In January 1941 an important ruling was made by the British Ministry of Health, by which all requests originating in England or offers of aid from the United States for medical and hospital supplies, equipment, or personnel are channeled to the American Red Cross through the British Red Cross. The ruling has served to avoid duplication, shipment of unnecessary articles, and waste of valuable shipping space. It has also been valuable in eliminat¬ing difficulties resulting from the multiplicity of appeals for aid of this kind Supper in One of the 70 War Nurseries Established in Great Britain 16 in the United States. In line with this ruling, the British Red Cross in April transmitted a request to the American Red Cross for doctors to reinforce the civilian and military medical units of Great Britain. It was expected that by the end of September 1941, approximately 100 doctors would be en route to England as a result of this appeal presented to the medical profession of the United States with the cooperation of the American professional societies. A project to study and assist in combating communicable diseases was inaugurated during the year in cooperation with Harvard University. Twenty- two prefabricated buildings for the establishment of a 125-bed hospital were constructed in this country and shipped to England to be set up there. The American Red Cross assumed responsibility for the establishment and main¬tenance of this hospital, including the recruiting and maintenance of a staff of approximately 60 American nurses and the maintenance of the hospital medical staff. Harvard University assumed responsibility for the establish-ment and maintenance of a special laboratory and field unit for the study of epidemic disease as well as the provision of the laboratory equipment, sup¬plies, and personnel. Reports submitted by the American Red Cross Committee in Great Britain indicate that American Red Cross supplies have brought assistance to approximately 3,022,000 people, including 1,408,500 children, 706,500 women, and 907,000 men. By the end of June 1941, American Red Cross expenditures and com¬mitments for relief to Great Britain had reached a total of $25,340,353, of which $11,035,407 was the estimated value of chapter-produced supplies. Included in these articles made by chapter volunteers were more than 21,000,- OOO surgical dressings, nearly 2,000,000 knitted garments, and 250,000 lay¬ettes. British Middle East Conditions in Greece following the occupation in April 1941, made it necessary to divert to other areas Red Cross shipments of relief supplies or¬iginally consigned to that country. Relief needs in the British Middle East had become more urgent. American Red Cross supplies previously dis¬patched to Greece were delivered in Egypt where an American Red Cross representative received them and began distribution through the British Red Cross, after provision had been made for the small number of Greek refugees in the area. Shipments consisting principally of foodstuffs and medical sup¬plies are being distributed to refugees and needy civilians as well as to the sick and wounded of the military forces in Egypt, Syria, Eritrea, and Abys¬sinia. Additional Red Cross representatives are en route to Cairo to ob¬serve the distribution. Although relief operations in the British Middle East are of compara¬tively recent origin, reports indicate that already more than 122,000 persons 17