The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-03

SS,SIOs11osoV
The Work in Europe.
The work of the Red Cross in
Europe centers necessarily in France
and Major Grayson Mp. Murphy, a
member Of the War council, is head
of the commission to France and
commissioner for Europe. Headquar-
tiers are in Paris. in building fur
nished free for the current year for
the use Of the Red Cross. The work.
ing staff in France numbers S64 per-
sons, of whom only SAT are paid by
the Red Cross. The others are vol
unteers, or are paid by their former
employers or from funds privately
subscribed, so that the average cost
to the Red Cross is only about $500
per year for each worker.
Red Cross Aims Abroad.
The principal purpose Of the work
of the American Red Cross abroad
may be summarized thus:
1. To do everything possible to
assist our army and navy in insur-
ing the health and comfort Of Amer
lean soldiers and sailors abroad, and.
2. To relieve suffering among the
armies and restitution among the
civilian populations among our allies.
The establishment and mainten-
ance in France Of canteens, rest
means Of supplying comforts in the
armies Of our allies have been the
means of heartening them and keep
| ing their men in the field until our
men could become fully effective.
The details which follow here are
supplemental to those given in the
report issued in September.
Our Army Our First Care.
Work for the American army is the
first and most important part of the
Red Cross program in France. More
than twelve base hospitals organized
by the Red Cross. and now mustered
into the Army Medical corps are in
service in France. The Red Cross is
also administering, under army con-
troll, the hospital at Neuilly formerly
known as the American Ambulance,
together with DIR. Joseph A. Blake's
hospital in Paris.
The Red Cross is serving 3,42S
military hospitals, both French and
American, through the hospital sup
ply service, which operates sixteen
warehouses and motor transport
system. Approximately $4,000 tons
Of ARCHAEOLOGICAL and general re-
| lief supplies-are distributed month";
ly from these warehouses. The surg
ical dressings service reaches 1000
hospitals. American workshops in
France will manufacture nitrous
oxide, repair hospital apparatus,
make splints and hospital appliances.
Military Medical Research.
An appropriation Of 100000 has
been made to enable the American
doctors now in France to procure
suitable buildings. Special labora-
tory equipment and animals for ex-
perimental purposes. for special MILF
I Hrr[ rav,a
| toward the recognition and study of
diseases among soldiers, the eradica-
ton of lice. fieas and scabies, the
| treatment OF trench nephritis, trench
/ heart, war neurasthenia, exhaustion,
lethal gases, shell concussion, wound
ed injection, compound fractures, etc.
The recommendation for this, like all
others of a medical nature, was sub
mitted to an advisory medical board
composed of leading American doc
! tors working with our own forces.
They approved 1t.
| The question has been raised as TO
whether the appropriation for medi-
| cal research was not outside the
proper scope Of Red Cross activity.
The answer is simple. The supreme
aim OF the Red Cross is to relieve
human suffering growing out of the
war. The Red Cross was advised
from the ablest professional sources
| that an immediate appropriation for
medical research would contribute
/ toward that end. The War council
could not disregard such advice.
All recommendations to the Red
Cross War council Of medical, surgi-
cal or hospital character. are, before
/ being made by the commission to
France submitted to the advisory
medical board in France. and they
also laid before the medical advisory
board in this country by the War
council. 1t thus has at its disposal
in these vital matters the most ex-
pert advice obtainable.
All expenditures under this appro
priation must first have the recon-
mendation of the chief medical Of
ficer OF the American expeditionary
force, Brig Gen. A. E Bradley.
Relief Of Refugees
Relief OF refugees throughout the
\ devastated zone has been undertaken
by the Red Cross. Relief warehouses
have been placed at strategic points
behind the lines. from which food.
clothing, household goods, agricul-
tural implements and tools are being
distributed to the returning refugees.
Foodstuffs to the value Of $3.50. 400
have already been bought In France
or shipped there for military and
civilian relief
III good AGRICULTURAL districts the