RED CROSS COMFORTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16167, 22 March 1918, Page 6

RED CROSS COMFORTS.

DO THEY REACH THE SOLDIER? At yesterday's meeting of the Red Cross Executive, an interesting report was read from the Red Cross Commissioner in France, to Lord Ranfurly, relative to a complaint conveyed through the Christchurch Red Cross to the effect that at a certain hospital in France the Red Cross comforts, such as pyjamas and vests, did not get past; the oincers. The Commissioner in tlit> course of his report stated: "1 have been making enquiries from my Director of btores, who lias been at this work, since the very commencement of hostilities, and he assures me that it is quite incorrect that auy distinction whatever is made between officers and men m our hospitals in France in the matter of lied Cross supplies. lam quite certain that this statement on the part of my Director of Stores is the exact truth. The hospital in question is in practically the same position as any otner liaso hospital as far as the supply of Red Cross comforts goes. All general and base hospitals are supplied mainly from Army stores, and there is never any lack of pyjamas and vests. Should there be any, our stores are immediately indented on, and without a moment's delay the requisition of the Commanding Officer is complied with. It is to the more advanced units—advanced dressing stations, casualty clearing stations — t>iat Red Cross stores chiefly are consigned. In these advanced units there is absolutely no distinction whatever between officers and men in the supply of Red Cross clothes and comforts." The Commissioner added that during a recent "push" there was distributed in 21 days Red Cross clothes and comforts to the value of £28,000. "I am fully alive/' he wrote in conclusion, ''to the generous fashion in which the people of New Zealand have contributed Red Cross stores, and I appreciate that generosity morer highly than I can say. Wo, on our part, try hard to pay attention to New Zealand medical units, and this is the first instance of any complaint of lack of attention in respect of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force that has reached me." The Commissioner gave a list of stores supplied to the hospital in question between May 11th and October 21st last, wliich contained such entries as: 80,000 cigarettes, 401b tobacco, 50 operation gowns, 2300 face flannels, 190 Jaconet pillowcases, 450 pyjamas, and 200 mufflers. The chairman of the executive (Mr Arthur E G. Rhodes) remarked that it was difficult to believe, in face of these quantities, that the distribution did not get beyond the officers. General satisfaction was expressed with the information contained in the report.