant task in many
respects, however. Yesterday O WELL
dressed woman appeared at head
quarters and quietly laid down four
$50 bills on the desk. ITO help" she
said. simply and was gone before she
could be thanked. To the chapter at
Walter Reed Hospital an elderly couple
sent in $40 with the memorandum
that no receipt was necessary. The
secretary who received the check
knew that it came from o home where
the income Is meager.
incidentally, the Red Cross ofice
here was faced with its own food
menace. Many supplies stored In the
basement were moved to higher floors
when the Potomac threatened WASH
ington.
At District headquarters, Red Cross
workers yesterday afternoon enjoyed
their first respite since the peak Of
the flood here Thursday. Local re-
habilitation, however, will increase ac-
tivities for several months.