The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1917-03-30
U. S. Volunteer Branch Badly
In Need of Equipment
and Personnel.
OTHER NATIONS SUPERIOR
Nc Time to be Lost in Getting
Ready for Any Kind of Even
tuality, Especially in Vicinity
of Brunswick

Something of the spirit OF Ameri.
can womanhood. which in frontier
days braved the terrors of savage in.
tested forests and wildernesses. found
expression at the afternoon meeting
under auspices of the Brunswick
chapter of the American Red Cross
society held in the First Baptist
church yesterday with Miss Jane Van
de Vrede as speaker.
Calmly the speaker told of grave
issues facing the American people
while the audience listened attentive.
ly but imperturbably, scarcely
change in facial expression being no
tlced when she related how the gov.
ernment, just a hair-breadth from
war. is figuring to the finest detail
the question of wholesale slaughter
and defense against wholesale slaugh
ter. The speaker pointed out clearly
that the Red Cross work of alleyiat-
ing the suffering was but only a part
OF pre-calculated and systematic or
ganization to meet destructive forces
with destroying forces. Emphasis was
laid upon the unpreparedness of the
American Red Cross, especially in
comparison with the society's organi.
cations in European countries.
The auditorium of the church was
filled entirely with women, only
Health Commissioner Abercrombie
Pastor Gilbert and one other male
creature present Miss Van de Vrede
will be here over Friday in order to
personally assist local leaders with
some of the problems of organization
and planning that confronts them
Her talk during the afternoon helped
to clear lot Of misimpressions about
the work which had been held by
many who heard her
"The work of the Red Cross" she
told them. ''is completely voluntary.
1t has no power except those bestow-
ed In war or crisis, it always offers
its services to the government. Mem.
bers have the right to withdraw If
they choose at any time. They can
be merely financial contributing mem.
bers, they can volunteer for lay work.
but in matters Of skill they must take
prescribed courses of instruction, bo-
fore their services will be accepted.
Even after taking such course they
are not obliged to serve.
Nor does the Red Cross take it's
workers on the field of battle. The
European war has taught us that for
every man sent to the front. six per.
sons are needed behind in the work
OF preparing and sending supplies OF
all kinds. The Red Cross works be
hind the lines. Army and navy
nurses and the army ambulance corps
remove the wounded from the battle
field Behind the lines, however, is
the first aid hospital where Red Cross
workers serve under direction OF
army physicians. Farther back, away
from the din and immediate horrors
OF battle, are the base hospitals. Be.
hind these base hospitals is a system
Of aid extending throughout the ma.
tion through local headquarters into
the homes, where various hospital
supplies and personal comforts are
made. From the home, these sup.
plies goes TO the headquarters. where
workers are employed at the task OF
sterilizing and combining and arrang.
ing. while other workers attend to
details of assembling and forward