Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-29
BUILDING AIRED CROSS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

WASHINGTON. July 2S.-Three years
ago, when tho American Red Cross
started erecting an expensive white
marble building for It's headquarters
~, IN washington. many people shrugged
their shoulders. That Is to say. thcy
implied that their generous contribu-
tions and unselfsh subscriptions might
DC used for moro useful purposes than
building. Then the organization
numbered about 100000 members, tho
executive stan about ten. including
the stenographer, so that a white mar
Ole headquarters did seem a trine un-
necessary
To-day the American Red Cross has
over 100000 members. it's executive
stan. including the clerks and stenog-
raphers numbers over 100 and tho
new building. which once appeared ex-
traVagant. Is overcrowdcd. Rows Of
small offices, separated by wooden
partitions. have had to be built along
the corridors: desks that were once
quite neat and decorated with small
bowls of flowers are now half-sub-
merged In chaos of pamphlets, circu-
iars and mail. which is rushed In and
rushed out each day by the organiza-
tion,s own special corps of motorcycle
mail Carriers.
One OF Worlds Wonders.
Inc Red Cross at war. il 1t lives up
20 one-tenth Of its war program, will
be one OF the wonders Of the world.
capitalized ut $118.00O.00 managed by
tho nations foremost business men,
ana possessing the sympathy and CO.
operation of the entire American pop
ulation' II Is undoubtedly the greatest
constructive agency the world has ever
seem Such an organization in times
or peace could turn our slums into
oeautfful healthful. livable places; turn
our criminals into self-respecting in
aus.rlous citizens, and reduce our in
rant mortality to minimum. AS It is.
all OF Its energy will DO expended
on repairing the frightful damage of
war.
NOW that we are committed to war,
let US be grateful for the Red Cross.
which Is one OF Its rcdecming features.
1t Is the Red Cross which will take
care OF our soldiers al tho 'front.' which
europe that have been literally swept
on the map by the enemy. and which
VIII keep the soldiers family from
starving before he returns.
These things are what the Red Cross
proposes to do. For that reason. the
work has been divided into two sepa-
rate heads. the first OF which deals
with military relief. and the second
with civilian relief. On June IL the
hrst American Rcd Cross commission
arrived in Paris. There II established
a headquarters from which all of the
oPsaH "orh VIII De directed, and
started Its campaign OF reconstruct
ton.
Tremendous DImcuities.
The difficulties encountered In this
campaign arc easily appreciated, when
you consider that the commission has
10 employ workmen. buy material and
erect hospitals and cantecns in
country where values are different the
language unfamiliar and labor dis
~
seven hospitals ready for American
wounded In France. and numerous can
teens already feeding soldiers In CO.
operation with the Young Mems Chris
tan Association, swimming pools.
bowling alleys. pool tables. chess and
checkers have been provided for the
mems amusement in various recreation
booths.
Dr. Flexner. American expert on tu-
berculosis is tacklins the French tu.
bercular problem. which has grown TO
such alarming size In the past two
years. George B. Post. our foremost
town -planncr. is over there laying out
new villages in the northern prov
inces OF France, while American aEri-
cultural experts are buying cattle and
poultry and farm tools for destitute
French peasants Not much can be
done Tor each individual. OF course A
COW VIII be given here. few chickens
there, the most necessary farm tools
distributed to those who absolutely
need them. and clothes will be given
TO those whose apparel was confiscated
by the Germans. II the war were TO |
end now. France would still be in such |
a hopeless condition that 1t would take
years for her to recover IL some
stronger nation did not step in and |
help her.
Effort to Encourage Russia.
In Russia subcommittee of the
european commission is distributing
medical supplies and caring for Rus
sian wounded in an effort to encourage
that nation which. like France, because
or Its accessibility has borne the
greater brunt OF the wars devastation. !
hed cross doctors have been freely Civ
Ing their services to Serbia for the past
two years. working valiantly to combat
inc malignant typhus and occasionally |
getting 1t and dying Themselves. Now. |
one more Red Cross committee has ar
rived In Roumania. Roumanians, II fs
are still dazed from the sud