Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-21
THOMAS J. NELLIGAN.
Where Will the Red Cross War
Fund Go?

Hundreds of people are asking: What
are you going to do with the s1oO,OCO.0 900
Red Cross war fund? Where will the $685.
900 Augusta is pledging go? What will it
do? These are reasonable questions.
The Red Cross is founded fundamental
ly for the care and comfort of soldiers,
but we are not fighting this war alone
for the direct efficiency of battle. We
are fighting here for infinitely greater
detectives. There is no support that can
be given to the American IDEAL, to the
American objective of the war, better
and greater than a proper organization
of that side of our civilization which we
believe Is today imperiled
We are fighting against an enemy who
had become dominated with a philosophy.
with an idea for which there is no room
in this world with US. Germany is a ma
survival of the strong warrants any ac-
ton. demands any submergence Of the
individual to the state, which justif1es
their mastery of the world.
Our contention Of civilization lies In
the tempering of the struggle for exist
ence by the care of the helpless. The
survival Of the strong. the development of
the Individual, must be tempered. or else
we return two thousand years in our CIV
ilization.
Within few weeks our local boys
will stand upon foreign soil beneath the
Stars and Stripes prepared to repre-
sent our great nations ideals, valor and
sacrifice. These boys are not leaving a
happy home and entering this great
conflict for the preservation of human
rights for mere personal glory.
1t has been observed by those who
follow the lines of battle to bury the
dead soldiers, that in the dying hour
the soldier unclaps his weapon and
reaches for the inner pocket to touch
some faded letter, some little keepsake,
some likeness of wife or mother. These
pathetic facts teach us that 1t is love
of God, and Home and Native Land
that inspires the soldier ana makes his
arm invincible.
When your son. or friend. receives
the command: "Out of the trenches and
at them. and God bless you" will he do
so with the certainty that 100000, 900
free born Americans at home have met
their obligations in financial sacrifices
and rganized relief to meet the veri-
table hell Of suffering he goes forth to
meet and conquer
The French Problem
When our men go to France, We must
not only prepare to take care Of them
when sick and wounded: another very
serious problem will confront them and
will confront us in our care and fore
thought on their behalf. Englishmen
and Frenchmen, when, from time to
time, they are relieved from their grim
duties in the trenches. go home The
soldiers from other countries on the fir
ing line cannot go home; there is no
home to go to. Our American soldiers
must have a home in France, some
where to rest, somewhere to find a
friendly atmosphere. somewhere to go
for recreation and wholesome amuse-
ment. The Red Cross husband it
alone can-become real foster parent
Of our soldiers while they are in Eu-
rope. To perform that function well,
will require a large sum of money.
The needs of France cannot but stir
the heart Of every American. Tuber-
culosis has become prevalent as re-
suit Of this trench war. And the dis
ease is spreading. Here is call not
only to aid the brave and liberty-lov-
ing French people. but also to help
make this AFFLICTED country healthy for
our own sons and brothers who are