Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-22
Each One Helping,
Can Be No Failure

If each individual American now
contributes his "bit," there can be no
failure. America will, we feel sure, in
this again demonstrate her ability to
handle a big task in a big way. AS
President Wilson has said: But a
small proportion of our people can
have the opportunity to serve upon
the actual field of battle, but all men,
women and children alike may serve,
and serve effectively
Harry P. Dawson, chairman of the
War Council of the American Red
Cross. has this to say of the problems
and tremendous opportunities of the
Red Cross as it takes up the most
splendidly constructive task that ever
confronted nation:
I'm the first place, we are facing a
situation which is utterly different
from anything that ever appeared in
connection with Red Cross work The
former well understood conception Of
American Red Cross work was to care
for American sufferers in military or
civil life. to provide doctors and nurses
and medicines and all necessary equip
ment and supplies. Whatever of help
countries was given incidentally, as a
kind of overflow Of charity and kindl-
ness. Well, we are up against some
thing very different in this war, and
that should be made clear-if already
it has not been explained-to every
man, woman and child in these United
States.
Our Battles Fought.
~ mean just this: Our allies have
been fighting our battles for nearly
three years. Their losses, their suf-
fering, their heroism, their terrible
sacrifices, have been for US as much
as for themselves.
"Frenchmen, Belgians, Russians,
Englishmen have died for us. Their
people have become impoverished for
us. The horribly ruined districts in
northern France were sacrificed for US.
France is full of blind men, of mutt
lated men, men who have lost about
all that makes life worth while because
they reared themselves as a wall be-
tween the German hordes and our
selves. These facts must be lightning
sharp to everybody in this country.
Il know of no immediate contribu-
ton Of greater Importance than the
one which must be made. if for no
other reason than protecting the United
States against Germany to the new Red
Cross plan. While in it's big and help
full aspects it is a plan for assisting
our allies materially and spiritually
1t is also a plan for saving ourselves
from conquest. humiliating, amending
misery and a burden Of German i'm
the United States for many gener-
atoms.
First Pressing Work.
"The first pressing work Of the
American Red Cross, as planned by the
War Council, will be to look out for our
sailors and soldiers abroad and at
home. A moments consideration gives
notion. however vague, of the ire
mendous scope of that task. We must
plan for the material and moral well
fare Ct millions Of American troops
no less. We must plan on the assump-
ton that millions of American SOL
diers are going to fight at the side of
our Allies. That is a big job in itself
Wholly unexampled stores of med
ical supplies and equipment must be
assembled. Thousands Of surgeons
and doctors must be enlisted. Ship
ping must be found to take care of our
end Of the war labor. Problems never
before considered must be solved, some
Of them having to do with keeping
our troops in mental as well as physical