THE RED CROSS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16669, 14 April 1916, Page 3

THE RED CROSS

DISASTROUS FIRE AT SALONIKA. NEW ZEALAND SHIPMENT This week's mail brought news of the destruction by fire of an entire shipment of 32 cases of Red Cross goods from New Zealand. The took place in. the ship's hold on the night) of her arrival in the harbour of Salonika, and the value of the shipment was close on £1500. Letters have been received from Lieutenant-colonel 0.C., No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, and from Dr Aclind, Lieutenant-colonel M'Gavin, after giving- details of the.loss, sends this message to the members of the Red Cross Society:—"Will you please convey to those -who have w»rkcd so hard to provide these articles which would havo been so vseful to us, my sym T pathy that their work should! havo proved in vain. We none the less appreciate the kindness and attention we havo. received from the New Zealand Red Cross.." Dr Acland writes:—"There were in all 150 cases-on the ship when a fire occurred in the hold after she had reached Salonika, and all our own cases were destroyed. We know nothing of the cause of the fire, and it is terribly disappointing to us that so much valuable material should be wasted and all your efforts come to nothing. I don't know how to thank you enough for tho splendid response to my appeai for Red Cross goods for tho hospital. We have had bad luck to lose our whole equipment (DrAoland refers to the loss of the entire -equipment on the Marquette), and now this, but good fortune to have come through as well as we have. We got an excellent equipment the second time, including much Red Cross material, of which there still remains a great deal. We feel sure that wo will get more in duo course, and fortunately one can get supplies from tho Red Cross ' here. Our chief grief is that so much, New Zealand effort should have been wasted on tho way, and that many of our company should have lost so many personal things."