THE BRITISH RED CROSS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 22 July 1916, Page 5

THE BRITISH RED CROSS.

ON AND OFF THE FIELD

I To tli? Red Cross Stares in London. i J ' n a quarter which up to now has not 'been commercially busy there is to be seen a never-ending stream of motor lorries, all day and all night loading or unloading stores. Enormous space is needed to hold these goods. A London paper says:—From South Africa, Egypt and Ceylon, India, Now Zealand, Central and South America, United States. Trinidad, Java, Sierra Leone, Cyprus. Fiji, Nigeria, Malta, Siam; the WestIndies. Costa Rira, Hongkong; Japan; Cuba; Jamaica; St Vincent; Madiera: ’ St Lucia; St Kitts, Hawaii, Seychelles; San Salvador, and from many other ! places have come not only very many thousands of pounds but countless stores; these Vary from consignments* - of say, 10,000 blankets or 1000 frozen carcases or four tons of grapes to eases, of safety pins and cigarettes, splints and ; bandages, Availing sticks, hats; oranges chairs and honey to mention at random a few things from the immense lists. This variety shows not only an unstinted generosity, but an endless amount of careful thought that has gone to the choice of tjhc gifts. In commenting upon the rapidity Avith which large demands can be met, either from the head stores in Pall Mall or from other stores in different parts of Loudon, a Christchurch writer mentions that quite recently the British Red Cross units in Serbia asked for 15 tons of cotton wool. This huge supply Avas packed and on its way in less than' 24 hours. A hospital asked for a kitchen outfit to feed a. hundred men and in eight hours the Avhole equipment was on its Avay. Another 6A 7ening about 7 o’clock an order came for bods, bedding and all furniture for an emergency hospital in. Franco, and I soon after 5 o’clock next morning the ■whole equipment had started on its Avay. j “I understand ” the writer continues; “that the biggest achievement of the department in this way was the provision of an enteric hospital in Cal|ais for the Belgians. Within three I.Aveoks a hospital was built in England, ‘consisting of six Avards of 2(i beds leach, a dispensary, disinfecting room; j destructor ; kitchen, laundry, dining hall [and nurses’ and orderlies’ quarters, i The hospital was built in sections amig sent OA - er by special trains and st ‘aniers Avith a hundred workmen to erect it at Calais and all this within three Aveeks. 1 All this work, Avith the exception of i the actual building has been, done by voluntary Avorkcrs with funds supplied by the public of the British Empire, and it is a comforting thought that no w. at hen wo have reached that period of the Avar when the casualties -in the British Army will be heavier than" o\ r cr before, every shilling that wn subscribe for the sick and Avoundcd atsll be made to go as far as it is possible for a shilling to go tOAvards lightening the lot of our brave men in the hospitals.