Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-14
Call Is as Distinct as
That for Men.
OPPORTUNITY IN RED CROSS
Only Organization Authorized by
Government to Render War Relief
Service, but Must Depend Upon
Volunteer Proffcrs OF Individuals.
by LEONARD WOOD.
Major-Geueral L. y. Army.

war:
I. BY working in industry. thereby
releasing men for the front and
=. BY joining the American Red
Cross.
RED CROSS VAS IMPORTANT
FUNCTIONS TO PERFORM
Next to the preparation of munitions
and recruiting the army and the navy
the most important step in getting
ready for war is to build up q Red
Cross organization Vast numbers OF
women now working in the various
supply establishments which make mu
nitions. clothing. etc, but the time is
not yet here when women need go into
the factories TO take the places of men.
But the time is here not merely for
tho Rcd Cross to prepare. but to meet
the actual test OF real service.
During the last few years much has
been done TO prepare the American
Red Cross for the nations call. But
preparedness large scale cannot
be accomplished in peace time All
that can be done is to prepare skclc
ton organization capable Of expansion
in war service. TO draft plans Of mobili-
zation AS any army stan would draft
them and TO gather reserve materials
and supplies.
When the call comes the Rcd Cross
must act quickly. II must take caro-
OF vastly Increased army and navy. !
Therefore, its growth must parallel the
growth In both branches OF the ma
TONS fighting force.
MUST TRANSLATE ALL
PLAYS INTO ACTION
The declaration OF a state Of war
with Germany means that tho Amer
!can Red Cross must translate all these
plans, prepared during peace. into ac-
ton. II mus, be prepared TO supple
mcnt the existing facilities of the Med
Zeal Department Of the army and the
navy and OF tho Medical Reserve Corps
All this work must so forward
smoothly. This expansion must take
place without any hitch in the ma
chincry. There can be no experiments
ing in war.
Every man and woman owes il as
a duty TO tho country to become
member of tho American Red Cross
Memberships is AS low as sl-shouId
be universal. instead OF having a
membership OF 500 900. as a, present.
the American Rcd Cross should far cx-
coed the 100000 membership in
Japan. tho 400, 900 In Russia and the
100000 each in France and England. /
Membership alone does not neces-
sarily Imply service. II means merely
that one helps to support the admins
trative organization directing tho work
Of the Red Cross
After membership there is opportu-
nifty for service with the Red Cross.
Every chapter has It's workrooms and
Its au%iliariNs. Il has trained instruc-
tors in the preparation Of hospital
and surgical supplies needed here and
abroad.
Many chapters have classes in first
aid TO the wounded. home care of tho
sick. home dietetics and IN the making
Of surgical dressings. All of these are
at the service OF women who wish 10
aid their country.
NEEDS TRAINED WOMEN
FOR WORK OF RELIEF
But what the Red Cross does need
to-day is trained women for the work
OF military relies! The immediate call
is for competent nurses. y soldiers life
is too precious to risk I'm unskil!ed
hands. Nurses must largely be drawn
from the hospitals Of the cities.
Women must be found to takc the
places OF many nurses in civilian hos
pitfalls. To prepare for this emergency
the Red Cross has been conducting
great training classes for women.
In many cities-Ncw York. Brooklyn,
Boston. Chicago. Denver and elsewhere
teaching ccnters OF the Red Cross
for tho last two years have been turn
ing out women trained in the care OF
the sick and in elementary hospital
duties.
In New York alone. at No. East
Fifty-sixth Street, one OF these teach
ing centers is now training women in
this work at the rate OF 1900 every
eight weeks.
From them will largely be drawn
also the nurses aids attached to the
base hospitals organized throughout the
country. Twenty-cight of these hos
pitfalls. with 500 beds each and com
plement OF fifteen nurses aids. are now
ready for active service. Even the doc |
tors and nurses attached to these units |
have been innoculated against typhoid |
and other dangers OF field service.
WORK TO BE DONE AT HOME.
AS WELL AS IN HOSPITAL !
The functions OF the Red Cross, how
ever, go far beyond service in military
hospitals. In addition to the depart |
ment of military relief Is the depart
ment OF civilian relief, equally large
and equally important.
Dependents Of lighting men cannot
be neglected. Red Cross committees, |
assisted by expert Investigators. take |
care Of children who need aid. The |
needs of convalcscing soldiers from the |
front will be looked after.
II the time comes when women must |
go into industry. the burden of caring |
for children must be shifted from many
mothers. Homes or nurseries must be
found for infants. 1t is the Red Cross |
that is called upon to meet these emer- |
gencies also.
In all great emergencies charity is
prompt to act. Money comes pouring |
In lnlief Iaiza tiana anrinG un |