RED CROSS COMFORTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 182, 22 April 1918, Page 2

RED CROSS COMFORTS

FRENCH WOUNDED EMERGENCY FUND. The following letters, received by the Clu-isteluircli Red Cross Commits too from the French War Emergency Fund (Mrs. W. M. Dobell, lion. sec. lor branches and Canada, 44 Lowndes Square, London, 5.W.1.), lia,ve been forwarded to the Wellington Red Cross Committee, and were road at Thursday's committee meeting. Both- show bow very much comforts have been needed for the French wounded in the past. Unfortunately they are'likely to be even more greatly needed in the months to come. The first is as follows:—

"The splendid bales which arrived by the - have just keen unpacked, and I must ask you to express our very sincere thanks to yotir committee for tho magnificent consignment received. All tho warm garments and the woollies will bo sent i.ff immediately, as the cold in France is very intense, aud owing to the scarcity of fuel Klie hospitals tare heated. Coal is now over £12 a ton and wood absolutely unobtainable! Even tho oil that we used to be able to procure for tho oil stoves we. sent out is now a tiling of the past. Therefore, the-only thing we can do is -to send quantities of bedding and clothing for the wounded, for, as you know, recovery must he delayed if, owing to tho weakness of their resistance, they cannot bo kept warm.

"Therefore, I think of the shifts you have sent this time, tho beef-jackets, dressing gowns, pyjamas and knitted things are tin? most serviceable. If we are to ha.ve tho,pleasure cf another consigmneut from you I should suggest that, by tho time it arrives, bedding, pillow cases,' etc.. shirts, vests, pants, operation stockings, socks, slippers;, handkerchiefs would bo the reost useful. We'also want at all timos household cloths for ise in the hospitals, as these, are practically nonexistent now in France, and are getting expensive in England, owing to the shortage of cotton.

"Our delegates report that tho actual necessities in the hospitals are bemp provided in largo quantities, and much more quickly, on requirement, by the _ French 'Sendee do Sante, 1 but their allowance per bed is very meagre, and none of the comforts which we in English hospitals consider necessities aro supplied under Government regulations. Therefore, our hales are still needed in all the hospitals, and back-rests; bed-tables, extra blankets, pyjamas, etc., aro of inestimable value. Handkerchiefs we need literally in thousands, as these, are. not supplied either by the military authorities, and 1 am so glad to seo'that 12C0 came in your last bale,

. "We are most desirous of interesting other centres in New Zealand in our work. If it would not bo imposing too much on .your kindness, I should he so grateful if you could write to any of the other centres W tho New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross, mentioning what you have already done for us, and telling them of our very great gratitude. Wc hope also to obtain a.ssistnnco in some way from Australia,- well knowing the generosity of the people in that colony as well." Wo fear, however, that the transport facilities will he becoming more and more' restricted, and perhaps in tho future it will become, necessary for our friends overseas to send us gifts of money instead of 'these- beautiful garments, though wo prefer tho gifts in kind, which are so much better than any we can buy. If tho shipment of bales becomes impossible, I need not tell you how welcome money donations would be to this society, whether obtained through individual subscription or by somo entertainment—flag-day- some such organisation. May 1 ask you to express to your executive tho grateful thanks of tho French Wounded Emergency Fund for this most welcome gift?"

The second letter was received bv tho. French Wounded Emergency Fund from a sister in one of the French hospitals: "I only wish those who so kindly and generously contributed to y-»ur splendid gift could see the 'intense pleasure it .'as given. Four of tho sticks, for instance, were a Godsend to the men to whom I gave them, while the mufflers are a boon. They could not havo arrived at a more opportune moment. Tho cold is intense, much below freezing point, while the 'mistral' is simply murderous. Hardly any of iho men who would ordinarily be getting out into the garden for short strolls had been able to leave tho wards because of' ( he lack of woollies. I wish I could convey some idea of the rejoicing with which the mufflers were hailed. As for the flannel vests, they aro simply superb, so, too, the shirt's and Cardigans. The .handkerchiefs are suclt nico ones, so different from the duster-like objects which, coarse and rough as they are, not all are lucky enough to possess. Altogether, your magnificent hales havo made us all warm in spirit and as happy as possible, both actually now, and in an.tieiiiatiou of tho things not yet unpacked."