Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-12-06
Very truly yours,
MARTHA SPRIGG POOLE,

tlOn, remain
Very truly yours,
MARTHA SPRIGG POOLE,
Chairman, Home Service Committee.
The Red Cross goes overseas with your
soldier it also stays at home with his
family. 1t has tried to help in every in
stance where the need for any such ser
vices as are hereinafter outlined have been
brought to its attention.
There may be persons desiring informa-
ton or assistance of some sort who do not
know of the Home Service Office in the
brick building in Rockville. opposite the
Court House. If you should hear Of any
such persons. please direct them to this
office, where they will be sure to find some
one on Wednesday and Saturday mornings
between $50 and 1890 o'clock.
We wish to call your attention especially
that from now on there will be soldiers re-
turning home who may need information
as to how to get their back pay, Liberty
bonds. etc. who need help in finding EN-
ployment, or who wish to know how to
keep up their Government insurance or to
convert 1t into Peace insurance. At the
Home Service Office they may obtain this
information and the services Of lawyer
free of charge. if such be necessary.
Just read this account of what they
have done up to October |, 1918:
REPORT Or The HOME SERVICE COMMITTEE Or
The MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAPTER Or
The AMERICAN RED Cross, OCTOBER
1, 1917 To OCTOBER 1. 1918.
The Home Service Committee has dealt
with 80 cases to date.
l. Friendly encouragement to keep the
home fires burning" has been given in IS
cases. AS white. 20 colored. The Army
and Navy rate this as one Of the most i'm
portant activities Of the Red Cross. as it
keeps up the morale Of the fighting man
TO know that the organization which takes
care of him when he is sick takes care of
his family in any emergency. Families
are encouraged to write only cheerful let
tiers to their soldiers and to tell their trou-
bles to US instead.
2. Assistance in obtaining allotment and
allowance has been rendered in 40 cases. 81
white. 81 colored. Allotments which have
gone astray due to clerical errors. or have
not been made because of lack of correct
information or intention to shirk, have
been adjusted. Many requests for this
service came from the soldiers themselves.
Sometimes the families apply to the Draft
Board for help in strengthening out their
difficulties and are referred to us by the
board.
8. Medical and hospital treatment have
been given or arranged for in 16 cases. II
white. S colored; hospital treatment for
adenoids and tonsils, broken hip. infantile
paralysis needle removed from woman's
hand after x-rays, tumOr removed; medi-
cal treatment for broken arches, scrofula,
broken arm. various chronic diseases, and
cases of tuberculosis, 3 of them dis
charged soldiers.
4. In 7 families. white, 2 coored,
regular school attendance of children has
been insisted upon. The national cam
paien for Child Welfare is borne in mind
at all times
3. Fanancialrelief. either given or loaned
has been given in instances, 6 colored, 8
white.
q. Information only as to allotments,
allowances, insurance. etc, has been given
in Is cases, white, 6 colored. In addi-
ton a meeting was held May 26th to give
information to group of drafted men, and
since then circular giving information on
these subjects is handed every drafted
man, for which our thanks are due the
Draft Board for their cooperation.
7. Assistance in obtaining compensation
and insurance has been rendered to four
men permanently disabled in the service
and families Of four men killed in service.
3. In several instances families who have
received more money than they are en-
titled to receive have asked our assistance
IN correcting this error on the part of the
Government
y. AS part Of the wonderful Red Cross
organization for communication between
men and their families we receive tele-
grams saying that men in camps or in
France are worried because they have not
heard from their families The families
are visited at once and the reply speeded
back to reassure the worried soldier In
the same way we put families who have nor
heard from their soldiers in touch with
them.
10. We start the machinery which pro-
cures for family details concerning the
wounding or death in action Of their SOL
diers when notice to that effect has been
received by them from the War Depart
ment. These details, which mean SO much
TO sad and loving hearts at home, are not
furnished by the military authorities.
II. Other services rendered include hous-
ing bettered. families encouraged to save,
family ties strengthened, and employment
found. Among our clients are the fami-
lies Of three Canadian soldiers.
IL. An effort is under way to obtain the
names Of all men in the military service
whose families reside in this county.
The personnel Of the Home Service Com
mittee includes Miss Martha Poole, Chair
man Mr. Philip d. Laird. Rev. Willard
Minnick, Mr.. Robert B. Peter, Mr. George
Hunter Miss MARY Maprider Mr. Martin