THE BRITISH AMBULANCE COMMITTEE.
[To Tell EDITOR OT TBX " erscrATott.") SIR,—The aim of the British Ambulance Committee, whose headquarters are at Wimborne House, Arlington Street, Piccadilly, W., kindly lent by Lady Wimborne, is to make up the deficiency in the number of motor-cars available for ambulance work in France. In this way it is hoped to obviate the delay in transport from the front, which has resulted in much suffering (and loss from blood-poisoning) among the wounded of our gallant ally. The President of the French Republic has sent a warm message of welcome to the Com- mittee, which has M. Paul Cam bon and Sir Francis Bertie as its Vice-Presidents, and Sir Edward Grey has expressed his approval and sent his good wishes for success. The British Red Cross having secured sufficient ambulances for the immediate wants of the British troops, it was felt that those in a position to help our ally should be invited to do so. As a result £15,000, including a donation from Lord Ashton of £5.000, was subscribed within a week of the Committee's appeal; motor-cars and contributions continue to be received; and the honorary secretaries, Mr. B. Peyman and Mrs. G. Cecil Baker, have their hands completely full in attending to the multifarious requirements of the organization. The Com- mittee appeal for both cars and money to run them. When cars are lent, the owners may drive and take their own mechanics if considered necessary ; owners may drive and be provided with a mechanic ; or owners may send their cars alone. A minimum expenditure of £50 upon each car supplied is neces- sary to convert it into an ambulance and complete its outfit, and the cost of maintenance is estimated at about £10 per week. All cars offered must, of course, satisfy certain standards in point of size and equipment. The total sum received up to date is about £16,000. Every possible official help is being given to the organization, which should supersede the many sporadic efforts of individual goodwill, which are doomed to failure owing to ignorance of many essential details, such as inocu- lation against disease, precautions against spies, and many other important matters. The French have ten times as many men at the front as we have, and their wounded are proportionately more numerous. Their ambulance transport for the moment needs strengthening. The only way to do so is by properly organized effort under Government auspices. I hope some of your readers may record their old friendship with France by sending subscriptions to Wimborne House or the Bank of England.—I am, Sir, &c., THEODORE A. COOK.
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