Arizona republican., 1917-06-25
WHAT RED CROSS IS PLANNING TO
 ID WITH MONEY
Some Idea of the Enormous Task Before the Splendid Organization Made Pub
 lie By Henry P. Davidson

The question is frequently asked just what is the Red Cross going to under take and what argument can be used in soliciting contributions for the $100- 0O0,000 Red Cross war fund, declared Henry F. Davidson. It is a natural question, he adds. and says that his answer is as follows:
 Given the greatest war the world has known, now entering the last month of it's third year on the one hand, the American Red Cross on the other. What is the Red Cross going to do?
 "The first thing it is going to do is to effect the most efficient organiza- l. tion possible. The president has ap- pointed a war council, which council has assumed the responsibility of ef- fecting this organization. It is devel- oping plans which involve the selec- tion of the best talent in the United States in medicine, in sanitation, in transportation in construction, in vel fare work, in purchasing, in commercial business, in accounting and in such other lines as may be required in an undertaking of this magnitude.
 Efficiency of Men
 Ordinarily it would be difficult to employ trained talent of the character required. Men would not be available, but it has already been demonstrated beyond any concern on the part of the council that the best talent is availa ble and most Of it volunteer. so that in whatever direction it may be necessary to move, the work may be carried on intelligently, efficiently and economi- cally. The desire of the war council is for immediate action to be as ef- ficiently and economically executed as possible. By reason of the cooperative spirit of the public it is believed that the overhead charges in the admins trdtiOn Of this work will be compara- lively low. Only small percentage of each dollar contributed will be required to carry the relief to it's destination.
 Next we shall continue organizing base hospitals with personnel and full equipment in order that they may be turned over to the army upon a days notice for transport to France. At the same time we will proceed to organize such units to be stationed at the mo- bilization camps of our soldiers and our sailors in this country as may be de- fred by the surgeons general Of the army and navy Also we shall proceed with the purchasing, collection, ship ment and storing of such supplies as may be necessary or even precautiOn- ary, to be immediately available.
 Can't Tell Cost
 If we secure the subscription we shaa purchase, equip and man hospital ships; we shall organize and maintain a sanitary engineering corps, to be sub iect to the call of the army and navy In fact, We should be piepared to meet any and every emergency in connec- dc nf OII md sailors in this country when called upon by the army and the navy. it be- ing understood that our work in this particular is supplemental to that of those departments of the gOvernemnt
 How much is this going to cost? No one can tell, because no one as yet knows whether we are to have five hundred thousand men or two million men, or more mobilized and going forward to the line of battle The foregoing. you will n)te. treats only with the military necessities and not with the civilian relief in our own country to which, important as it is, make no reference in this statement
 Caring for Troops Abroad
 This same service we propose to render through the Red Cross to American soldiers and sailors abro H. not merely to protect them in hea. I and to maintain them as effective fighting men, but to look after their comfort and happiness while they art on leave. The Red Cross must act as foster father to these young soldiers of America three thousand miles from their homes
 Beyond the military and civilian needs of our own people we must un dertake a larger humanitarian work i f nj al t7n cd Cross has already started by sending a commission to Europe. This com mission headed by Major Grayson M.-P. Murphy, is composed of socio- logical and medical experts and will work in conjunction with agencies ap- pointed by the French government. It will make a survey of the situation abroad and will recommend to us in the order of greatest importance the work which America must undertake. Diseases Are Terrible
 Tuberculosis and the many new and terrible diseases that have developed from trench warfare, and which are 1 incident to army life, must be com batted They may be conquered both to preserve our own troops serving abroad and to aid our allies. To the degree in which we are successful in conserving manpower we shall help to win the war.
 The Red Cross does not aim to re- construct devastated villages. But we | do feel that it is a part of America s duty to contribute toward the tempor- ary housing of the thousands of home l less, and to aid and encourage them in re- establishing their lives by such as l sistance as we can give. We want to l A., terials, with expert services, with everything that we can that will help to put these valiant peoples back on their feet
 We are sending our troops to the ! front to fight, but how long will it be before "the American section of the western front will compare in ere ditable degree with that of the sections held today by other nations? Pending the arrival of our army in such forces shall we not immediately stretch a hand to encourage and stimuate te those who are fighting valiantly for our own, as well as their own.
 Help for Russia
 To this point l have had in mind only France What about Russia with d thousand miles of. battle front ana with only 5000 ambulances, as com pared with the western battle front four hundred miles long and with. 63, 900 ambulances? We should send to Russia thousands of ambulances with their personnel and with as many doctors and nurses as we can spare from this country. What evidence will have been furnished to Russia that the United States is her ally in this war il she has nothing more substantial than