Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-21

The Red Cross asks the American
people to give 100000 to enable it
to do its work of war relief, and Au-
gusta is asked to contribute $4,000.
This sum is large but it may not be
even half enough. Mr.. Hoover directed
the expenditure of s350,000,000 for Bel
gan relief alone, and could have used
much more. The Red Cross will have
to meet not only the demands for re-
| lief abroad, but first Of al! we shall
| have enormous work here at home, and
next for our army afield. and our navy
afioat.
! The S1oo,ooo,ooo asked for by the
Red Cross is to cover a considerable
period Of relief and reconstruction, and
! all the while the powers at war are
spending that much every day in the
work of destruction.
| Some Concrete Needs.
! To give a concrete idea of these real
and present needs; the American Red
| Cross representatives in France acting
in cooperation with the French Gov
eminent officials urgently cabled US not
/ long ago requests for immediate ship
ment. They asked for fifty more am
bulance transport sections (having a
I total of 1850 cars) merely to replace
those that have been destroyed in
France. That is only one item. But
we shall need to organize many new
ambulance sections calling for thou
sands of automobiles and trucks.
! They cabled that they needed five
sanitary trains, each with its staff of
doctors and nurses. A few more things
needed right at once were:
| 5000 stretcher bearers
/ 5000 nurses
| 100000 pairs of wooden socks
1 100000 blankets
10000 kiloS of qunine
10000 kilos of cod liver oil
( 10000 meters of oilcloth, etc, etc
I These were only immediate urgent
needs. Since then many similar cables
have been received. Doubtless more
will come.
Our great trouble today is that our
people do not realize the situation
! throughout the countries now at war
Hundreds Of American doctors and
nurses are already at the front. "A
force Of f2,CC0 American engineers
will soon be rebuilding the railroads
of France. Upwards of $4,000 Amer
lean men are now on the battIefields
Of Europe, fighting as volunteers in
the Allied armies; soon, $4,000 Amer.
lean regulars will be added to their
number.
All our National Guard is to be mob
, ilized, our regular army is to be re-
cruited to full strength. and 100000
other men are shortly to be called to
the colors. Within few months we
should and will have in service an army
of 100000 and navy of 10000 men.
The First Need
These men must have of our best.
To prepare against their needs in adj
vance will be the first stupendous task
which the Red Cross must undertake.
Doctors, nurses, ambulances, must be
made ready. Vast quantities of hos
pital stores. linen, bandages and sup
plies of every kind must be prepared
and at once. If we wait it may be too
late.
When we ask our own sons and
miles from home in a country already
sore and afflicted, surely we cannot DO
less than prepare to take care Of them
IN thelr Gay OF sunerlh9.
Immeditely our soldiers go into camp
their dependent families will become a
problem.
The Red Cross Foster Parent
When our men go to France, we must
not only prepare to take care of them
when sick and wounded; another very
serious problem will confront them and
will confront us is our care and fore
thought on their behalf
Our American soldiers must have a
home in France, somewhere to rest,
somewhere to find a friendly atmo-
sphere. somewhere to go for recreation
and wholesome amusement. These men
will be returning to this country some
day We want to make it certain that
as many as possible return in health
and strength and not afflicted with
disease from which our forethought
m ght have protected them.
The Red Gross husband it aione
can-become real Foster Parent Of
our soldiers while they are in Eu-
rope. To perform that function we'll
will require a large sum Of money.
France Calls on Us for Help.
The needs of France cannot but stir
the heart Of every American. Tubercu
! loss has become prevalent as result
of this trench war. There nave been
! 100000 new cases since the war began.
And the disease is spreading. Here is
call not only to aid the brave and lib
erty- loving French people, but also to
help make this afflicted country
healthy for our own sons and brothers
who are soon to be there in such great
numbers.
| Some 1900 towns and villages have
been destroyed in France. In her de
vastated regions men, women and chill
/ dren are homeless and suffering for
the barest necessities Of life. We ought
at the earliest moment to provide these
/ people with the simplest essentials to
begin life anew. They need clothing,
agricultural implements. domestic ami
mails, especially horses and cows,
seeds, fertilizers, tools, bedding, stoves
and the elementary materials with
which TO cover themselves by day and
nv MIGHT