Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-25
Tells Of Work In Mexico.

Gen. Pershing told OF tho work Of the
Red Cross when the American army
ticularly Of the Christmas presents
sent to the soldiers in the way of
writing paper. playing cards. candies.
tobacco. etc.
soldier to remember that the people
back home are behind him. You don't
know what that means to a soldier. 1t
will mean great thing to those Of US
who are in France"
Taking up discussion Of what is
ahead of the nation in France. he said:
THE great work of the Red Cross
is to help our allies. The people of
France are in sore straits. The drain
on the French people has reduced their
fighting force. must reduce that de-
flciency. We must help them to re-
habiiitate themselves. The United
The feeling among the American
people about this war is very lax. They
have not begun to realize that we are
in this great war. I know, because
the people point out that no ships have
been sunk and no soldiers killed. 1t
has not been impressed on the people.
You business men can do nothing
better than bring to the people the
grave seriousness of this war It is
very probable that our entering this
struggle is the deciding factor and that
the burden OF success is going to rest
on the United States
Herbert c. Hoover, chairman of the
Belgian relief commission and well in
formed Of the situation In France because
he has been on. the field and knows the
conditions. said that the greatest prob
lem Of all the war is the rehabilitation Of
northern France. that part Of the country
from which the Germans have been
driven. He painted word picture Of the
people. no animals. no builders. no farm
Ing implements or anything This Is but
| sample. he said. Of what must be ex-
| pected Of all the recovered territory.
For one year alone, he said, it will
cost from seven to ten millions Of dol
| lars to provide farming implements and
the toughest kind Of houses for the
| people to live in. To rehabilitate the
whole of northern France will take at
the very lowest billion and a half dol
lars. tuberculosis is spreading. It has
| increased among the men. The number
of orphans is increased day by day. and
on the children rests the hope of
France
In these three problems. he said, the
American people have an outlet for all
of their generosity. The problem OF
Belgium is about the same. The whole
work calls for organized charities, 50
that there will be no duplication of eff
fort or overlapping.
Every One Must Aid.
Henry P. Dawson. chairman of the
war council, said the American people
do not realize the situation in which
they are, but said that now is the time
to make them realize it. To do some
thing for the Red Cross is an obligation
Of every man, woman and child In the
country. Hard times, high taxes and
such excuses as are used to put of col
Iectors for charities cannot be put out
now, he said. It will not be the answer
to the subscription collector for the
! Red Cross. 1t will not be the answer,
he said, to What are you doing for hu-
manity?"
Frederick Walcott, a member of the
Rockefeller commission, who recently
returned from Poland, painted a vivid
word picture of the vast destruction by
the Germans and of their uncivilized
methods. concluding by saying that 1T
is worth while If 1t costs everything in
the world to stop that German system"
1t is the duty of the United States, he
| said. to go into the fight and prove that
there Is a God in heaven.
The United States is entering the war.
Secretary Baker OF the War Department
said, in the firm belief Of victory for
right. The United States. he went on,
has not the slightest intention Of stop
ping until that victory is achieved.
1t requires high degree Of organiza-
ton to administer the charities Of a
city, but 1t requires the highest degree
OF concentration and conservation Of
purpose to deal with the woes Of the
world. he said. In the interest Of saw
ing Just as many as can be saved. the
alienation Of suffering. the concentra-
ton of effort In the Red Cross seems to
be essentially demanded.
IF any one should come to me now
and asked what he should give to the
Red Cross" Secretary Baker said. ~
would answer: Give all you have"
He said 1t is proposed to raise
800, 000,0 900. while war costs about $780,
100000 a day.
Charles S. Ward, who is to have
charge Of the raising of the big fund,
said that the busiest most important
people in the cities were the ones
wanted to assist in the campaign.