The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-10-20

(, addition to the surgical supplies. the
Red Gross is also forwarding contri-
buttons OF absolutely new clothing e
be distributed among the destitute
women and children In the war-rtd-
jden countries Donations OF all
these articles may be shipped directly
4 to this depot.
For some reason the donations OF
1.-THE American people have been de-
lpressingly small in proportion to the
needs in this calamity. It may be
that the feeling OF dfsapproval of the
IWar is responsible for this But
whatever the attitude In this re-
ispect. 1t should be borne in mind that
millions of human beings are being
plunged into misery as a result OF
| the war and that these are the per-
! sons who are not responsible for It.
Common humanity demands that all
possible aid should be rendered to
such. The sufferers include not
only the. soldiers wounded In battle:
but their helpless families, many OF
whom are daily being driven ~ des-
titute from their homes by the ene-
mics bullets.
The total contributions SO far re-
ceiyed by the American Red Cross
falls considerably short of half q
million dollars. This is a mere pit
lance In proportion to the demand
and Is not the characteristic Amer1-
can giving in support of Red Cross
work. When it is considered that
the Messina, earthquake brought in
million dollars to relieve suffering
Italians. that nearly three millions
were contributed last year for the
sufferers from the Ohio floods ana
that 1926, 1000 was contributed last
summer for the relief of $4,000 peo-1
pie rendered homeless by the Salem
fire, the inadequacy OF the contr1pu-
lions to the European relief fund Will
be recognized. 1t had been hoped
that the returns from 1.-THE churches
on the Sunday in which the con gre
cations of every creed united IN
praying for peace would have ma
terially added tostfae relief fund, but
less than six thousand dollars ives
received. from this source.
The American Red Cross in its
present organization was incorpo-
rated by an act lof Congress on jan
uary S, 1906. It, is. considered by
many to be the strongest and most
eficient organization of its kind IN
the world. Its president is the pres
ident of the United States. who ap-
points I'VE out of the eighteen mem
bers Of its central committee. THESE
five represent the department OF war;
state. navy, treasury and justice,
which places the Red Cross dtrecry
under charge of the government. II
makes annual report to the secretary
of war which Is transmitted to Con
gress and printed as a public docu-
ment. All of, the accounts OF the
American Red Cross are audited by
the war department. which insures
the funds contributed being hanoIeo
and expended properly.
The magnitude Of its work can be
summed up by the statement that
within less than ten years 1t has re-
ceived and directed the expenditure
of more than $12,000,OO0 in the re-
lief Of over seventy-five great calam-
tiles These have included earth
quakes, volcanic eruptions, foods'
famines, plaques, mine explosions
and wars In this and other countries.
In addition to its work in the re-
lief Of sudden disasters. the Amerl-
can society carries on continuous
work along various lines OF pubic
good. 1t gives instruction in first aid
to the injured and by it's well or
ganized classes has materially ADDED
to the public knowledge In this re-
spect Accident prevention, town
and country nursing. various
branches of social service work. IN
addition to its continuous anti-tuoer-
culosls work, are all well known.
Should any war break out In the
United States it would be ready Tor
active work and would act under the
Immediate direction of the United
States war department.
The training of nurses for all
kinds of relief work is special
branch of the Red Cross service. The
greatest care and discrimination have
been used in the selection of nurses
to be sent into the European fields
in the present crisis. Only native
born American women will be con-
sidered, with preference given to
those speaking one or more Eu-
ropean languages. The physical ex-
animation is most rigid in order that
no one likely to become incapacitated
may be sent into the field A num-
Der Of those now in the field nave
had experience in relief work in other
disasters. Miss Mary Gladwfn. the
nurse in charge Of the hospital unit
sent to Servia on the Greek ship, di-
rected the relief work at Dayton, o..
during last years flood.