TO DAY'S APPEAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17062, 15 August 1917, Page 6

TO DAY'S APPEAL.

BELGIAN, SERVIAN, AND FRENCH RED CROSS.

URGENT NEED OF FUNDS

A big effort will be made to-day to collect runds for the Belgian, Servian, and French , Red Cross, a movement that should meet with the whole-heart-ed support of the public. There will (,q stalls in the street in charge of the No I Line ladies, and Mrs J. M. Gibson and helpers,, while the Westmere ladies wih be in charge of the Red Cross Shop. At noon a procession of decorated motor oars,- led by the Queen's Park Bugle Band, will leave the Drill Hall, the route being through the prindijpol streets and back to the starting' point. In connection with the big effort today there will be treasure bags Is each, containing useful coupons with orders for coal (2cwts), cushions and cheese, etc., children's toys. On the stalls also will be every kind of farm "produce, meat, poultry, home-made bread, cakes, flowers and sweets. A beautiful doll io guess the birthday, names, etc. Larae iced oakes, sittings of purebred eggs, hen eggs and duck eggs. A splendid assortment of goods will be offered, and residents can make purchases with the knowledge that every penny spent >s helping a worthy cause. The decorated motor cars will parade about noon, and will be in great evidence, and direct contributions will be sought by a small army of collectors. It is the duty of all to help, and no doubt the ladies whj are working so hard in this department of service will be rewarded with success.

BELGIAN RELIEF,

In connection with the notification recently received that America has takeu over the iesponsibility of Belgian relief, the Belgian Consul has received official advice from the Belgian Minister for Foreign, Affairs that this notification refers only to the fund destined for food for Belgians in Belgium. Funds are still urgently wanted for other benevolent works, such as Belgian Orphan Fund, Belgian Red Cross, Belgian Refugee Food Fund (Babies' Milk Fund), Convalescent Home for Belgian Soldiers, Relief for Belgian Prisoners in Germany, and others, each of which has most responsible committees, as may oe verified at the Consulate. The needs ot these organisations aie increasing every day, whilst their resources are diminishing, and as Belgium herself is so oppressed by the Germans it is only from other parts of the world that money can. be collected. The Belgian Consul's Fund will still be kept open, and ail moneys received will be forwarded to the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, who will distribute same according to the wish of the donors.

APPRECIATION OF GIFTS

A letter .to hand from a, French lady i.ll Rheims throws Liglit on the terrible sufferings in the war area. She says: —" Perhaps you have often asked yourself if the. cases of clothing reach us. Yes, they arrive in perfect order, and I thank you in. the name of the poor people assisted. Nearly 100,000 inhabitants have gone, but still 16,000 remain through love of their little homes. Nearly ail who live their simple life under the German trenches are old men. women and children. Many of the fathers have fallen, leaving 4000 little ones to bring up. ( The war will be a hard struggle, but' we have learnt from it what we shall never forget, and have gamed fervent friends. Your friendship helps and sustains us, but we wish to say to you in return, "Count surely upon us, we will hold on easily until victory is assured."