Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-06-14

happy and efficient soldiers. Fo
this the Red Cross must have:
/. Hospital and medical equip
I ment to supplement that of the
army medical department equal tC
any emergency. Equipment to care
for 100000 men ought to be pro
vided at once.
2. Recreation and rest facilities
behind the firing line. Americans on
leave, unlike the British and French
cannot return to their homes. Club
rooms, sports supplies, books and
other means of recreation must be
sent them from America.
8. Personal comfort kits and
small articles not included in army
regulations. Many thousands of
articles, from tooth brushes to writ
ing paper, pipes, etc., are needed to
take the place of things that could
mot be brought along. To safe
guard the health, comfort and hap
piness alone, of American troops
abroad $1OO,O0O,OO0 is little
enough.
Helping to Restore France
A Red Cross commission headed
by Major Grayson NJ P. Murphy,
member of the Red Cross war coun-
Gil, is now on the way to France.
Composed of trained business men
and experts, it will study ways in
which the Red Cross can best aid
French and Belgians, individuals and
towns, in reestablishing themselves.
The work of the Red Cross commits
sion will be:
of refugees in northern
France are almost entirely depen-
dent on outside aid There is little
food in France; America must sup
ply this need. Clothes, too, must
be sent and the simplest articles of
personal necessity.
2. tuberculosis. One of the
of trench war has been
the alarming spread of tuberculosis
all through France. This must be
checked and stamped out, not only /
for Frances sake, but for the safe
.y of our own troops when they ar
rive abroad.
3. Medical Needs. How deficient
France is in hospital and other
equipment which America must
,upply is shown in the following
list Of immediate needs: so new
motor ambulance sections of 23
Ford cars, plus two White trucks
zach. and the men to drive them
100000 blankets; $4,000 lbs. of
redicine; 1000 tents; 1000 tents of
! larger model; 100000 pairs of
voolen socks; 10000 sanitary slop
,ails; 10000 pairs of flannel waist
.oats; 5000 pairs of surgical India
ubber gloves.
$3.50, 100000 has been expended
or relief through the commission
or relief in Belgium. Is 100000
100 too great as Americas contri-
,ution toward this humanitarian
ask?
The Red Cross will aid in caring
or the dependents and families of
Imerican soldiers and sailors. While
he government grants allowances
or the families and dependents of
oldiers, thousands of cases will
rise where additions or special aid
must also be given. To all these the
1ed Cross must extend a helpful
and. The women and children left
t home feel even more keenly the
rivations of war than the man in
nan in the trenches. There will be
ickness to combat at home even
lunger to be appeased; special
Iursing cases to be looked after.
nd the furnishing of a thousand
nd one necessities which, in war
ime, become luxuries. The Red
ross must stand behind the man
'ehind the gun.
These are times of prodigious
acrifices. America must give of
,erself as England and France have
lready given. So long as anywhere
he voice Of suffering and distress
s heard we must give and give.
lot 500, 100000. but millions and
millions more.