Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-04
WAR AID HAS
GREAT GROWTH
American Women Who Have
Male Relatives in Service
Eligible

The National War Aid. society of
American women who have hus-
bands, sons. fathers. brothers and
ether mala relatives in the war, has
had q wonderful growth in the first
weeks of its existence. The idea of
an organization IN which the men,
bership requirement is the service
Of a masculine member of the house
hold to his country has gripped the
popular Imagination. National head
quarters for the new society which
is sponsored by many prominent
American women have been estab-
lished at 1896 Twentieth street, n.
w, Washington. d. c.
The main purpose back OF the Ma
tional War Aid, as explained by its
chairman, Miss Elizabeth 4. Poe,
prominent in many patriotic endeav-
ors, is to raise the morale of the
troops at the front and in the fight
ing ships by getting the women they
have left behind in active service for
the country in relief and other war
work and also by assisting these
women by obtaining Information
from and giving directions how to
reach authorities in Washington. The
National War Aid was formed pri-
marily in answer to General PERISH
ing's appeal from the firing line in
France that the American people
support their army and navy by talk
ing an active interest in the war.
Limited to IS Years
Membership in the organization is
limited to women over is years OF
age that have relatives in the army.
navy or marine corps of the United
States. The names of members, to-
gether with the names of relatives
in the service are inscribed on Roll
of Honor Book to be kept at head
quarters and which will be handed
down to future generations. In after
years membership in this society will
prove to be historic and proof of
patriotic service. Members are re-
quired to sign the following pledge:
II hereby pledge four hours a
week to National Service and will do
my part Loyalty in the name of .....
.. (name of relative) whom l
have given to the service of his coun-
try. l will aid other women who
have sacrificed for democracy to the
best of my ability" Pledged in this
way to n certain definite amount of
personal effort in behalf of the war,
the women of the National War Aid
are further required to write letters
TO their relatives regularly and
Cheerfully, to keep in touch with
them to learn as far as possible, their
needs and desires. and to satisfy
those needs with the aid of their sis
ters on the Roll of Honor. 1t is
TO be q band of real war workers
working through Red Cross and 9TH
er existing organizations so that work
may not overlap-joined by the most
sacred bond of common sacrifice and
common devotion.
Send Suggestions
If not able to go from home to
DO the four hours national service
work weekly the National Aid So
cIety will send suggestions how wom-
en- can knit, sew and do other ma
tional service work in their homes.
The members of the National War
Aid are entitled to wear the society''s
recognition pin which is a bronze
snield on which are the inspiring
words, I'VE gave our own" This
badge indicative of their contribu-
ton to the war will be an honor and
distinction to the wearers in their
separate peighborhoods.
-OfnCeTS OF the new OESdHllsltlOH
which is affiliated with several prom
inent women's organizations are:
Chairman, Miss Elizabeth E. Poe;
secretary, Miss Dorothy Potter;
treasurer, V. P. Wilson. Among the
members of the committee in charge
and notable women interested in the
project are Mrs. George Dewey, wife
of the late admiral OF the navy; Mrs.
Parks Fisher, sister of Rear Ad-
miral Schley; Mrs. James NJ. Thom-
son. daughter of Speaker Champ
Clark; Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood,
founder of the Daughters of the
American Revolution, and Mrs.
Frank d. Odenheimer president gen.
eral of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy; Mrs. Julian James, of
Washington, d. c., and Mrs. John
Callan O'Laughlin, wife of the for
mer Assistant Secretary of State.
a cordial invitation is given TO all
women having relatives in the serv-
ice of the country TO join the Ma
tt>nal War Aid and full information
can be obtained by writing to 1906
Twentieth street n. W.. Washington,
d. c., the national headquarters of
the organization.