At the beginning of the war the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem each worked separately; soon, however, these two institutions joined their efforts and resources and worked together under the general direction of a Joint War Committee. Recently by a formal agreement this Committee, which had been created solely for war work, has been replaced by a Joint Council. This Council possesses full power to act in all matters connected with the «improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world.» (Extract from Article 25 of the Covenant of the League of Nations).

The Joint Council is now making an earnest appeal to the public for a continuance of the generous support given to the Joint War Committe. In this connection the letter above referred to contains the following passage:

<< It is our earnest hope that those who in peace time are in suffering or distress will learn in the same way to look to the White Cross of St. John and the Red Cross for comfort and relief, and will feel, when helped by the Order of St. John and the British Red Cross Society, that they are not receiving anything in the nature of charity, but only the just and proper tribute from those who are enjoying health and strength to their fellow men and women who are less fortunate than themselves. >>

British relief organizations intend to continue for a certain period some of their war activities, such as, for example: the treatment of tuberculosis, particularly as regards demobilized sailors and soldiers, whether they have contracted the disease on active service or otherwise; financial and other support of voluntary civilian hospitals which, on account of the war, have had to multiply their efforts; institutions of which the object is to supply essential equipment to hospitals and nursing homes, child welfare, support of all forms of nursing, etc.

The Joint Council will also continue to distribute the funds at its disposal to all these various organizations; at the same it considers that it is necessary to make an immediate appeal to the public for funds to support its new activities. The well-known generosity of the British public makes it certain that this appeal will not be in vain.

Conditions of membership.

The Council has decided that from ist June, 1920, the conditions of life membership and membership of the Society shall be determined as follows:

Life members shall be those who make a payment of £ 20 to the Headquarters Fund of the Society.

Members shall be those who pay not less than 4/4 annually to the funds of the Society, either direct to Headquarters or through one of its recognised Branches.

Members of Volontary Aid Detachements raised by the British Red Cross Society who were elected Honorary Members and Honorary Associates of the Society prior to the above date in recognition of five or two years' service respectively, will remain Members or Associates of the Society without payment of subscriptions so long as they remain enrolled as Members of a Detachment raised by the Society. Members of Voluntary Aid Detachments who had on the above date completed one year's service, will be entitled to the same position on the completion of five or two years' service as they would have held under the original scheme for the recognition of service by enrolment as Honorary Members and Honorary Associates.

Red Cross Sunday. The Joint Committee of the British Red Cross and St. John of Jerusalem have decided to make a special effort during October and November for funds with which to carry out the work among the ex-soldiers and sailors who are still in need of treatment, and also to assist the home civil hospitals and curative institutions.

It is hoped that the collections on one Sunday throughout the Kingdom will be given to the Joint Societies and an appeal urging this has been signed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, by Cardinal Bourne and by the heads of all the free churches. The date chosen is Sunday, November 14th. The money

from these collections will be shared with the Imperial War Relief Fund, which, in connection with the League of Red Cross Societies, is dealing with the typhus scourge.

Death of Lady Maria Welby. — The Red Cross cause has suffered a most serious loss by the death of Lady Maria Welby, president of the South Lincolnshire Branch. She has been responsible for Red Cross organisation in South Lincolnshire ever since 1907, when the Lincolnshire County Branch was first started, with the late Countess Brownlow as its president, and Lady Maria Welby as deputy-president for the Southern division of the county. In April 1916, South Lincolnshire was given a separate and independent county status, and a year later, on the death of Lady Brownlow, Lady Maria was formally appointed its president. During all these years, both of peace and of war, she laboured with sustained enthusiasm and energy for the furtherance of the Red Cross cause fin the county, and achieved remarkable success.

GREECE.

Red Cross Workshops. The Greek Red Cross has informed the League of the manner in which its workshops are organised. Though not in constant use, they are always ready for work and are at the disposal of the League for making clothes. In agreement with the Patriotic League of Athens, the Society has decided to supply 15,000 garments made with the cloth sent by the League and following the latter's instructions.

ITALY.

New Articles of Association of the Italian Red Cross. As already stated, the Italian Red Cross initiated its peace work by a complete revision of its Articles of Association, the former Articles, dated February 1911, being no longer suitable to the existing situation. The new Articles, approved by royal decree of May 9, 1920, have recently been published and were approved by the Ministers of War and Marine on January 21 of the current year.

Without going into questions of detail, we will here quote the most important amendments.

The principal objects of the Italian Red Cross are the following: in times of war, in its capacity of auxiliary service of the Department of Health of the armies by land and by sea, to render assistance by every means in its power to the sick and wounded; in times of peace, to render assistance in all cases of public disaster, to develop its welfare activities for the benefit of the inhabitants, in all cases acting in harmony with the official authorities; to co-operate with the various humanitarian and social activities dictated dy the requirements of public health.

The new Articles of Association define this part of the programme, suggesting that the Society should:

Render assistance in case of earthquakes, floods, epidemics, etc.

Organise and direct permanent and provisional welfare activities in favour of the urban and rural populations, more especially with regard to the needy classes. Combat the spread of malaria, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, trachoma etc., by encouraging scientific research and educational methods of prophylaxy and treatment through the creation of special Welfare Departments, and by founding Hospitals and Ambulances.

Intensify all Child Welfare activities (a special Chapter of the Society, as well as of the various Committees, is reserved for this activity); at the request of the authorities, to help in improving conditions in crowded districts.

To co-operate with the International Red Cross Societies of other countries in the Campaign against epidemics.

In preceding numbers of our Bulletin, we have referred to the activities, which, since the cessation of hostilities, the Italian Red Cross has extended to all spheres of human suffering.

The new Articles suppress certain former designations, substituting the following titles Central Committee, Committee, sub-committee and Provisional Delegation. Important amendments have similarly been introduced with respect to representation abroad; the field of action of the Italian Red Cross has been extended owing to the fact that it has been ordered to enlist the aid of all Italians, resident in countries to which are accredited the general delegates and delegates. The execution of this extended programme, naturally demands increased resources; the subscriptions of the members have therefore been raised to L. 200 for life members, and to L. 10 for temporary members. «Benemerite» members must pay a subscription of not less than L. 3,000. Admission to the «Benemerite>> class may similarly be attained by «effectively and worthily supporting the aims of the Society »

According to the former Articles, members of the Society gave their approval of new activities and new projects by means of ordinary and extraordinaries annual assemblies in Rome: the resolutions passed by these Assemblies were considered valid. In consideration of the great number of members and the distance separating them from the place of assembly, it has become obvious that this system can no longer be regarded as expressing the opinion of the actual majority. The new Articles therefore introduced the system of a triennial vote by Referendum.

The Central Committee, which controls the Society is represented abroad by the following General Delegates: A Delegate of the Ministry of Interior, of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and of the Ministries of War and Marine. These Delegates form part of the Board of Governors.

The Board of Governors is composed of four Vice-Presidents and 16 Councillors, of whom six chosen from amongst the Chairmen of Red Cross Committees. The Director General, who is paid by the Society, is appointed by the Board of Governors.

The personnel of the Society consists of the members belonging to the mobile territorial Red Cross units. It comprises: a Directing Corps, (officers) assistant personnel, (NCO's and men) Voluntary nurses recruited from the members who have taken special courses and obtained diplomas from the schools under the patronage of H. M. the Queen, and first-aid volunteers recruited by the Committees amongst students of the University and other important educational establishments. The above are given special theoretical and practical training by the Society.

The new Articles of Association entitle the Society to allot rewards and bonuses to persons having rendered special service to the Red Cross and to publish a Bulletin, the object of which is to give members news of Red Cross activities, and to intensify health propaganda.

This Bulletin, to which we have previously referred, is known as «Giornale Ufficiale della Croce Rossa Italiana».

JAPAN.

Appointment. Dr. Hirayama succeeds Baron Ishiguro as chairman of the Japanese Red Cross Society. During the 43 years of the society's existence he has supervised the training of 23,000 nurses.

Assistance to Polish Children. Madame Anna Bielkewicz, Chairman of the Polish Red Cross Society and of the Committee organised at Vladivostok on behalf of the orphans of soldiers and Polish refugees in Eastern Siberia, has addressed an appeal to the Japanese Government representing the difficulties encountered by the Committee in the execution of its functions.

The Committee commenced working in October, immediately after the outbreak of hostilities between the Polish troops and the Soviet Army in Siberia. At that time numerous Poles fled to Vladivostok, hoping to find shelter. The

Committee undertook to provide them with medical assistance and distributed clothing, food and money. It also organised a labour bureau and four schools at Sedanka, Novokievsk, Razdolnoye and Kiparissovo. These schools are still open.

In December 1919, the Committee sent its Vice-Chairman, Dr. Yakobkevicz, to Eastern Siberia, charged with collecting the children whose parents had either been killed or had died of typhus. Dr. Yakobkevicz was however unfortunately unable to proceed further than Tchita. Owing to lack of funds and of suitable accommodation, the Committee was able to deal only with the most urgent cases. Mr. Sienkevicz having placed his house in Saddaka at the disposal of the Committee, a home capable of accommodating 100 children was organised there. These children are divided into groups, each under the supervision of a master. The object of the Vladivostok Čommittee is to seek out children who have been abandoned in Eastern Siberia in order to transport them to America where they are handed over to the Polish colony, which will take charge of them until sufficient funds have been collected for their repatriation to Poland. Search is now being made for the children formerly inhabiting Nokolaevsk, Habarovsk, Nikolsk, Oussiriyski, Blagoveshtnensk, Tchita, Zabaikalie, Harbin and Mandjourya. The first convoy of these unfortunate children is expected to start immediately.

The Polish Colony in America has supplied the funds necessary for their transport, and will undertake the expenses of subsequent transports. Dr. Yakobkevicz has proceded to America in order to prepare for the reception of the orphans and to accomplish the necessary formalities. Unfortunately the financial means of the Committee are inadequate to meet the situation, and outside assistance will be necessary. The value of the sums at its disposal is greatly diminished by the depreciation of the rouble, and will therefore be insufficient for the maintenance of the children until their departure for the United States. The approach of winter renders the situation still more desperate. Owing to the above considerations, the Committee decided to appeal to the Japanese Government. The appeal was immediately referred to the Japanese Red Cross, which, in view of the tragic situation of the orphans, decided to grant them temporary hospitalization in Tokio. There are 300 of these children who, within two months, will, through the agency of the Society, be embarked for the Polish colony in America.

NORWAY.

Appointment.

The League has received the following letter from the Chairman of the Norwegian Red Cross :

"I have the honour of informing the League that Major J. C. Meinich Military Attaché to the Norwegian Legation at Stockholm, has been appointed Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross Society."

POLAND.

Growth of Polish Red Cross. The growth of the Polish Red Cross during the last six months-one of the most troubled periods of the history of Poland-bodes well for the future development of this society, which only came into existence a year ago. M. William C. Boyden, who has resigned from the Polish Commission of the League of Red Cross Societies over which he presided as Commissioner for nearly six months, gives a brief outline of the work accomplished during his term of office in a letter from which the following extract is taken :—

"When we came to Warsaw in the middle of February, we found the Polish Red Cross, only a little over six months old, already started on its work, which has in the past six months grown so wonderfully. It had then a membership of between twenty and thirty thousand and a working personnel of 84, having up to that time at its disposal 5,582,600 Mks. To-day it has a membership of over 800,000, divided into 6 central chapters and 237 local chapters and 110 corres

pondent members, a working personnel of 131 in the central office, and has in the last six months had placed at its disposal in money and supplies the equivalent of 30,436,320 Mks, not including gifts received through the League which amount to 81,924,505 Mks. This, with the receipts which will come from the membership drive, will make the total of over 100,000,000 Mks. 1

The Polish Red Cross owns 20 hospitals with a total capacity of 3025 beds, of which 1370 are in Warsaw. A new hospital has recently been added to this number in connection with the Warsaw section. In addition to these hospitals the Warsaw Red Cross controls 5 sanitoria and homes for convalescents, 2 homes for nurses, 3 sanitary trains, 2 bath trains and 4 bath houses and laundries.

The Polish Red Cross has in operation the following trains:- 4 equipped with baths, ambulances and canteens; 44 with ambulances and canteens and three for transportation of food and hospital supplies to the front. There are also in operation 25 sterilising units as well as 11 isolated sterilising plants which have been placed at the disposal of the army. The Red Cross sewing rooms opened last July; they produced large quantities of garments, over 10,000 parcels of which have already been distributed. Medicine chests are also prepared daily in large numbers and several hundreds have been distributed.

Short training courses for nurses have been instituted by the Polish Red Cross, and have been attended by 300 students who were sent to work in the field at the end of July.

According to the annual report of the Posen Division of the Polish Red Cross, which was inaugurated over a year ago, the original 19 sections have since increased to 52. The activities of the Posen Division include a short course for training hospital nurses; maintenance of orphanages, some of which shelter children from typhus districts; a section for training blinded soldiers, which has given excellent results; a Red Cross sanitorium fully equipped with 80 beds for soldiers in convalescence or threatened with tuberculosis, where 137 patients out of a total of 170 were entirely cured during a period of 8 months; a propaganda section; supply depots for distributing clothing and food, and courses for radio-laboratory assistance.

In addition to these activities, the Posen Division organised last year a committee for the care of children from the West Russian front. Seven homes have been opened under the auspices of this committee. The children arrived in an appalling condition, cases of pneumonia, scarlet-fever and diphtheria frequently occurring, and rickets and exhaustion being general. Of a total of 496, however, only 12 children have died. The homes are supported by the local Red Cross Division which partly finances them, the Provincial Division assisting with fuel and clothing.

In order to aid the development of the Polish society, the League of Red Cross Societies has offered help in various ways. For the membership campaign, which has met with such marked success, the sum of one million marks was donated by the League, which also appealed to the various Red Cross Societies throughout the world to assist Poland. The first reply to this appeal came from the Australian Red Cross, which sent five cargoes of supplies, valued at 36,400,000 Mks. A large consignment of soap, valued at 60,000 Mks, to fight the typhus epidemic, was sent from Spain. The Government of Great Britain and the British Red Cross contributed each 4,000,000 Mks for hospital endowments, the latter together with the Dutch Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies also supplying automobiles to remedy the shortage of motor transport. Very generous assistance has come from the American Red Cross, whose aid was enlisted through the efforts of the League. This assistance has taken the form of financial help-two gifts of two million marks each, one for hospital equipment, the other for purchasing sewing machines-as well as material supplies, such as motor trucks, clothing, raw materials for Red Cross work rooms, etc...

In this connection it is interesting to point out that the American Red Cross, during its conference at Venice at the end of May for deciding its future plans

1 Up to August 16, about 650,000 Red Cross buttons have been distributed throughout Poland, a sure indication of the wide spread propaganda and success of the Polish Red Cress membership campaign.