Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-06-08
TO HELP THE SOLDIERS
Refreshment Corps Or.
ganized-Will Open Rest and Read
ing Rooms for Benefit of Soldiers.

AS the sufferings of soldiers in IN,
Crimean war directed the worlds az
tention to a sympathetic care of tn
wounded and thus laid the founda
ton of the Red Cross, so war toda!
has shown to the Red Cross the nee'
of extending its activities in many
new fields.
Last summer when our soldier:
were going to the border, owing t.
delayed trains they were often nelc
for hours at stations wnere no pro-
vision had been made to feed them
The west saw to it that soldiers thus
delayed, were always supplied with
sandwiches and coffsA But The
story in most eastern cities was off.
ferent and even Alexandria when ap'
pealed to, was forced to telegraph
that they were not prepared to meet
the emergency.
The American Red Cross finding
little preparation to meet these en-
ergencies, realizing that special
forces must be ready to act especial
" in the case of sick soldiers, have
authorized the formation of auXi-
liaries to handle these conditions, be-
cause the American National Red
Cross is the only voluntary society
now authorized by this government
to render aid to its land ana naval
forces in time of war.
Forty members of the Alexandria
Branch of the American Red Cross
have been appointed members of the
Alexandria Refreshment Corps, the
arm bands issued to them Dy the
American Red Gross showing them
to be w. v. A. The uniformed mem-
bers of this corps have taken the fol-
lowing oath of allegiance:
81 do solemnly swear or affirm
that 1 will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and do
mestic; that ! will bear true .aith
and allegiance to the same; that l.
take this obligation freely, without
any mental reservation or purpose
of evasion; and that l will well and
faithfully discharge the duties OF the
Office on which I am about to enter.
SO help me God"
While the formation OF refresh
ments corps, may be regarded as
preparedness measure, so far as the
feeding of soldiers is concerned
wishes to be ready when
the time comes. Indeed only two
weeks ago, our soldiers coming from
the border to St. Asaph, delayed
hours, and unable to unpack their
equipment that night, would have
turned in, supperless, had it not
been that the members of the Re-
freshment Corp of Washington came
with sandwiches and their camp kitch-
en-. This was of course, an excep-
tional case, but when one realizes
that these men are to fight our bat
ties and maybe lose their lives in
defense of our country. Alexandria
will doubtless be glad to know that
th;s~ is an organization through
whom they can act, when the en-
ereency Sarises.
To aid in this work, Mrs. Boarc-
man has made most liberal dona-
tion to the Refreshment Corps.
Bit this is not the only authorized
work of this corps. They are also the
medium through whom magazines
will be sent to the soldiers. > Arrange
ments have been made to send maga-
zines to Quantico weekly, so soon as
the camp is opened. The corp is al
so collecting, books, which will torn
a permenant library in the camp; ar
rangements having been made to
house it in the Y. NJ. c. A building.
It is desired to have library CT
least four hundred volumes, compos-
ed of novels. histories, biographies,
travels, etc. Anyone wishing to con-
tribute either books or raasaz'nes
will notify either Miss Rose Mac
Donald. Mrs David Howell Mrs
Julian Burke. jr., Mrs. Carroll Pierce
Miss Mary Lindsey.
Investigation of the Refreshment
Corps, having shown that one oil the
greatest needs. IN Alexandra is "a
Rest Room where the soldiers may
go when ever they. are in town. A
room centrally located, clean, COO
and comfortah'y furnished. a room
where they may meet to talk. te
write, or to read. To meet this neee
the rooms of the Boy Scouts are be