The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-14

M1H4a}Ml
gave up hope of peace. When, finally, the nation
declared war, the SO base hospitals were complete
ly organized, equipped and supplied, and back of
them was a great body of men and women trained
to the work of keeping them supplied.
That is how the Red Cross works in all its man.
fold activities. The heads of the organization
and that means the heads of the natiOn-deter-
mine what is needed, and through the division
directors to the chapters goes the word Of what
Washington wants-and instantly the people, on
whom rests the Red Cross, begin to supply it.
Belgium was violated, \and ten millions Of help
less civilians left starving and freezing. The Red
Cross to the rescue, and at President Wilson's
call money and supplies were raised and sent
over, to be there distributed by Red Cross agents.
Serbia was crushed, and stricken with typhus
fever. There went the American Red Cross, with
strong and capable surgeons and skilled nurses,
backed by money and medicines and supplies fur
nished by the Red Cross. 1t cost the lives of
some of the finest of the Red Cross workers, but
typhus was stamped out and thousands upon
thousands saved.
There was an earthquake at Messlna, Italy.
The American Red Cross was there with surgeons
and nurses, food and clothing-yes, even with
portable frame houses made in America" to
house the victims until they could rebuild their
homes.
There was a great famine in China. There, too,
was the American Red Cross, not only helping
feed the starving, but with a commission Of some
of the most famous engineers of the war depart
ment, to whom China intrusted the task of spend
ing $50, 000,0 900 on a system Of works to prevent
the overflow of the great river which yearly de-
stroyed crops and caused famine.
That is how the Red Cross works.
Why the work is done by the Red Cross is
easiest of all to explain, though perhaps least I'M
derstood by the public. 1t is because the work Of
preparing beforehand to meet unforeseen emer-
gencies, and of alleviating human suffering, has
never been undertaken by any other agency. In
the words of the old saw, "everybody's business is
nobody's business"
1t seems almost incredible, but after all the CEN
turtles of war and agony, no nation in history ever
went to war with an organization capable of car
ing for the men wounded on the battlefield, to say
nothing of the victims of rapine, disease, famine
and pestilence that stalked across the land after
the armies.
Never, until this present year of grace, has
there ever been n base hospital organized, in time
of peace, to care for the wounded after a battle.
There is a small medical corps with the army, yes
but it can merely pass the wounded back to field
and evacuation hospitals, giving only a temporary
dressing-often not even that. There are always
home hospitals, too. But the gap between them,
now filled by base hospital organizations, has
never heretofore been filled until thousands lay
on the field dying of thirst and fever and loss of
blood for lack of that very thing.
After the battle of the Marine, in the present
war, the Red Cross facilities were so limited that
men lay in the s%corching sun on the battlefield for
two, three, four, and even five, days with not
even a drop of water, nor a bandage on their
wounds. 1t cost thousands of arms and legs that
could have been saved, cost many a life needlessly
spent, and the anguish endured can never be
voiced.
That is why the Red Cross is here. 1t may be
said that the governments of the various coun-
tries should have met the need. True-but they
never did. All governments are more or less
bound down by precedent, constitutional and leg
islative limitations, politics and short-sightedness
And it has now been found that the Red Cross
protected and encouraged by the government, can
do quickly and well many things which the gov
eminent could not do for itself.
Speaking locally and selfshly, there are strong
personal reasons why every American should help
the Red Cross. In this war, 1t may be you or me,
your brother or mine, whose life is saved by the
~bandages the Red Cross is making. Here at
home, it may be your house or mine blown up or
storm-wrecked or fo~od-swept; your family or
mine left destitute by any one of a score of disas
ters. And In that case we ourselves would benefit
by the ministrations of the Red Cross.
From the standpoint of the business man, a
strong and active Red Cross is an insurance
policy. When disaster comes, it is always the
business man who is called from his office or store
to take up the unfamiliar task of raising funds,
Investigating cases of restitution, overseeing the
purchase of supplies and their distribution. and
getting the survivors back to where they can earn
their living again. But with a trained Red Cross
the disturbance Of normal life is at a minimum.
Almost before a citizens committee could be
called together, capable and experienced men, d.
rected by the head of a division. himself under
orders from Washington, lays a firm and steady
hand on affairs, and relief is given surely, swiftly,
justly, and the business man does not have to
spend valuable days and weeks at work for which
he has no training.
Nationally and locally, the Red Cross is the
best accident insurance any people can have.