Evening star., 1940-12-12
Red Cross Gets
Over d Million
Tor War Relief
Dovis Reports Major
Effort Now Directed
Toward Britain


Cfoss IN the European war has in
GUIDED expenditure of s6,682 900 in
ofganlzation funds and the ship
ment OF supplies assembled by va
Ilous chapters valued at S3,669 900,
Cnalrman Norman H. Davis reported
70 the Board of Incorporators yes
.erday at its annual meeting in
headquarters here.
supplies purchased by the Gov
ernment for distribution by the Red
Cross totalling S3,441O0O in value
nave been handled, Mr. Davis added.
He said the War Relief Fund had
received contributions amounting to
s2l ,588 900, and some additional re-
ports were expected.
However desirous the Red Gross
may be to extend aid to all the VIC
tins of war, its ability to do so is
subject to many conditions over
which we have no control" the
chairman explained. While our
relief operations in France are at
proSent necessarily limited to medi-
cal and hospital aid, we are, never
theless. exploring the possibility of
broadening the scope of such aid to
include milk and vitamin concen-
tutes for distribution to children.
Supplies Rushed to Britain.
As q result of the conditions in
dicated and the shifting of the
battlefront to the British Isles. our
major efforts are now concentrated
ON relief to Great Britain, where
supplies are going forward as rapid
" as tonnage is available"
The $13, 1872 900 total value of relief
administered by the Red Cross re-
ported by Mr.. Davis was broken
down as follows:
Great Britain. S8,306 900; France,
$1,780,0O0; Poland and Polish ref
ugees, 1891 900; Finland, S1,645 900:
Red Cross Societies of Belgium,
Canada, Greece, Netherlands, Nor
way and Switzerland, s257 900;
early expenditures for program in
China, s323,0O0, and general relief
services and activities not applicable
by countries. s490,000.
Commencing the work of volun-
teer production units in chapters
throughout the country, Mr.. Davis
said more than 1,350,000 garments
and approximately 9,700,000 surgical
dressings already had been shipped
abroad, while large additional guam
titles were available for shipments
as needs arose.
Explains Policy.
I'm outlining the Red Cross policy
with respect to war relief, the chair
man said:
ut is not our policy to send sup
plies into country to replace SINH
lar supplies going out of that coun-
try or being requisitioned therefrom
as a result of alien military occupa-
ton and control.
I'VE will undertake relief opera
tions only where we can make inde-
pendent investigation as to the needs
and have adequate freedom of
communication, transportation and
with sufficient inspec-
ton and control by our own person.
mel to assure that supplies will 60
only to those for whom they are
intended.
And, finally, as the Red Cross
is a quasi official organization, our
foreign relief operations must be
consistent with the national inter-
est"
The 1910 Roll Call produced a 16-
per cent increase over last year in
the membership, Mr.. Davis reported
He said the enrolment stood at
approximately 8,250,000.
Cites Home Disaster Work.
The chairman's report called at
tention to maintenance of home dis
aster relief work and pointed out
that $500,000 had been appropri-
ated from the disaster revolving
fund for the current Red Cross
year.
Mr.. Davis said certain special
studies and surveys we're necessary
to more effective operation of the
reserve system operated by
the Red Cross for the Army and
Navy.
He assured the board that the
had been promised
adequate space at all Army and
Navy hospitals and bases for well
fare work in connection with the
defense program.
Chief Justice Hughes, a vice
president of the American Red
Cross, who presided at the meeting,
said, in part:
II am sure that the executive
staff of the Red Gross has been
seriously tried during this year in
determination Of policies that it
should adopt and prosecute. It is
q matter of qualification that under
the very able leadership of Mr..
Davis the Red Gross had so well
represented American sentiment
and has so faithfully performed
what the American people expect of
the Red Gross at this time.
IT am gratifed-if we can be
gratified with anything under the
existing conditions-that we have
this organization representing in a
peculiar way the unity of the Ameri-
can people"
Roosevelt Reappoints Six.
President Roosevelt sent the
board a letter reappointing the fol-
lowing members of the Central
Committee for one-year terms:
Mr.. Davis, chairman; R. Walton
Moore, representing Department Of
State; Surg. Gen. James Carre
Magee, U. S. A., War Department;
Surg. Gen. Ross T. McIntire, U. S. N.
Navy Department.: Undersecretary
Daniel w. Bell, Treasury Depart
ment, and Attorney General Robert
H. jackson, Department OF Justice.
Eliot Wadsworth of Boston, Lloyd
B. Wilson of washington and Will
liam Fortune of Indianapolis were
reelected to the Central Committee
for terms expiring in 1943.
Mrs. Dwight F. Davis of Wash
ington, national director of Red
Cross volunteer special services,
was elected to fill a vacancy created