The Raymer enterprise., 1917-10-04
major General Wood Describes
Work Of the American
Red Cross.
Big BROTHER OF SERVICES
Army and Navy Cannot Get Along
Without lt-What the Red Cross
Nceds-Work to Be Done
at Home.

wood, U. y. A., Is the author of an ar
ticle just issued In bulletin form by
the American Red Cross under the
caption What Women Can DO in the
War"
WAR" General Wood writes,
brings with it call to national sery-
Ice for women us well as men. There
are two very important ways in which
women can help the nation In war.
"() BY working In industry. thereby
releasing men for the front, and (2) by
joining the American Red Cross.
Next to the preparation Of muni
tions and recruiting the army and thc
navy, the most important step In get.
i3s ready for war Is TO build up Red
Cross organization.
During the last few years much has
been done to prepare the American
Red Cross for the nations call; bui
preparedness on a large scale cannot
be accomplished In peace time. All
that can be done is to prepare n skele
ton organization capable of expansion
In war service, to draft plans of mo
bilization as any army staff would
draft them, and TO gather reserve ma
terlals and supplies.
when the call comes the Red Gross
must act quickly. 1t must take care OF
vastly increased army and navy
Therefore, its growth must parallel
the growth of both branches of thu
nations fighting force.
Time for Quick Action.
"The declaration OF a state of wal
with Germany means that the Amer
can Red Cross must translate all these
plans prepared during peace into ac
tion. II must be prepared to supple
ment the existing facilities of the med
ical department Of the army and the
navy and of the Medical Reserve corps
Every man and woman owes 1t as
duty to the country to become a mem.
Der of the American Red Cross. Mem
bership-it is as low as $l-should bt
universal
After membership there is oppor.
tunity for service with the Red Cross
Every chapter has its workrooms ant
its auxiliaries. II has trained instruc
tors in the preparation of hospital ant
surgical supplies needed here ant
abroad.
"Many chapters have classes In frs
aid to the wounded, home care Of tn
sick, home dietetics, and In the maxim:
of surgical dressings. All of these ar,
at the service Of women who wish Il
aid their country.
But what the Red Cross does neet
today Is trained women for the worl
Of military relief. The immediate cal
is for competent nurses. A soldiers
life is too precious to risk In unsklllet
hands. Nurses must largely be drawr
from the hospitals of the cities.
women must be found to take th.
places of many nurses In civilian hos
pitals. To prepare for this emergenc,
the Red Cross has been conductin,
great training classes for women.
"The functions of the Red Gross
however, go far beyond service In mill
tary hospitals. In addition to the de
partment of military relief is the de.
partment Of civilian relief. equally
large and equally important.
Dependents Of fighting men cannot
be neglected. Red Cross committees
assisted by expert investigators, take
care of children who need aid. The
needs Of convalescing soldiers from the
front will be looked after.
"If the time comes when women|
must go into industry. the burden of |
caring for children must be shifted
from many mothers. Homes or nurs-
cries must be found for infants. II is
the Red Cross that is called upon to
meet these emergencies also.
Big Brother Of the Services.
"The Red Cross Is the big brother Of
the medical services. The army and
navy cannot get along without IT.
Without it warning nation Is almcsi
helpless for the reason that a nation
in time OF war is unable to provide an |
adequate medical organization without
civilian. aid.
"In no war have there ever been
enough nurses and surgeons. As nc |
chain is stronger than Its weakest lis |
so no army IS stronger than Its Red
Cross. So clearly Is this understood
that In time Of war the government 70. |
guires the Red Cross to give all its |
energies and facilities to the natiou
caring for the fighting men and theit !
dependents at home.
"fhe Red Cross is the only organlz6bI
tion authorized by the government toI
render war relief services. Al