V.A.T.C. AND PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1918, Page 8

V.A.T.C. AND PATRIOTIC FUNDS

(Received September 16, 11 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, This Day

The V.A.T.C. has distributed a further £7700 to patriotic funds, making a tot*l of £48,000. . ; .

ITALIAN RED GROSS

SPECIAL APPEAL THIS WEEK.

A visitor s t 6 the Italian battlefront says:—"We havev seen them, all—bold infantry men, Alpine troops or Ber- ; saglieri, rough artillery men, per-:" severing miners, workmen, and soldiers —in the glorious scenery of their exploits. Their task seems impossible; but these men of the mountains are endowed with such lightness of heart and such great tenacity that they carry it out-in the face of all obstacles. No praise can be too great for the troops which storm peaks, conquer glaciers, bayonet in hand, ; and'hoist guns where never Inamanfoot has been cc( before.

"The lines of communication seem a miracle of organisation. In the rear of the soldier who attacks and defends there are miles end miles of bare arid country--deserts in the .mountains-—in-tersected by precarious roads." It is over these wild places that the wounded Italian soldiers must be carried to the railway which will convey them to the base,hospitals. And it is* in these cruel journeys that the Italian Red ; Cross strains every nerve to bring comfort and ease to the wounded men. All this costs money—a very great deal of money— so much so, tiat a world-wide appeal is now being made for funds. This week is Italian, Red Ccoss week iri Wellingtons Those who can help are asked to send a. donation to the treasurer, Mr. J. HHelliwell, Wellington Gais Cbrnpanyj 1 also to buy badges . and ■ tickets in the art union of pictures; these may be obtained in shops which display the Italian Red Cross poster. ' .

A good -ecord of war mi trice is to i!ie credit of t.'ie sons of Mr. W. T. I»I'KH.rlane, of Johnsonville. Mr. M'farlitne has ju&t received word that his son, Sergeant B. W. M. M'Farlane, who was gassed on 25th August, and wounded on two previous occasions, is nov. convalescenf. Sergeant Ji'SV '\.r\c. .vhw is an old Amokura boy, left New !Jealr n.i with the 9th Reinforcements, and is stitai'bxid to the Lewis-gun section of the lOih Otago Infantry. Another son (Bob) ■ left \u*.h the 3rd Reinforcements, and was 'aler drafted to the Main Body. He left Sjyirt for Gallipoli, where he was killtd on Bth August. Being unable to pass the medical, test, another son (Eddie) turned his attention to the sea, and served on,several vessels engaged in war services. After signing off, he joined the Royal Navy, and was posted to a mine-sweeper. He was later transferred to the R.F.A., and is now a gunner in the Trench Mortar Brigade in France. Another brother is at present in camp. Mr. Shorland, of Taumaruirai, has, • says a Press Association message, announced himself as an Independent Labour candidate for the Tarana&i seat in Parliament. Messrs. Williams and Co., Ltd., will sell to-morrow, at 2 p.m., furniture and organ, in the Auction Arcade, Courtenayplace. Mr. A. T. Trendle will sell to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m., at the Central Auction Rooms, 53, Cuba-streot, furniture, etc., on acount of Dr. Edith Huntley. An extraordinary general meeting of mombers of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association will take place in the Returned Soldiers' Club, Lambtonquay, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday next.