The arrival of the refugees in Constantinople created a new and tremendous demand for aid. The Red Crescent immediately forwarded another Lt. 7500 to the prefecture of the town, and housed thousands of the unfortunate emigrants in old Konaks (palaces) and in temporary sheds. Committees of investigation and distribution were organized in the chief provincial centers to which the government sent the refugees and bread or money doled out.
The Ladies’ Section of the Red Crescent Society has proved most active on behalf of the patients and refugees. Societies were formed for the cutting and sewing of linen, of which the hospitals were continually in need, and the garments made reached the total of 70,000.
The foregoing facts (culled from the columns of the Jeune Turc), brief and incomplete as they are, suffice to show, however, that the energies of the Red Crescent Society have been severely taxed during the present terrible happenings, and it is an act of justice as well as one of keen satisfaction to say that these energies have been not drained but richly developed by the call made upon them.
In the present emergency the Red Crescent has been generously supported by the Red Cross Societies of different countries. Sisters of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent have worked shoulder to shoulder in alleviating suffering, as shown by the photograph herewith inclosed of the Imperial Hospital in Nichantache, Constantinople, kindly furnished by the Phebus Atelier.
Savages Four Hundred Years Ago
Writing from Konia, January 15, Dr. Dodd sends in the following about an old Moslem priest:
“An old Turkish hodja named Saduk Effendi called today and said he came for the special purpose of asking me to give his thanks to the people in America who are sending help to the poor here. I report his words as near as I can do so. ‘May the Lord of the Universe, the God of all men, who are all of one family on this earth, look graciously upon those who have shown such love and kindness. The servants of God here will always remember and rejoice in these good deeds. How wonderful that a people that were only savages four hundred years ago should have awakened to such noble deeds! When shall we have such an awakening?’”
AMERICAN RED CROSS WORK IN BROUSSA.