Some of the local gentry have been anxious to organize a chapter of the Chinese Red Cross and have been urging the foreigners to give their backing to the movement. As there seemed no immediate need for such an organization inquiry wat made as to the reason for the proposal. It was naively remarked that people would readily subscribe to the scheme with the hope of securing a large Red Cross poster to put up outside their doors afford a protection from looters in case defeated or scattered soldiers should drift back this way from the front. Needless to say, the local: hospitals who make use of the Red Cross sign did not take kindly to the proposal.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.