The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-12-10
Chairman Dawson, of War
Council, Issues Lengthy
Statement.
NEED OF. COOPERATION
More Than Funds Loyalty and
Devotion of the Members
Now Desired for Transition
Period.

Henry p. Dawson. chairman o. tho
war Council of the American Ped
Cross, today issued to the 1854
chapters and the 22,OOO,OOO men,
bers OF the Red Cross the following
statement outlining the future policy
OF the American Red Cross:
To the 1854 chapters and $4,000
600 members of the American Red
Cross:
The whole American people will
be invited in the week preceding
Christmas to enroll as members OF
the Red Cross. 1t is confidentially
believed that there need be no fur
their campaigns for Red Cross funds,
but instead, the annual roll call will
constitute the foundation of the Red
''ross. The people should therefore
now as definitely as possible the
plans Of this, their national human
itarian society.
Since the armistice was signed.
have had an opportunity to confer
in Paris with the heads Of all Amer
lean Red Cross commissions in Eu-
rope, and later in Washington with
the President OF the United States,
the War Council OF the Red Cross
the managers OF the fourteen Red
Cross divisions OF the United States
and with the heads OF our depart
ments at national headquarters.
am, therefore, able to speak now
with knowledge and assurance in
saying that the benefcent work OF
the American Red Cross is to go for
ward on a great scale-not alone. as
heretofore, for purposes OF relief OF
war, but as an agency of peace and
permanent human service.
Since Americas entry into the
war, the purpose OF our Red Cross
has been, primarily, to aid our army
and navy in the care of our own men
under arms, and. secondly, to ex
tend relief to the soldiers. sailors
and civilians OF those nations which
were fighting our battles along with
their own. witt, the fuTaS which
have been so generously contribut-
ed by the American people this war
work Of the Red Cross will continue
and be completed with all possible
sympathy and energy.
Wherever our soldiers and sailors
may be the Red Cross will stay with
them until they are demobilized
Nothing which we may do will be
left undone either for the men In
the war zone, for those returning
for those in the camps and hospitals
or for their families at home to
whom will continue to be devoted
the ministrations OF the Red Cross
Home Service. In this latter effort
100000 trained Red Cross workers
are now engaged at $4,000 different
places throughout the land.
The problems OF reconstruction.
involving feeding and caring for the
distressed ciXilian populations OF
Europe, are of such magnitude that
necessarily they must be met very
largely by the governments OF our
allies, with whom our own govern
ment will cooperate.
The great tasks OF fighting tuber-
culosis, promoting child welfare and
caring for refugees, with which the
American Red Cross has concerned
itself so effectively in France. Italv
and Belgium. will at an early date
be assumed by the governments, the
Red Cross organizations and the re-
lief societies OF those countries
which. now that they are released
from the terrific burden OF waging
war, naturally desire to take care.
as far as they can. OF their own
people.
The war program OF the America n
Red Cross will thus steadily and
rapidly merge itself into a peace
program. The wake Of the war
will. however. reveal the prevalence
of disease and give rise to epidemics
and emergencies which in all parts
OF the world will call for unlimited
voluntary effort, the cutting OF red
tape and the manifestation OF those
qualities OF human sympathy which
government action cannot display
Here wiz be the opportunity for
the American Red Cross. But even