FRENCH RED CROSS SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2344, 29 December 1914, Page 6

FRENCH RED CROSS SOCIETY

BRITISH AMBULANCE COMMITTEE MOTOR CARS FOR THE WOUNDED. (To the Editor.) Sir,—France has used up nearly all tho motor-cars available for ambulance work. The wounded of our gallant allay are suffering terribly owing to tho dolay in transport from the front to the nearcat hospital available. Many have died ironi blood-poisoning who might, with quicker and more' sanitary transport, nave been saved. Every French soldier •sent backas an efficient unit to the lighting Ime is an asset in favour of our combined success, and many British wounded have in the first instance been juccoured by officials of the French Red Cross Society. Now that the English people have done what was urgent in this matter for our own Army, we venture to ask you, sir, to oi>en your columns to this appeal for motor-care for the French Red Cross Society and iundfl for their upkeep, as it will be apparent that the needs of so large a force m the field aro very great. The Queen has been graciously pleased to say that "Her Majesty fully sympathises with the objects of the British Amoulance Committee in its,work on behalf of the French Red Cross. Society, and she wishes tho committee every success in their efforts." Queen Alexandra has permitted us to annoxmce that "Her Majesty has expressed her sympathetic' interest in the principles of the scheme referring to the British Ambulance Committee, whose offer of help has oeen accepfSS by tne Froncli Government and the French Red Cross Society." The Prince of Wales allows us to publish the fact that "His Royal Highness was much interested to hear of the assistance which the British Ambulance Committee propose to givo to the French Red Cross Society, and hopes that tho scheme will meet with the success it deserves."

Through His Excellency the French Ambassador in London, we have received from the French Government their "hearty approval of tho scheme"; and tho French Red Cross Society has gladly learnt of the dosiro ot our committee to co-operate as soon as possible and to make this appeal in your columns; they write that they "accept the offer with all the 'more gratitude because in many directions the,ambulance transport of tho French Army has almost broken down." -.

We think it right to remind your -readers of the following reaeons for our appeal for money:—(a) The front held by the French troops is at leaet sis times as long ee that held by our own. (b) With less population than ours, the French have nearly ten times more soldiers in the field, (c) Since nearly «!«• whole of the active male population of France is under military orders, there is hardly anyone left to whom the Jrench authorities can appeal for more voluntary assistance now the supply of French motor-cars has been used up. (d) Belgium and Franco havo supplied tho battleground for a war which has not yet inflicted any of the horrors of invasion upon England; and the districts devastated by Germany are precisely those which, in coal-fields and in beet-sugar, are among the wealthiest in France; so that the damage done already is equivalent to the war-indem-nity paid by France in 1871. With your permission, sir, we can sketch quite briefly the kind of help required. 1. When cars aro lent us, the owners can drive themselves and bring their own ir-echaiuo. 2. Owners'can'drive themselves and fie provided with a mechanic 3. Owners can send' their cars alone. 4. No uniform ia permitted to either driver or mechanic, who must each wear ordinary civilian dress, with only the distinguishing badges provided by the French Red Cross Society. 6. The French Red Cross Society will arrange these cars in units of six, each unit being under tho control of one officer. It would therefore be possible for a group of half a dozen friends to begin work together if they wish. 6. A central depot in London is being arranged for the committee, the. address of which will very shortly.be announced, and here all cars offered will be inspected. The dimensions stated by the Hon. Arthur Stanley for the Britieh Red Cross Society are recommended. When approved, the cars will be converted and forwarded in groups of six by the committee, either to the French Red Cross central depot in Parie or to some point selected for tho committee by the French Red Crose Society. The larger proportion of the driving will be at night and acrose country or along unfrequented roads. 7. Owners who drive and drivers or mechanics coming from England will have to sign an agreement that they will make no communication to the Press from the time of tho registration of their car until it is discharged from duty, and they will be entirely under the military control and discipline of the region in which they are to work. Anyone sent over (as owner, driver, mechanic, or in any other capacity) by the committee, will have to satisfy us that he has been vaccinated for smallpox within the last seven years; and he must also produce a medical certificate of successful inoculation l for typhoid. 8. Cars should be lent to the French Red Cross Society, through our committee, for a minimum period of three months. A minimum expenditure of £50 upon each car supplied is necessary to convert it into an ambulance and complete its outfit, and the co6t of maintenance is estimated at about £10 a week, so that those who may have no cars of their own to lend are urgently requested to send subscriptions towards the.first sum of £50,000 with which' the committee propose to begin to carry out their purpose. The committee feel that not only in the "United Kingdom, but in all our colonies and in tho United States, there must be many friends of France who will be glad to contribute to this fund; and we shall be greatly indebted to .you, Sir, if you will be Rood enough to ask ail gentlemen desirous of lending their cars, under the conditions stated, to communicate with Mr. B. Peymau (hon. secretary) at Queen Anne's Mansions, Westminster, S.W. Provided we i«ceive funds for their maintenance, wo can already send the French Rod Cross Society more than five full units (or thirty cars) which have been promised, and wo feel every confidence that tho public, when they cannot send us their own motors, will generously assist so good a cause by sending to Mr. Peymnn, or to Barclay's Bank, 54 Lombard Street, London, E.C., the uubsoruptions which are essential to its success. Portland Theodore A. Cook (Hon. President) M. de Coppet Francis Bertie K. Cramer Paul Cambon A. de Fleuriau (Hon. Vice-Presdts.)S Ormesby Gore Charles Beresford A. Barton Kent (Chairman) Walter Long Bnthuret W. Poako Mason lilyth Portman Oliassoloup-Lanbat Tj. Swinburne Combermerc H. Want-ago G Cecil-Baker B. Peymau (Hon. Sees.)