Nogales international., 1939-10-28
Quick War Relief
Given by Red Cross
ShipWrecked U. S. Citizens,
Wounded Poles, Refugees,
RepatriateS Aided

Washington.-Th American Red
Cross moved quickly at the onset OF
hostilities in Europe to organize re-
lief for war sufferers and give aid to
American citizens stranded in dan
ger zones or rescued from sea-war-
fare catastrophe.
Red Cross officials pointed out
that following contact of German
Polish forces on September l, the or
ganization made available medical
relief for civilians and armies OF
Poland; provided aid for Americans
repatriating from Europe as they
landed in the United States ports;
granted medical and maintenance
assistance to American survivors or
the Athena" first sea casualty or
the war; gave financial aid to the
American Hospital in Paris, France,
and developed a comprehensive
communications system to allay the
fears of distraught relatives.
Norman H. Davis, chairman,
cabled the International Red Cross
Committee in Geneva on September
1 asking what relief would be need
ed from the American Red Cross. In
a first step in consolidating Red
Cross relief forces throughout the
nation, 300 Red Cross chapters
were authorized to begin producing
refugee garments and to accept con-
tributions for war relief.
A, quick response from the Polish
Red Cross to Chairman Davis cable
to the international Committee re-
suited in an American Red Cross
appropriation of $4,000 for the pur-
chase of As items of medicines, and
for army blankets and quantity of
large hospital tents capable Of hous-
ing so stretcher cases each.
A grant of $25,000 was also made
to the American Hospital in Paris
to evacuate American patients from
the hospital and to purchase in the
United States a 100 bed hospital
unit for shipment to the American
organization, it was said.
To meet needs which were
thought likely to result from bom-
bardment of rural villages and the
passage of hostile armies, the Red
Cross called upon Fl of it's large city
chapters to roll surgical dressings
of a special new type for European
warfare injuries. More than 100000
yards Of gauZe were purchased and
10000 pounds of cotton, enough to
make $4,000 surgical dressings.
On September 2, the American
Red Cross announced it was organic
ing to meet repatriating American
citizens at seaport cities through
chapter reception committees. Citi-
zens without resources were given
temporary shelter, and aided to re-
settle in their former homes or
work.
Between September S and 7, the
American Red Cross cabled $4,000
through the State Department to
help American survivors of the
Athena" who had been taken into
Irish and Scotch ports.
Red Cross chapters were instruct
ed to accept funds for the purchase
of supplies for impartial distribution
and funds for purchase of supplies
for designated country to be ex-
pended through the Red Cross So
city of that nation.
'The Red Cross is not interested
in the origins of the present con-
flict," Chairman Davis declared fol-
lowing his cabled offer of assistance
to the International Red Cross Com
mittee. "As part of the great Inter-
national Red Cross it is our duty to
do what we can to aid the helpless
civilians who will suffer during the
hostilities."