Evening star., 1940-09-14
Voices Stirring Appeal
For British Relief
Mrs. Kermit Roosevelt Asks
Woshinetonions to Aid
War Sufferers

To the Editor of The Star:
May send message through you to
your readers, thousands of whom know
are anxious-even desperate-in their
eagerness to express in constructive form
their infinite sympathy for Britain and
her cause?
On my return from London in June
had but one burning desire, which was to
find the organization in which I could
be of most use. After weeks of inquiry
and wasted effort even anguish Il
found it and I would like to pass this
knowledge on to those men and women
who, like me, want to do what they can
to help and yet don't know how to go
about it,
Go to the British War Relief Society
where you will be welcomed enthusias-
tically and gratefully and your offering
of time, strength, intelligence or money,
whichever it may be, will be utilized in
the most effective way. The results Of
your individual effort will. with minimum
delay and minimum red tape produce
maximum results in Britain itself. Your
sympathy will no longer be abstract, but
will be concrete in its effect
The British War Relief Society was
organized in September, 1899, with the
approval of the British Ambassador to
coordinate organizations working for
Great Britain. 1t has grown swiftly in
recent weeks Today there are 200
branches in the United States with over
10000 contributors, whose cash donations
total more than 100000.
Ambulances. surgical instruments,
drugs and medicines, wooden knitted
goods, clothing, kitchens on Wheels"
equipment and supplies for hospital
beds, surgical bandages, medical dress
ingS, X-ray units and other vital mate
rials leave New York harbor week after
week from the British War Relief So
ciety.
The society sends these essential sup
plies and comforts to the men Of the
fighting forces, to their wives and chill
dren, to the homeless thousands evacu-
ated from bombed areas, to other thou
sands Of destitute refugees who poured
into Britain from conquered European
Gemocracies.
Emergency and unexpected requests
from Britain are met instantly To cite
one example, a cry for assistance came
some weeks ago from st. Dunstan's. the
hospital for blinded soldiers started dur
ing the last war and carried on ever
since. Funds were needed a once to
cope with some hundred blinded men
arriving from Dunkirk. Within the hour
the British War Relief Society had
bought and sent by cable a check on
London.
Because of this efficient organization;
because of organized American sympathy
yours and mine-these gallant and
tragic men received medical aid forth
with. Instant action, such as this may
mean that these men do not all walk
henceforth in utter darkness. This story
inspires us TO give our wholehearted CO.
operation in making such help possible
Help Of all kind is urgent now-at once.
The need is imperative. Perhaps never
before has individual effort been so i'm
portant. Whatever you can do, or give,
in small or great measure, do or give it
Quickly-now-immed
Remember, time presses Emergencies
multiply rapidly. Grim suffering. stark
horror are increasing hourly. Let those
of us whose sympathies are with the
British, those of us who are still safe
from the nightmare of war, be swift
to act. MRS. KERMIT ROOSEVELT.
September II.
Editors note-It was stated at the
British Embassy that persons wishing
to assist in this work should get in
touch with Mrs. George w. Lloyd,
370l Nebraska avenue NV, or Mrs.
E. D. Macfarlane, 1908 Madison road
NV