The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-20
|YHAT1AE RED CROSS IS GOING 70 D0.
Far-Reaching Plans of the American Red
Gross War Council Are Outlined by
Chairman Henry p. Dawson.

the following letter to Mr.. Seward
Proaser. chairman OF the Red Cross
war nnance committee. AZ Wall Street,
New, York City:
Dear Mr.. Prosser: The question Is
frequently asked just what Is the Red
Cross eoing to undertake and what
Argument can be used In soliciting
n Scontributions for the 500. .o00. 900 Red
crcs war fund--a very natural ques-
tSen. Ny answer is az follows:
Given the greatest war the world
has known. now entering the last
|. month Of sts third year on the one
hand. the American Red Cross on the
other. What Is the Red Cross going
20 do?
The first thing It is going to do is
- effect the most efficient organization
possible. The president has appointed
> war council. which council has as
somsd the resp Visibility of effecting
this organization. 1t Is developing
plssns which involve the selection OF
thu best talent In the United states in
medicine. In sanitation. In transporta-
tisn, In construction. In welfare work,
IN purchasing, In commercial business
IN accounting. and In such other lines
~ may be required In an undertaking
Of this magnitude. Ordinarily it
would be difficult to employ trained
talent Of the character required. Men
would not be available. but II has al
ready been demonstrated beyond any
concern on the part of the council
that the best talent Is available, and
most Of II volunteer. SO that In what
ever direction II may DO necessary to
move. the work may be carried on
intelligently. efficiently and economl-
cally.
Desires Immediate Action.
The desire Of the war council Is
for immediate action, to be as eff
cisntly and economically executed as
possible. BY reason OF the copera-
tive spirit OF the public II Is believed
that the overhead charges In the adj.
ministration of this work will be
comparatively low. Only a small per-
csntagc OF each dollar contributed will
DO required TO, carey the relief to it's
destination.
Next we shall continue organizirg
base hospitals with personnel and full
equipment In order that they may be
turned over to the army upon a days
notice for transport to France. AT
the same time we will proceed to O..
sanize such units to be stationed at
the mobilization camps of our sol
diers and our sailors in this country
as may be desired by the Surgeon
Generals OF the army and navy. Also
we shall proceed with the, purchas-
ins. collection. shipment. and storinS
of such supplies as may be necessar,
or even precautionary, to be imme
,diateiy svailable.
III we secure the subscription, We
shall purchase. equip. and man hoe
pitai ships; we shall organize and
maintain a sanitary engineering corps
TO be subject to the call of the army
and navy. In fact. we should be pre-
pared to meet any and every emer-
sency In connection with the needs Of
our soldiers and sailors In this coun-
try when called upon by the army and
the navy, IL being understood that our
work In this particular is supplement
tai to that of those departments O.
our government.
How much Is this going to cost? No
one can tell. because no one as yet
Knows whether we are to have 500
900 men OF 2.oo0. 900 men. or more.
mobiiized and going forward to the
line OF battle. The foregoing. you will
note. treats only with the military no.
cessities. and not with the civilian re-
lief I'm our own country. to which.
Important as IL Is. make no ref
erence in this statement.
This same service we propose 10
render through the Red Cross to
American soldiers and sailors abroad.
not merely to proect them In health
and To maintain them as effective
hghting men. but to look after their
comfort and happiness whilo they are
on leave. The Red Cross must act as
foster parent to these young soldiers
OF America 5000 miles from thcir
homes.
Beyond the military and civilip n
needs of our own people we must un-
dertake a larger humanitarian wor,:
to aid our allies. This work thc
Rcd Croan has alren DIV stn rtcd h,. aar,l