Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1917-12-14
ENROLMENT OF 5000, 900 BY
CHRISTMAS EVE is THE
GOAL SET.
SOUTHWEST QUOTA 2,ooo,O 900
Every Person With Red Blood In H's
Veins, Who Is Not Already
Member, Will Join
by Dec. IS.
-Make It a Red Cross Christmas!"

ern ulVlSlOn Vi the 6Lcdl AuleiiSdh
Red Cross, which will begin a drive
| Monday, Dec. II, to obtain 1000, 900
new members in the states OF Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Arkansas. Oklahoma
and Texas.
A similar drive Is to be made at the
same time in the other IL divisions OF
the Red Cross throughout the United
States. The Red Cross has 5000, 600
members at the present time. FIJI
teen million members by Christmas
Eve is the goal of this wonderful Or
ganization.
Outside OF the army and the navy
the He'd Cross Is the most important
instrument for winning the war. Facts
and figures dictate this statement and
aot sentiment.
Much has been said and written re-
garding the sentimental side OF the
Red Cross and too little has been said
and written OF the actual work which
the Red Cross does. AS a matter OF
fact, the Red Cross Is nothing more
than Gods own instrument for max
Ing the world safe for democracy. All
OF the armies and all of the navies Of
all the allied countries would be I'M
potent unless back Of them there was
a Big Something making for the
morale which Is the backbone of every
fighting machine.
Morale Makes an Army.
Every soldier and every sailor must
know that his country Is backing him
up with something more than mum.
lions and a uniform; he must know
that the spirit of the country Is be-
hind him. that it's humanity Is reach.
ing out to him and reaching out to his.
that the A~ll.Seeing, All-Powerful One,
the Big Director Of Humanity. Is go
Ing to take care OF him and take care
Of his family while he Is fighting.
Morale and munitions win vars.
The Red Cross Is morale with a big
M. and without the Red Cross there
could be no such thing as morale.
A few facts covering a few of the
activities Of the Red Cross since the
United States went into the big war
Is sufficient proof Of all these state
ments. No man with red blood in his
veins can read these facts and then
refuse to become a member Of the Red
Cross, unless he already Is a member.
Because Of the enormity Of the task
and because Of the fact the United
States was unprepared for war, the
War Department has been slow in get.
ting supplies to cantonments, and in
many instances soldiers would have
suffered had 1t notbeen for the quick.
ness Of the Red Cross In coming to
their relief. Some red tape, Of course,
attaches to the Red Cross. At a South.
ern cantonment 1000 Of the men were
without shirts; the War Department
was not able to furnish the mimmedi.
ately . The Red Cross stepped in and
within "a hours every man was prop.
erly outfitted.
Blankets Are Supplied.
At another cantonment the men had
an insufficient supply Of blankets and
the government could not put through
a reQuisition in time to alleviate the
suffering which followed. Again the
Hed Cross vent to the rescue Of the
government. again 1t proved It was
M governments highland ally.
At still another cantonmsnt sweat.
ers were furnished for more than 1000
soldiers who were without o~vercoats.
One Of the biggest things the Red
Cross Is doing In America and
throughout the countries OF the Allies
Is civilian relief. Here are some cases
In point which alone are sufficient 10
make membership in the Red Cross
synonymous with citizenship In the
United States:
CASE oNE.-Mother with daughter
twenty-five. son twenty-five and dauRh-
ter thirteen. Son Is drafted. Mother
taken dangerously Ill, without hone of
recovery. Oldest daughter must resign
ner position. paying ss5 per month, to
OF $40 only income.
Home Service Section investigated;
found an excellent family never in
want before, now in dire straits and
needing great assistance. Chapter
made a grant of $40 a week to provide
finances for living expenses, medi.
cines. doctor bills, ETC., and are max.
ing encouraging calls to the family
and assisting the daughter in nursing
her mother. Financial relief alone
would not have been enough In this
case.
Splendid Home Service.
CASE TWo.-Man enlisted In army ana
married In June. 1917, asked fer discSsrge
IN October on the grounds Of a depend
ent vile who was an expectant mother
Army officials refused discharge bscause
marriage took place after decIa of
war. Woman has no relatives and soi-
oiers relatives, who live in another part
OF the United States. are unable TO assist.
Home Service Section found facts
as stated correct, made arrangements
for the wife's confinement, assigned a
big hearted motherly woman as coun.