May 25, 1910 
LAND & WATER 
bx 
The French Red Cross 
By Hilaire Belloc 
I HAVE been asked to say a word with regard to the 
claims of the French Red Cross, and, though I have no 
competence in such a matter, I am particularly happy 
to do so from my knowledge of the work which the 
London Committee has accomplished. This Committee 
covers the work done for the French Red Cross not only in 
the United Kingdom, but throughout the Colonies and the 
United States. It was established by, and under the presi- 
dency of, M. Paul Cambon, the French Ambassador, to act 
as a national clearing house for the contributions of the 
British Empire to the Red Cross in France. From small 
beginnings the Committee has grown until its sphere extends 
over the Mrhole of the United Kingdom, the Colonies, and the 
United States. From all parts of the world contributions 
have come in money and in kind, no less than in the form of 
personal services. To collect all this material, to transmit it 
to France, and to distribute it there, where it is most needed, 
is the work of the Committee.' 
Some 25 British hospitals, aggregating over 3,000 beds, 
have been founded, staffed, and run by Great Britain for the 
French wounded. The Committee acts for all of these and 
contributes to their support in a greater or less degree. 
Direct contributions of money ; drugs, dressings, clothing, 
food, and stores have been sent to over 1^200 French hospitals. 
Should resources permit, the Committee will assist the work 
of 4,000 more hospitals which are working unceasingly for 
the French wounded. 
The Committee has sent out over 250 motor cars and motor 
ambulances with British drivers, and these are working in 
convoys close to the trenches, and for base hospitals in every 
part of the country. The Committee has supplied and 
equipped X-ray automobiles, one for each of the ten armies, 
and these are moved to where the need is greatest, diagnosing 
the wounds as they come from the field dressing stations. 
Fixed X-ray installat'ions, douches, disinfectors, sterilizers, 
and other necessary apparatus have been supplied in many 
Red Cross hospitals in regions where the war has swept 
away the resources of the Red Cross Societies. A fairly 
full record of all this work of the Committee may be found 
in the report, " The Work of the French Red Cross," published 
by authority of the Committee. 
"The question as to why Great Britain and her Colonies 
should be making a special effort of this kind may be 
answered in two ways. In the first place, the chief manu- 
facturing provinces of France are occupied by the enemy, 
thereby largely crippling French resources. Since the lirst 
day of the war every able-bodied man has been mobilised, 
and the country is filled with refugees from the invaded 
departments. Many a home has not only lost its bread- 
winner, but is also supporting these refugees. This is a special 
burden which France alone of the western Allies has to bear. 
No such trial as this has been imposed on Britain, where, 
save for the transfer of men from manufacturing to military 
activity, industry is practically unharmed, and the homes of 
the people are virtually secure. 
In the second place, as this war is testing the material 
endurance of every nation, so it is trying the tempers of the 
people. The North-Eastern corner of France, from the 
Channel to the Somme, has seen the British Army and the 
people there know what Britain has done, as dc those in 
authority in France. It has remained, however, for the 
Red Cross to spread throughout the country a special aad 
generous message of good will from Britain, which would 
have been impossible of communication through any other 
channel. It is not long since that the French Minister of War 
pointed out how important it was for the French people t» 
realise the amount of good that had been done by tliis Com- 
mittee in extending and cementing the understanding be- 
tween the two nations, and he begged for continuance and 
renewal of the Committee's efforts. 
The multiplicity of claims upon the public at this moment 
makes it a little difficult to speak for one more than for another, 
but if there is one fund asking for subscriptions which 
thoroughly deserves the support of the public at this time, it 
is this, which is perhaps the most directly useful of all spon- 
taneous actions undertaken in support of the common cause. 
aI 
I 
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