The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-06-19
HOW MANY
KNOW j. s.
IS At WAR?
President of Red Cross War
Council Declares That Not
Over l Per Cent Appreci-
ate-Day Has Come to
Make Sacrifices.

WASHINGTON. D. C. June IL
Speaking this afternoon before the
Washington chapter Of the Red Cross,
Mr.. Henry P. Dawson. chairman of the
Red Cross War Council. said:
How many of our people know that
the United States is really at war?
How many realize that we are today
not only fighting for the principles
upon which our Republic was founded.
but for our very existence? I think a
very small percentage
II doubt if more than one per cent
have a true appreciation of our present
position and of what confronts US. To
me this is not altogether strange; in
deed it would be rather strange if any
considerable number of our people did
grasp the full significance of what It
all means Even in England. within
one hundred and fifty miles Of tho
trenches. the situation was not grasped
for many months; in fact. not untif
the enemy awakened them by their
stupid Zeppelin maneuvers.
But now. what a changed people.
1t has been my fortune to visit Eng
land and France i'm the fall of each of
tho three years of the war. and to OBJ
serve not only the military situation.
but the situation in their respective
governments. and. to some degree. TO
note the results of the war as 1t has
progressed upon the people.
You may read of IL all. you may be
told of 1t all. but you can form no ap-
probation of it without yourself OBJ
serving it. Perhaps the most striking
change in the people is the change in
their ideas of values-the value of life
is different. the attitude of each
toward the other is so different. their
ideals are exalted. 1t seems if their
affection and regard for mankind had
immea surably increased. They seem TO
be without malice or design. envy or
jealousy, without sordid ambition-to
be living on a higher and better plane.
Even with their terrible sorrow and
suffering they seem to be stronger and
surer and more content to meet what
ever may be given them to meet
From this point of view, the picture
is far from dark; it is indeed altogether
inspiring. The process of fire which
has thus purified them has been for
our account as well as their own. What
must happen to US that we may be
i'll. but 1 hope and pray that whatever
may be needed to arouse us to a sense
of sacrifice and cleanse us from our
selfishness will come to us If it does
not. we shall be il-prepared to live
and meet our responsibilities wwith re-
spect to other peoples so cleansed and
strengthened
II hope you will not think me an
idealist; / was never more practical
in my thought 1t is perhaps an ap-
probation of this that has caused me
to go to the Red Cross
For l firmly believe that through
the Red Cross we can not only render
a service TO the people of our Allies
to those who are today lighting for US
but we can bring forcefully to our own
people a sense both of their obligation
and of their opportunity. and 1 am
optimistic enough to believe that the
men and women of this country will
in a not far distant day. rejoice in sac
rifice-in real sacriice-and demand
that the Red Cross shall carry to the
peoples then living of all our Allies
the heartfelt appreciation of what they
have done for us. and express such ap-
probation by every possible aid and
support within their power to send :,