THE SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2540, 14 August 1915, Page 3

THE SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL.

LORD DEVONPORT'S APPEAL. Sir, —I am venturing to 'ask for tho opportunity of making known through your columns to a more than generous public the special and pressing needs of ail institution which for three generations has cared for the welfaro of sick and injured seamen of the mercantile marine. Hie Seamen's Hospital at Greenwich is not in any sense a local institution—its doors are always wide not merely to the sailor tradiug to and from the Port of London, but to every man of our vast merchant navy from every port both in the United Kingdom and the British Empire—indeed, of the world. Here they are always sure of sympathetic, reception and humane and skilled treatment within tho limits of its capacity and capabilities. Not one has over been turned away. The naval side of this devastating war, with the German High Seas Fleet in retirement, has, so far as our enomy is concorned, been mainly directed by piratical and dastardly methods against our unarmed, defenceless merchant navy. But whatever the risk, the gallant seamen who man it havo never been deterred for one moment from following their calling and kecpuig the flag flying. In addition to those who sail undor the Red Ensign on the trade routes to and from all parts of the Empire and of the world, thousands, indeed tons of thousands, of brave sailorraen havo volunteered and are scrying on fleet auxiliaries under the \\ lute Ensign of the Royal Navy. In the midst of danger and always exposed to perils on every hand, whether as mine-sweepers or transport servico, patrol work, or in whatever capacity it may be) they have aroused throughout tho country a. feeling of intense admiration for their courago and devotion to duty in such hazardous times. The efforts of the Seamen s Hospital to meet tho expanding demands on its tfpaco and skilled staff aro much restricted at this all-important juncture by a lack of funds, and the increasing strain makes an appeal lor gonerous support from the public at this moment justifiable and necessary. i To enable the hospital to grapple efliciently ami expeditiously with imperative needs, its capacity of 300 beds requires to bo largely extended; isolation wards aro altogether lacking, tho X-Kay and electrical equipment is out of date and requires modernising, tho nursing staff is

commodation—at present as many as five nurses are obliged to occupy one sleeping apartment, and separate quarters for quiet and rest when off duty are not available. Lifts aro lacking throughout the hospital, and unnecessary suffering is caused in consequence, tho patients having to be carried up and down stairs in course of- treatment and to. and from the operating theatre. A special appeal committee, influential and representative, is working to secure tho means_ to achieve the objects wo have in view. I have been requested to act as its chairman. To undertake all that is necessary we require not less than £30,000, a large sum to raise with so many competing claims, but recognising, as I am confident wo all do, our indebtedness to the gallant merchant seamen for maintaming our trade and commerce on the seas and the perils they run in so doing, I ask with confidenco for such a measure of support from the Empire as will make this appeal a'success. I shall be glad to receive contributions in. aid of the Appeal Fund at 41 Grosvenor Place, S.W.—I am, cto., • DEVONPORT, Chairman of Port of London Authority, • London, E.C. ! June, 1915.