The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-07-09

OF all the horrors Of the present
war, the greatest has undoubtedly
been the inability Of the allies for
months after the struggle began to
furnish adequate medical treatment
and supplies, proper food and sani-
tary accommodations for their
wounded and sick. This chapter of
unpreparedness Is indescribably sad
and indelibly discreditable.
During the first year of the strug-
gle thousands upon thousands OF the
soldiers of the Allies died or were
permanently MANNED, diseased and
incapacitated for life, solely because
they did not receive proper or
prompt medical attention and nurs-
ing, and were left without the most
elementary comforts. The military
authorities and the Red Cross soci-
\ cites found themselves woefully lack
ing in equipment, facilities and sup
plies, in nurses and surgeons, in am
bu1ances and beds. in buildings and
tents to accommodate the wounded
and sick, and were overwhelmed by
the number they were called upon to
care for. Innumerable were the in
| sances of the wounded whose lives
could and should have been saved
and innumerable tn instances OF
frightful and unnecessary pain and
suffering endured by those whose
! every want should have been fore
seen and provided for by the great
and rich nations whose battles they
were fighting.
Any attempt to describe the sick.
| ening details of this awful story-oI
J the thousands who bled to death Tor
want of medical attention, OF the
| thousands whose wounds became in
! fected for want of surgical dressings,
| of the men-our fellow human be-
| ings-whose feet were frozen and
| had to be amputated without anaes-
J thetic. held down on the operating
| table by the nurses, of those VINO
| succumbed for lack of nursing, OF
| those who suffered hours and hours
and sometimes days before their ex-
cruiting agony could be relieved
all because the people for whom tney
were fighting had neglected to fur-
nish the necessary attendance ana
| supplies.
Now. after IS months of the war,
with all it's horrible lessons and all
! its awful warning, we, the rlcnest
! and most powerful nation In the
world. find ourselves as unprepared
as was England in August, 1914,
when she sent her small but immor-
tai army to Belgium to face ten
times it's number in order that the
phghted faith of England to small
and weak nation might be kept in
violate. j.
The question before us today is
whether we shall send our youns
men to fight for us on the. pattle,
fields of Europe. three Thousand
miles away from home, without aoe-
ouate preparation to save them from
unnecessary suffering and pain anu
from needless death. 1t Is as GER
tain as that the sun will rise tomor-
row that il we Americans fail to re-
snond to the present call of the ked
Cross our own soldiers will sufter
ond die who could be and should be
saved from pain, from death, from
disease and mutilation.
Whv Your Country Needs You as
Member of the Red Cross.
Won know what the Red Cross is.
You are familiar with some or the
achievements - with the organized
helnfulness. heroism and self-sacrl-
fee of it's men and women amid the
horrors of war, devastating plaques
and epidemics; and in great calaml-
ties such as the San Francisco hre,
the Ohio valley floods, the Titanic
and "Eastland" disasters; and other
catastrophies involving loss of life
and suffering
M Won know that as an American
Won have the right to become a mem
her of the Red Cross? That by the
navment of small annual dues, and
a little unselfish service, you can
support your government III us hu-
manitarian work?
Your circumstances may not per-
nit you to engage in field WORK
few members can-but you can heip,
YOUR family and your friends can
helm nv becoming members OF the So
cietv and by actively supporting your
local Red Cross chapter.
Your help is needed now. To sup
mort its field and base hospitals, It's
doctors and nurses, and to PROVIDE
+he necessities of military and CIVIL
ian relief, calls for at least ,OOO,O0o
members. America can do what oth-
err nations have done. i.
No field service Is required OF
members. a>-
'~~-~ An Inspiring Record.
The American Red Cross is chart
cred by congress. 1t is the only vol
unteer agency for relief commission
ed by the government in case OF war
nr nuarwhelming disaster.