The Washington herald., 1918-06-16

part In shaping our future insti-
tutions.
ANY worry about the condition Of
his dependents or relatives tends TO
pdt q soldier into q condition where
he II subject to shell shock. 1 have
this on the authority Of eminent
specialists who are dealing with such
! cases in the military hospitals- A SOL
der who is untouched by bullet or
shell may. from shell shock, return to
his trench in such nervous condition
as to require hospital treatment and
a long rest. The best insurance against
warfare, the physicians say. is for the
man to 60 over the top or meet q
charge In a buoyant, untroubled frame
of mind in which his sole concern Is
the serious business at hand Cheer
full letters from home help to. produce
the proper mental attitude but con-
hdence that the home folks lack for
nothing is an essential foundation.
Fighters' Homes to Lack for Moth
Ing.
That our men may be protected as
far as possible from worry about their
families, and that nothing else that
will maintain morale be left undone.
II is obvious that the American peo-
pie must see to It that no family
Of a soldier lacks for anything that
will enable It to write honestly cheer
full letters abroad. Any condition
which would disturb its representative
on the front and make him anxious 10
return and set things right must be
| cured and without delay.
AN American commander at the
front and a leading military surgeon
in Paris, both stated that the Red
Cross could do nothing more impor-
tant, from q military standpoint, than
to maintain the welfare Of the homes
Of our fighting men,. The American
soldier is a man OF spirit and action:
not disposed to worry himself. but
likely 10 be deeply anxious about the
welfare Of those dear TO him. who.
far away, are beyond any help that
he can give in time OF acute emer-
gency or trouble.
There can be no more certain
means Of steadying his morale than
to give him the assurance that, what
ever may happen TO his folks at home,
the Home Service Section Of the Red
Cross chapter In his own town may
be depended upon to act promptly.
sympathetically and adequately 70
maintain the comfort and peace of
| those he has left behind.
Children must be given educational
advantages. Wives must not be al
lowed to wear themselves out TO keep
their homes together. Legal advice.
medical and nursing service, friendly
HnNn oaI a1sa
not be lacking. Everything possible
must be done to make the absence
Of the man as endurable as possible.
And all these things must come frpr,
the people of the nation. not as char
! ity-there can be no charity IN COM
munity repayment OF such a debt
but as an essential means Of support
ing our military forces.
100000 Families Visited.
TO the American Red Cross has
been given leadership in this vital un-
dertaking. With utmost sympathy Us
1900 workers, organized as the Home
Service Section Of 5000 Red CroYs
Chapters. have come already into
friendly touch with 10000 families Of
soldiers. Whatever the need. this need
has been met at once either directly
~ INC DtiNlCc or
cooperation with local agencies. This
service has been deeply appreciated
by the soldiers and sailors concerned
They have felt that they can have a
new reason to believe that democracy
ia worth fighting for.
The Home Service sections OF the
! Red Cross chapters throughout the
length and breadth of the United
| States, want every soldier. every
| sailor and every officer to know that
whatever Is needed during their alb
sence, in the service of their country.
! will be done by the Red Cross 10
maintain the essential standards OF
their home life. Nothing less than
| this will measure up to American
| ideals; and nothing less than this Will
! fulfill the desire and the purpose OF
the workers in the Home Service sec
tions of the American Red Cross"