The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-06

Mrs. Edith E. Ladd, executive
secretary of the Waterbury chap
ter, American Red Cross, in radio
broadcast last evening emphasized
the need of generous cooperation
on the part of the public if THE
Greatest Mother in the World" is
TO carry on her mission of mercy
in war-torn countries. Surgical
dressings are sadly needed for the
wounded and for homeless fam-
lies. Mrs. Ladd's appeal was as
follows:
st am appealing to you tonight
for recognition of the respon-
sibility encumbent upon the Am
erican Red Cross in relation to
it's Congressional charter, which is
to furnish volunteer aid to the
sick and wounded of armies IN
time of war" This brief sentence
contains the very fundamental
ideals of ''the Greatest Mother in
the World" In modern days how
ever, the Red Cross is called upon
to extend volunteer aid in time
of war, to a far larger group than
the actual combatantS, as it in
cludes the civilian population of
wounded and those made home
less by aeroplane warfare, increas-
ing our responsibilities one hun
dredfold.
On September l, the war that
the whole world dreaded broke
loose along the disputed Corridor
of Poland" and two days later it
was carried not only to the West
ern Front but to the Seven Seas.
Immediately the Red Cross So
cieties of every belligerent coun-
try turned to the task of alleviat-
ing the sufferings of this man
made disaster. AS a semi-official
agency of a neutral country the
American Red Gross has pro-
ceeded to do what it always does
to help people overwhelmed by
calamity. The work in the field
however is done by the National
Red Cross societies of the coun-
try concerned. Red Cross socie-
ties over the world work through
the International Red Cross COM
mittee of Geneva.
On September /, directly upon
news of war in Europe, Norman
H. Davis, chairman of the Amer
lean National Red Cross cabled
the International committee to
ask what kind of help, if any,
might be desired by the countries
engaged in the struggle. The
American Red Cross, he said, in
announcing its offer of aid inn
partially to belligerents, is not in
terested in the origin of the pres
ent conflict; our interest is con-
centrated on the terrible human
suffering which will follow in the
path OF bombing planes and
marching armies. To supply the
rush of orders for surgical dres-
sings, surgical gowns, convalescent
robes, men, women, and children's
clothing, the 3711 chapters and
5000 branches of the American
Red Cross were Immediately re-
queSted to organize their work
rooms on a war basis and proceed
with the gigantic task of relief.
For this purpose I am pleading
tonight for generous contributions
OF materials to be converted into
garments, such as wool for sweat
ers, socks, mufflers and caps:
bleached medium weight cotton
for surgical gowns, outing flannel
for convalescent robes, and lay
cites; ginghams, chambray, for
ch1ldren'S dresses and boys shirts;
warm wooden material for Wo-
mems dresses. In the first three
weeks of the war over 10000 ref
ugees and wounded depended on
the various Red Cross societies
for care. Our own Red Cross sent
large consignment of surgical
dressings and clothing which
reached the stricken area Sept.
l4th, and also contributed the
sum of $250,000 from national
funds for the purchase of blan-
kets, cots and other supplies
which were urgently needed. We
VINO are safe from the ravages of
war on our own shores, cannot
appreciate to the fullest extent
what it means to have such an or
ganization as the Red Cross min
istering to the needs of the suf-
ferers The citizens of Water
bury have ever been mindful OF
the sufferings of those in distress.
as witnesses by the overwhelming
generosity Of our people displayed
during the World War and subse-
quent disasters, hurricanes, flood
famine and disease. In this new