THE FRENCH RED CROSS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16019, 10 September 1915, Page 6

THE FRENCH RED CROSS.

I The movement for expressing the j sympathy of Auckland with our French allies by sending some practical assistance to the French Red Ci-oss Society will be very warmly supported by many citizens. Xo vast amount of money is required for such a demonstration of- goodwill. France is a. great nation which, though temporarily deprived of great industrial departments and straining under a burden of which we in our sea-girt safety can form little conception, is still strong. With all its troubles, France is not like Belgium, that martyr nation which suffers for the world, yet it is nevertheless in such a position that an expression of practical sympathy from more happily situated British people must be most welcome and may well awaken the kindliest sentiments in the sensitive minds of its chivalrous people. There is every reason why British and French should express to one another the unqualified goodwill now existing between them, a goodwill based upon their common loyalty to a common civilisation and cemented by the blood their soldiers have freely given together for the common cause. There are special reasons why the British of New Zealand should show goodwill, for we have in the Pacific good French neighbours with whom we have had disputes

but for .whom we have every, respect, and our New Zealanders at Gallipoli have Frenchmen as comrades in arms and looking seaward find the Tricolour beside the White Ensign and French guns speaking for them as their own. London has already expressed its feeling towards France and its gratitude to the French Red Cross for incalculable services to British and Belgian wounded, by a very popular collection. Many Aucklanders, while fully conscious of the pressing claims of their own war relief organisations and of the paramount claim of Belgium, will gladly take advantage of this opportunity to endorse the Alliance. The French Red Cross Society treats all Allied soldieis equally, while the kindness shown by every Frenchman and Frenchwoman to British soldiers wounded and unwounded—has moved the British heart, and can never be repaid by British people; it can only be acknowledged. The purpose of the movement is its own commendation. Any donations sent to the Herald or paid in at the Herald Office for the French Red Cross will be acknowledged and remitted to the French Club of Auckland, which is authorised by the French Consul to receive them.