FIRST AID DEPARTMENT

By William Lathrop McClure.

Going to the smart new office building of the Canton Bank, passing shops filled with the weird and bizarre merchandise of the Orient, passing blouse-clad forms shuffling by on heelless boat-shaped sandals—truly, I think, this cannot be the old Chinese quarter of San Francisco. These are clean streets, these buildings are handsome, this public school is of concrete faced with bright blue tiles and filled with smiling little Chinese men and women. Sanitary? Yes, but still picturesque. Soon this ancient race will weave exotic mystery and charm about steel-girdered walls and balconies will bulge with great globular lanterns of oiled paper swinging in the wind. For some days to come Chinese ladies with “lily feet” will look down over their tulips upon the crowded street, andwish for the Good Lady Festival that they may wear their brocade and gold abroad, even as “other” women.

NEW CHINESE QUARTER. SAN FRANCISCO.

But the old order changeth. New China does not brook the “cycle of Cathay.” And here, in the Canton Bank Building, under the wing of the American National Red Cross, has grown a flourishing offshoot of the Grand Legion of the Red Cross, of the California Branch, that has, in the vernacular of the street, “made good.” For a while—a short while—it was contented to be one detachment: then it became a twin; now its membership has reached about the hundredth mark, with supporting members. We watch this changeling with surprise. It needs no nursing.

THE CHINESE RELIEF COLUMN OF THE CALIFORNIA RED CROSS.

Saturday evening, March 27, 1909, saw the hall of the Chinese Presbyterian Church so crowded that a burly policeman had the doubtful pleasure of turning away visitors of both races. Inside was filled with merchants and their families—the men on one side, the women and children on the other. The Consul, in a robe of biscuit brocade, followed by his suite, entered and aroused the interested glances of Caucasian and Oriental alike. Like flowers, bloomed from the dark blue background of the bloused and trousered women, a parterre of babies in cap and gown of purple, blue and rose. Tiny ques and tiny sandals, smiling faces, and not a whimper the long evening through.

Under the guidance and by the gracious courtesy of Donaldine Cameron, a noble friend of Chinese womanhood, a choir of Chinese young ladies sang the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Later the audience rose to the “Star Spangled Banner,” most beautifully rendered by Miss Wong in a clear mezzo-soprano. The program—partly interpreted by Mr. Wong, partly in Chinese—closed in a glory of flashlight, the sudden burst raising pandemonium among the baby choir, who were “velly much ’flaid.” A small dog smuggled in under the blouse of Lee Ching, a real boy, supplied the necessary bass for the tiny Celestial singers.

Organized by Dr. G. H. Richardson and the writer, the welfare of this successful detachment has been splendidly nourished by Dr. Mark Neumann, the Medical Director. From occupying the “parlors” of the Chinese Native Sonsof the Golden State, its members became ambitious to have quarters of their own. Dr. Neumann donated his waiting room. On one wall hangs the Dragon and the Stars and Stripes about a Red Cross on a field of white. On another the portrait of President Taft; on the third, beautifully written in Chinese characters, the By-laws of the Legion and the Proposed Women’s Auxiliary. Often a silk-trousered Chinese lady, with polished hair ornamented by fine workmanship of jade and gold, sits before these by-laws studying them seriously, beginning at the upper right hand corner and reading downward.

THEATRE WHERE THE CHINESE HELD AN ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RED CROSS.

Most remarkable will be the evolution of a Women’s Auxiliary to the Red Cross Legion; most remarkable to those best acquainted with Chinese life and character. It is an emergence from sheltered living, a setting aside of a custom scarce permitting a Chinese young lady to appear upon the street. One does not even talk to a Chinese gentleman about his household. But there is a precedent. Chinese ladies are going about the streets of the great ports of New China obeying the calls of humanity and the voice of recent ideals of social development and service. For China has a Red Cross.

A Chinese merchant rarely calls upon a male physician for his family, but an up-to-date woman physician is welcome in the families of the educated. Favorable as is one’s impression of the prosperity, intelligence and generosity of our Chinese friends; the advantages of enlightened medical knowledge and sanitary science among them in San Francisco, not to mention the vast interior of the Chinese Empire itself, cannot be overestimated.

It is one of the functions of the Red Cross to create and foster enduring friendship between nations. War is often the instrument of passion rather than equity. Whether war is eternal or not the function of the Red Cross is to be neutral and to heal. With acquaintance comes understanding. We have our superstitions regarding the Chinese; they have theirs regarding us. Beyond the Pacific the pulse of a mighty nation is quickening, and through the GoldenGate the young Chinese will soon be lured by opportunity to the Flowery Kingdom. Nor will they go as student, tourist or commercial man alone. Slow, indeed, will be the opening of the vast interior. The intelligently trained Mongolian is a great organizer and China’s metropolitan progress will be swift. Since the fire the evolution of the Chinese quarter has been marvelous. Some undesirable conditions still exist, but measuring by these only heightens the achievement of the progressive.

A YOUNG GIRL OF THE CHINESE QUARTER.

Across the Western seas New China wakes from sleep,And hearts of exiled sons in filial answer leap;Her sons with quickened pulse of other lands,Shall hold the mother’s future in their hands.We may not flatter yet that we have done our part,We may not now forget the foes at China’s heart.She asks our friendship now, the same she had of old,That she may hold secure her crown of jade and gold.Our neighbor, separate only by the restless sea,Yet linked by ships, the birds of commerce, bold and free;Let us not fail the higher duty, man to man,Which lights the world and thus reveals the master plan.

Across the Western seas New China wakes from sleep,And hearts of exiled sons in filial answer leap;Her sons with quickened pulse of other lands,Shall hold the mother’s future in their hands.

Across the Western seas New China wakes from sleep,

And hearts of exiled sons in filial answer leap;

Her sons with quickened pulse of other lands,

Shall hold the mother’s future in their hands.

We may not flatter yet that we have done our part,We may not now forget the foes at China’s heart.She asks our friendship now, the same she had of old,That she may hold secure her crown of jade and gold.

We may not flatter yet that we have done our part,

We may not now forget the foes at China’s heart.

She asks our friendship now, the same she had of old,

That she may hold secure her crown of jade and gold.

Our neighbor, separate only by the restless sea,Yet linked by ships, the birds of commerce, bold and free;Let us not fail the higher duty, man to man,Which lights the world and thus reveals the master plan.

Our neighbor, separate only by the restless sea,

Yet linked by ships, the birds of commerce, bold and free;

Let us not fail the higher duty, man to man,

Which lights the world and thus reveals the master plan.

The practical value of First Aid instructions as instrumental in saving life was demonstrated by Lee Wong, a member of the Chinese Detachment, First Legion, State of California, who applied continuous pressure upon the artery of a man wounded by a knife until the arrival of a physician.

Mr. Tinyut Lee, an active member of the Chinese Detachment, who made a remarkable record for the sale of Christmas and New Year stamps in the Chinese Colony, promised to excel that achievement by 800 per cent. As the colony has had no theatre since the fire rendered 23,000 Chinese homeless, this resourceful detachment hired the Oriental Theater, a clean moving-picture resort in the heart of the quarter, to swell its bank account. This benefit, with 5 cent tickets, netted $40. The Detachment has paid into the California Branch treasury $87. It is now contemplating a Red Cross Hospital, and plans are being prepared for a home nursing course for Chinese young women.

Members of the Columbia Park Boys’ Club Detachment, who did not accompany that organization to Australia, were equipped with a first-aid outfit for their summer outing at Cloverdale.

Dr. G. H. Richardson, Field Agent of the California State Branch, has completed his course of lectures to the Merchant Marine on First Aid. His important work has been highly appreciated and a movement to repeat them at many ports is advocated. This is pioneer work for the Red Cross among sailors and Dr. Richardson is to be congratulated on his faithful and disinterested service. The masters, mates and pilots of Lodge Harbor 15, before whom he has been lecturing, have placed upon record their appreciation of his efforts in their behalf.

I have the honor to submit the following data about the organization and equipment of the Illinois First-Aid Corps of the Red Cross:

The Illinois organization was officially born January 11, 1909—that is to say, less than five months ago. On that day the reporter was appointed Director-in-chief of the Illinois units to be organized. Within a few days after the Illinois Branch was handed about forty applications as a nucleus.

These new members who joined the American National Red Cross, and at the same time the First Relief Column, were not gathered in a few days, but represented a loyal band of men and women who had joined in 1908 an independent, private first-aid corps under my command.

All the officers were fully uniformed, practically in accordance with army regulations. The fact, however, that the Relief Column officers have no distinctly military rank and that the regulations in Major Lynch’s text-book would compel them to remove the coat-of-arms from the cap, the buttons, and the insignia of rank from the straps; possibly, also, to lay aside their sidearms (there being no mention of sidearms) produced such intense opposition that for a time I feared not a single one with whom I had been associated in our attempt to raise a first-aid brigade would remain with me. And for one man to do all the work and to look for congenial co-workers all over again appeared a Herculean task. It was then that I submitted in writing certain propositions to Mr. Ravell, Secretary of the Illinois Branch, who agreed to place them before the Central Committee at Washington. On his return from Washington last December I was advised that we could retain the caps and adopt more suitable collar insignia, so that there remained but one objection, viz, lack of military rank for the officers.

OFFICERS OF THE FIRST ILLINOIS LEGION.

However, with the objected-to features of the uniform overcome, I assured the officers that if they would go to work and aid me in the organization so that we could show the American people that we have the personnel, if not the material equipment, I would do all in my power to induce the authorities to grant us a certain status, which, though not equivalent to that enjoyed by the National Guard, would still mean more than empty titles beautifully engrossed in “commissions” signed by a few private citizens. This had the desired effect. Immediately after my appointment I called them together and delivered an impassioned address. I pointed out to them the seriousness of the step, the great responsibility it involves, the sacredness of the work to be done and the honor and prestige that is to be ours if we succeed. I made them pledge to observe the strictest possible discipline, to obey implicitly, and to respond to any call issued by the proper authorities.

A week later all our former members, new friends, patients of mine—in short, any one who could be reached—were called to attend a meeting in the parlor of a large hostelry, and the work of organization was begun in earnest.

For about two months bi-weekly lectures were delivered at hotel parlors. An independent detachment which had been associated with a fraternal organization was induced to join our column as a body. We agreed to accept them without the Legion dues by merely paying for membership in the Red Cross. The evening that body of young men in uniform entered the lecture hall in military order new life was infused, especially among the male members. I was repeatedly besieged by them with the request to supply them with uniforms and to take them to some place where they could learn how to march, carry litters, transport patients, etc.

I promised them all these things for the near future. As I am myself living in moderate circumstances, and as our Legion dues of $1 per annum (we had to make the dues low to enable the poorest working man and working woman to join) were not sufficient to pay for the most urgent needs, I presented myself to our Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dr. L. L. McArthur, and laid the matter before him. He finally consented to our appealing to certain private citizens when I was supported in my contentions by the Secretary and by Colonel Gordon C. Strong, I. N. G., a member of the Executive Committee, and a gentleman, by the way, to whom we are indebted for many services rendered the organization and your reporter.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee Mr. J. Spoor, president of the Union Stock Yards, promised to fully equip a detachment of 22 men recruited in the yards. He not only paid for 22 uniforms, but equipped that detachment with hospital pouches, canteens, litters, and a national flag.

FIRST COLUMN FIRST ILLINOIS LEGION READY FOR INSPECTION BY REVIEWING OFFICER.

Four detachments were completed by this time. The day a fifth one was completed I recommended to the committee that the entire command be officially declared as the “First Illinois Legion,” for there were then already indications that detachments would soon be organized in other cities in Illinois, and, in fact, detachments will be completed in the near future in Springfield, Joliet and Decatur, all depending on the writer’s ability to go to these towns and perfect the details. Our aim is not only to raise the full quota for this Legion, but to have in Chicago two legions and a third one distributed through the State.

At about the same time Colonel Strong induced Captain Maurice Woolman, commanding Battery B, Illinois National Guard, to let us have his armory at the cost of expense ($15 monthly). We occupy that armory every Thursday evening. Captain Woolman was so pleased with our men, who began drilling in civilian suits, that he consented to act as military instructor to the First Legion, and since has attended every drill and instructed the officers in infantry tactics.

But the most important thing had yet to be done. We had to secure uniforms to enable the men to participate in the Memorial Day parade. I interviewedthe Hon. Lambert Tree, and that gentleman subscribed $100. I also sent a dozen letters to prominent citizens, who, I knew, were familiar with the aims of the Red Cross. Only one so far responded with $10. But that was a beginning, and Dr. McArthur, after learning of my efforts to raise enough to uniform the men made us all happy by calling me into his office and telling me to have all the men uniformed, that he would guarantee the bill, though I must raise the money within 90 days. The firm honored Dr. McArthur’s guarantee, and when his action was announced to the assembled detachments all military discipline was thrown to the winds and our boys yelled themselves hoarse. The uniforms are good regulation khaki. We have now a total of 121 service uniforms for enlisted men and non-commissioned officers.

Each uniform consists of: Campaign hat with maroon cord, blouse with the letters “Ill.” and a large Red Cross button on the collar, one pair of trousers, one regulation belt, one pair leggings. Each man has a pair of tan shoes (private property). One detachment has pouches and canteens. Each detachment has a guidon (five in all). We have at our disposal 19 regulation army litters. Several of them are private property, but available.

The writer is chief surgeon to the Abraham Lincoln Hospital, with a capacity of 32 beds and a complete operating room outfit, laboratory, etc. This hospital is at the disposal of the Executive Committee without any expense for board, nursing or service.

The total strength of our personnel is as follows:

This report is not satisfactory to us from a numerical standpoint because we have paid no attention to recruiting owing to the proximity of Memorial Day, having strained every nerve to drill the men so as to make a creditable showing.

Work Done.—Lectures delivered (bi-weekly) during January, February and March. Drills (weekly) during April and May. Sunday, May 23, the entire command assembled at the armory at 10 a. m. and accompanied Battery B to divine service. They marched in orderly fashion and were very dignified. At 1.30 p. m. the command met a second time at Rose Hill Cemetery and assisted in the ceremonies. Conduct and appearance elicited hearty approval from G. A. R. speakers.

DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS, FIRST ILLINOIS LEGION, A. N. R. C.

Decoration Day Parade.—The writer was marshal of the 5th Division. None but Red Cross officers were selected for the staff. They were all in dress uniforms, sidearms, and were decently mounted. The Red Cross detachments marched in the center of the division with their bugle and drum corps, colors flying. Several detachments carried litters. I noted that the people greeted the command with hearty applause. General Grant and Governor Deneen, who reviewed the parade, seemed interested. No less an officer than Colonel Van Hoff, Chief Medical Officer, Department of the Lakes, who witnessed the procession, admitted that we made a fine showing. I have been assured by many military men that our men marched as well as any seasoned troops. We certainly have succeeded in raising a feeling of pride in the breasts of our men for their organization.

But we have only begun. We must now proceed to increase our organization all over the State. The writer will be compelled to visit cities, deliver addresses and “incite” the organizers to activity. Our medical officers will be compelled to attend courses in military hygiene and surgery, which I will deliver from August 15 to September 30. Lectures and drills will go on. In July the command will be taken out on a three-day “hike.” The money for this will be raised by a concert and ball. This “hike” will enable us to teach our officers the rudiments of military map-making and map-reading (topography). But all these efforts fall into insignificance compared with the task before me of raising funds to pay off the debt guaranteed by Dr. McArthur and to equip the new members, several hundred of whom are expected to join within a few weeks. We need more litters, pouches, dressings, tents, bedding, transport wagons, ambulances, wheeled litters, all of which are requisites for an emergency.I am aware that in times of disaster the State will aid us with its equipment of tents, kitchens, etc., yet I feel that we must have at our disposal a field hospital—at least 100 stretchers, folding cots, bedding, blankets, surgical appliances, kitchen (field), a transportable x-ray machine, etc.

I also realize that there must be a system at the very beginning, and within a few days books will be prepared in which all information about the personnel will be recorded for reference in an emergency. Something like that has been done already, but I intend to learn who can be depended upon to respond to a call—their ’phones, business, social status, and the like.

I am disheartened when I look at the figures tabulated in England, Germany, Japan and Australia, with their thousands of men and women, and millions in property. I am anxious to do my share, but I feel confident that success would come surer and faster if the following suggestions were carried out:

1. Reorganization of the First-Aid Department with national and State chiefs.

2. Proper descriptive nomenclature for the entire corps, State Divisions and units.

3. A definite military status for officers and men. Even such terms as “detachment commander,” “column commander,” etc., would be better than “assistant director,” “director,” etc.

4. Aid in material by the government.

5. Preparation of “rules and regulations” on a similar plan to that used in the army, to insure uniformity and discipline.

6. Uniform stationery, blanks, enlistment pledges, vouchers and similar equipment to be issued from the main headquarters.

7. Assignment of medical officers of the army to diverse States as instructors and teachers.

8. The Red Cross to participate in army maneuvers.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully,

GUSTAVUS M. BLECH.

Editor’s Note.—The second part of the entertainment given for the benefit of the First Illinois Legion of the Red Cross was devoted to an interesting exhibition of its training and drills.

Litter Drill—Detachment B, H. H. Wood commanding.

First Aid to Injured—Detachment D, Harry L. Coon commanding.

Exhibition Drill—Detachment C, John A. Stedge commanding.

Important announcement of first aid till the doctor comes for camp, summer school, home, shop. The American National Red Cross and the International Committee of Young Men’s Christian Associations will grant joint certificates in first aid to the injured, signed by President William H. Taft and a representative of the International Committee, to men and boys completing the requirements.

What to do for broken limbs, hemorrhage, poisoning, sunstroke, lockjaw, cramps, drowning, scalds, burns, cuts, bruises, etc.

Examination (August 25). Part practice, part written. Cost, 25 cents each person.

For any Association boy or man. A short course—10 lessons. Teacher—a doctor or physical director. In camp, at home, anywhere. Any text book.

Certificate granted to those with passing grade of 75 per cent. or above in examination. No extra charge.

For further particulars, see or write Secretary, Young Men’s Christian Association, or Educational Department, International Committee, 124 East Twenty-eighth street, New York.

This certifies that __________ has satisfactorily completed the elementary course of study and passed the examination in first aid to the injured at the Young Men’s Christian Association, __________.

For the American Red Cross:

WM. H. TAFT,President.

For the International Committee, Educational Department:

FREDERIC B. PRATT,Chairman.

August 18, 1909.

Hon.William H. Taft,President Red Cross Society, War Department, Washington, D. C.

My Honored Sir: On the 17th of July, while traveling on the Canadian Pacific Railway, near Fields, B. C., I met with a distressing accident by having two of my fingers almost mashed off by being pinched by the car door. We had no doctor on the train at that time, but fortunately a Red Cross man from Philadelphia, Mr Joseph A. Steinmetz, was on the train. He came quickly to my relief, bound up my fingers as best he could, and was the embodiment of kindness and sympathy itself. I appreciate his services very much and desire to become a life member of a society that is doing so much everywhere to relieve suffering.

I therefore enclose you my check for $25.00, and, if agreeable to your society, would thank you to send me a life membership certificate.

With deep appreciation of the service of your secretary from Pennsylvania, I am, very sincerely yours,

E. S. HACKNEY.

Mr. Hackney also sent a contribution to the Pennsylvania Red Cross.

IMPROVISED AMBULANCE—OFFENBACH SYSTEM. LEADERS AND DOCTORS’ MEETING AT MAYENCE.

METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION TO SHIPS. (SANITARY COLUMNS—HOCHHEIM).

During 1908 the members of the German Red Cross Relief Columns gave assistance in 8,268 cases of accidents, 4,643 of which occurred in factories, showing the value of first aid instruction among men employed in manufactories.

IMPROVISED BICYCLE AMBULANCE. COLLIE DOG TRAINED TO SEARCH FOR WOUNDED. (SANITARY COLUMNS—BROSKAW.)

Das Rothe Kreuz, the official organ of the German Red Cross, gives interestingaccounts of the great assistance rendered by the Relief Columns of Nuremberg in the earlier part of the year and also of that given by the Relief Columns of Osterburg and Seehausen after floods in their respective neighborhoods in November, 1908, and February, 1909. The Osterburg Column had already proved its usefulness after a railroad accident in 1903. Since then it had established an alarm system and by means of this it was quickly called into active service. Provided with boats placed at its disposition for this work, its members rescued many, and to others, who were cut off from the outside world by the flood, carried food and other supplies until the waters subsided. In some cases persons who were ill were carried in wheel ambulances on the boats and then transferred to the hospital at Osterburg. In February the Seehausen Column proved of service in its neighborhood. Its wheel ambulance stands always at the market place near the bridge, its station being marked by a Red Cross flag. These facts are a new proof of the value of these columns to any community and that they can provide faithful and capable assistance in every kind of accident.

METHOD OF TRANSPORTING WOUNDED FROM THE BATTLEFIELD. (SANITARY COLUMNS—KONIGSHUTTER.)

[FromDaily Mail(Great Britain), August 18, 1909.]

We are enabled to give to-day full details of one of the most remarkable developments of the voluntary principle in English life. It is a scheme which makes a great and comprehensive effort to enlist the patriotic services of all classes for a humane purpose—the succor of the sick and wounded in war. Further, the scheme will associate with the Territorial Force thousands, including women, who can not themselves serve in our army for home defense.

The War Office, the County Association, and the British Red Cross Societyare all engaged in the appeals which will be put forward from to-day to members for the general purpose of urging them to join the new Red Cross detachments which are to train for the assistance of the Territorial Army Medical Corps in war. No one need be left out. In the detachments may be included peers, peeresses, landowners, ladies of the manor, squires, squires’ wives, local doctors, trained nurses, chemists, chemists’ assistants, carpenters, women cooks, joiners, smiths, drivers, mechanics, grocers, and butchers.

Many other occupations could be named whose everyday knowledge would be of special utility in war. All will be welcomed in the new “organization of voluntary aid in England and Wales,” the proposals for which were yesterday submitted to the County Associations and the Branches of the British Red Cross Society.

Its details were the work of Sir Alfred Keogh, Inspector-General of the Army Medical Service at the War Office, backed by the enthusiastic assistance of Sir Frederick Treves, the famous surgeon, whose experiences in South Africa have given him an unequalled expert knowledge, and Sir Richard Temple. Already there exists an organization which would come into active operation the moment war is declared, and which provides for the manning of general hospitals throughout the kingdom.

To these, scattered all over the country, in Cambridge, Brighton, London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and elsewhere, are attached all the best medical men in Great Britain. There are, to name only a few, Sir Watson Cheyne, Sir T. Barlow, Sir T. C. Allbut, Sir T. Oliver, Dr. Norman Moore, Dr. Gibson (Edinburgh), and Sir Hector Cameron (Glasgow). The names of these voluntary officers of the force, colonels, majors, and captains, who only assume their rank in war time, fill twenty-four columns of this month’sArmy List.

To them would fall the task of succoring the sick and wounded who were brought to them from the field hospital and the ambulances. Unlike France and Germany, we have no line of communication by which the victims of war can be passed from the fighting line to safety in the hospital far in the rear. The Red Cross Society and the English people are now asked to meet the want. The scheme is so to train the inhabitants of our towns and villages that they can render first aid after a battle, convey the wounded to the nearest hospital, and forward them on through a chain of similar units from rest house to rest house till the base hospital is reached.

Sir Alfred Keogh has so planned his proposals that no one in future will be able to say that he or she can not assist in the duties of the Territorial Force. He takes the village as a unit. In each he places a Red Cross detachment, in which both men and women may share. The commandant may be some one of leading in the place, and the women’s portion of the detachment will have a lady superintendent, a position which, it is hoped, some one of note will always be ready to fill.

Every voluntary aid detachment will be so arranged as to admit of dividing into two complete half detachments, thus:

Men—Commandant, medical officer, quartermaster, pharmacist, assistant pharmacist, under officer and 12 men; assistant commandant, medical officer, quartermaster, pharmacist, assistant pharmacist, under officer and 12 men.

Women—Commandant (medical officer), quartermaster, lady superintendent, ten women (including one trained nurse); assistant commandant (medical officer), assistant quartermaster, lady superintendent, ten women (including one trained nurse).

Under the commandant will be two sections, each commanded by an officer, who ought to be the village doctor. Their under officers will again be the chemist and his assistants. The men of the sections will be made up of tradesmen and workmen. Each will have an assigned duty. The carpenter and the smith would train to convert the church and the school into a hospital, make ready carriages and carts to convey wounded and sick, and fit up railway wagons, coal trucks, and the like for a similar use.

Others would prepare in peace time, so that when mobilized they could go to a house here or a house there, obtain beds promised beforehand, and fit them up in the temporary hospital, procure tables for operations, lay in the necessary food and fuel. Under the lady superintendent is to be the trained nurse, and her associates are to include those who have volunteered as cooks, and others who will look after the cleanliness of the hospital, wash clothing, and do all those thousand and one tasks which make for the comfort and the restoration to health of ailing men. In the larger towns and cities there may be dozens of these splendid organizations for making less terrible the dreadful results of war.

The Red Cross detachments have no place in our regular service. Because our forces serve over seas the War Office itself provides the necessary chain of hospitals and communications for bringing the wounded to the base. But the Territorial Forces are created only for service at home, and the hope is that those who can not for any reason join its ranks may at least render valuable assistance as members of their local Red Cross detachment.

The Central Council of the Red Cross Society will superintend the scheme, and the local Branches in the counties will cooperate with the various Territorial Associations in carrying out arrangements. The main object will be the base hospital, which is even now part of the Territorial Force organization. Beyond that, however, it is hoped that the Red Cross organizations and the general public may provide a convalescent hospital, where the men wasted by war may recruit before, if necessary, returning to the fighting line.

In time of war the organization would be: Fighting line, Territorial Army Medical Service, field ambulances, clearing hospitals, voluntary aid detachment, rest stations, ambulance trains, general hospital, convalescent depot, and homes.

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