Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-07-05
over
Sl14,OOO,OOO
HASBEEN
SUBSCRIBED

Henry P. Dawson, Chairman of the
War Council of the Red Cross makes
the following statement:
''The returns up to nine o'clock to-
night indicate that during the past
week at least S114,OOO,OO0 have been
subscribed to the Red Cross War Fund,
This assumes that stockholders in COM
panies which have declared special d.
vidends amounting to some S20,OOO,-
900 will turn their dividends over to
the Red Gross.
Local Chapters of the Red Cross
are entitled to retain for their own
work twenty-five per cent of the total
amount collected, but it is very evil
dent that the National Red Cross will
have a generous fund with which to
begin its tremendous tasks.
''The result which has been achiev-
ed is indeed gratifying. Never before
IN the history of the World was such
fund for the relief of human suffer
ing raised by voluntary subscription
IN so brief period.
"This result was made possible by
surprisingly generous contributions
in many communities. The most in
spring, indeed the most extraordinary
feature of the campaign, has been the
number of contributors, as we'll as
their wide geographical distribution.
Many millions of our people, represent
every part of the country have given
and worked to induce others to give.
Nothing which has happened before
shows so clearly as this campaign that
the great heart Of the American peo-
pie is in this struggle with determina-
ton that our own men shall be cared
for, that everything that can be done
shall be done to hearten and to aid the
she suffering peoples among our AL
lies, indeed that nothing shall be left
undone to win this war.
"No time will be lost by the Red
Cross in its efforts to accomplish re-
suits with the large resources with
which it has now been supplied. Some
OF the plans which are being developed
and which we hope promptly to carry
into execution are the following:
First and foremost we shall pro-
vide as we may be called upon by the
Army and Navy for the care and safe
ty of our soldiers and sailors wherever
they may be
1--WE shall provide funds whereby the
American Red Cross Commission may
take over administration Of American
relief work in France. Major Grayson
NJ. P. Murphy head of the French
Commission, has been appointed by
General Pershing a member of his
staff, and the Red Cross has appro-
priated at Major Murphy's cabled re-
quest 100000 to take care of imme-
date needs.
eve have cabled each of the Allied
Governments seeking authority to in
stall an American Red Cross dispen-
sary in each of their important sea-
port cities-a measure of relief ur-
gently needed.
eve shall send to Russia commits
sion Of some twenty-experts under the
leadership Of DR. Frank Billing Of Chi
cago, to study the needs and the best
means Of aiding the Russian people.
''The Commission will be equipped
with materials, instruments and facil-
tiles for extending immediate relief
IN urgent cases, and the Red Cross
will mean while organize to render
large an effective aid along the bat
tie line and elsewhere in Russia where
there is acute distress. We shall send
a similar commission to make a sur
vey, and likewise equipped with sup
plies and instruments to extend imme-
diate relief to the people of Roumania.
"The War Council of the Red Cross
IS deeply sensitive Of its very grave
obligation to administer the very large
sum Of money intrusted to it with all
the wisdom and foresight which can
be mustered into service.
"Our policies and plans will be made
known as they are developed. It will
be our purpose to conduct our work
with the utmost publicity and to take
the public as completely as posi-
bic into our confidence. The Red
Cross belongs to the people and the
War Council wants the public to I'M
derstand the seriousness with which
it regards the trust which has been
committed to it."