Evening star., 1943-01-12
War Relief From u. 5
BoIsters Red Army,
Says Lityinoff
Goal Of 100000
Exceeded by More
Than so Per Cent

Thanking the American people for
their contributions to Russian War
Relief, Soviet Ambassador Maxim
Litvinoff declared yesterday at the
annual meeting of the Board of
Directors of the relief agency held
at the Mayflower Hotel that timely
medical aid had greatly Influenced
the numerical strength of the Red
Army.
At the same time. Edward c. Car
ter of New York, president of Rus
sian War Relief, reported that the
agency had exceeded the goal of
$6,000,0 900 which it set early in 1912
for relief supplies to the Soviet
Union by more than so per cent.
Mr.. Carter revealed that the war
relief agency, since its inception in
the fall of 1941, had raised So, ,342, ,204
by December 81, 1912 Approx
mately $3,000 900 Of the 1912 funds,
he said, was realized through par
ticipation in more than 800 Com
munity War Chests throughout the
country.
Preference in Munitions.
Secretary of Interior Ickes. who
spoke briefly, announced that he had
received a communication yesterday
from the President ordering him to
give first preferencesto to Russia in
munitions ofswar" 4s mw
Ambassador Litvinoff pointed out
that besides tenaciouSly defending
every inch of its soil, the Red Army,
with mo less spirit" is attacking
foe frequently numerically stronger.
You will readily understand" he
said, that while dealing heavy
blows at the enemy, the Soviet troops
themselves have suffered no small
losses in dead and wounded"
To show the significance OF the
work of Russian War Relief, the
Ambassador reminded that the Red
Army has been fighting picked Ger
man troops for year and a half
"19 months, to be exact" During
this period, he said, the battle has
been going on from day to day,
without the slightest breathing
spell, without lull, on scale un-
precedented in history"
Engagements Exceed Battles
'It is safe to say that mere en-
gagement on this front is of greater
dimensions than some Of the battles
of former times" he continued. "It is
seldom that fewer than 100000 men
take part in engagements, while
every sort of destructive weapon in
vented by man Is being used"
The fighting in all seasons, in
cluding an exceptionally severe win
ter. plus the evacuation of millions
of civilians, are factors that make
is not hard to imagine, "the crying
need for medicants, surgical instru-
ments, bandages and warm cloth
ing"
Ambassador Litvinoff asserted it
was hardly possible TO put into words
the gratitude of his people for cloth
ing and medical supplies from this
country. He added thanks for "con-
siderable military aid and a Ger
tain amount of food supplies from
leaSe-lend."
Il am quite certain" he said,
that this sympathy and this re-
sponse in establishing contacts be-
tween American and Soviet citi-
zens will have very favorable es-
feet on that friendship and unity
between our two peoples, which are
so essential now, in time of war, and
will be no less essential during the
conclusion and consummation of
peace"
Expresses Thanks for Zeal.
He expressed special thanks to
Mr.. Carter, Allen Wardell, secretary
OF the agency. and board members
Henry Alexander and Harold Helm
"for the untiring zeal with which
they had thrown themselves into the
work."
Mr.. Carter reported to the board
that the total of relief goods shipped
and IN transit and purchase COM
mitments as of December 81 was
IS ,244, 900. OF this total, 78 per
cent was for medical and surgical
supplies, Is per cent for clothing.
knit goods and blankets, 6 Der cent
Tor foodstuf1s and seeds and / per
cent for miscellaneous other items.
Among those attending the dinner
meeting were Nine. Litvinoff, Mr..
Wardwell, chairman Of the Greater
New York Russian War Relief Com
mittee; James Carey, secretary of
the C1O; Mrs. ]. Borden Hartman,
chairman Of the Warrington Relief
Committee. and Mrs. Clifford PIN
chQt of the WaSh{nnton. COMMITTEE