The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-15
Activities of keokuk
Red Cross Chapter
Rolling canteens.

Rolling Canteens.
The Red Cross has this week added
a new and picturesque branch to it's
many activities in Italy by sending
two rolling canteens" to the front.
The object of these canteens,
which are really kitchens on wheels,
is to furnish hot food to soldiers in
first line trenches. Two New York
men have charge of these first roll
ing canteen units. They are Lieu
tenant Gardiner Penniman and Lieu
tenant Edward Mickey.
A farewell reception was given to
the departing officers in the presence
of American and Italian officials at
the Red Cross rest house in Milan.
-Four additional rolling canteen units
will be sent out next week.
Details of Casualties.
One of the newest functions of the
American Red Cross Is to give to
relatives and friends of American
soldiers details of casualties at the
front.
The anxiety which naturally fol-
lows every battle when official reports
simply state that such and such SOL
diers were wounded or missing"
will be relieved in a large measure
by this service. The bureau estab-
lished in Paris by the Red Cross will
supplement government information
with fuller details such as relatives
crave.
Investigators from the Paris office
will be stationed at base hospitals in
France. When a soldier is killed,
wounded or missing these investiga-
tors will send full particulars prompt
ly to headquarters and from there
it will be sent to America. Comrades
Of the men who fall in battle will
be questioned for last details about
their fate.
Any information of interest or con-
ISOLATION to relatives thus obtained
will be transmitted to them through
personal letters, while messages from
the wounded will be conveyed
through the anne agency.
AS the American forces abroad in
crease to large proportions it is prob
able that information will be sup
piled only to those relatives who
write to national headquarters at
Washington, Red Cross bureau of
communication, and request 1t.
Along with this service the Ameri-
Cdu htu SIOSS las PCil AeaA
for sending food to American soldiers
in German prison camps. Every week
three ten-pound packages of food
will be sent from Switzerland to each
American soldier in Germany.
Red Cross Expenditures.
What the American Red Cross has
done with the millions of dollars in
trusted to it by the people of the
United States is shown in a state
ment just issued by national head
quarters. Appropriations TODAY
amount to 7 9,450,727, and cover the
period from the time we entered the
war last April, until April 80, 1918.
For foreign relief the sum Of $44,-
657 ,795 has been appropriated and
much of it spent as follows: France,
$50, 519, 259; Belgium, S1,999,521; Rus
STA, s751,94O; Roumania, $2,617,29S;
Italy ~S3,146,O16; Serbia, $871,180;
Great Britain, $1,703. 642; other
foreign countries, ~$2,536.3O0; for
American soldiers who may be taken
prisoners, $343,627.
AS the government supplies nearly
everything our soldiers and sailors
need, the appropriation for the Unit
ed States is only S2,612,532. All sala-
ries and administrative expenses are
paid put of membership dues so that
every penny of the war fund goes to
relief.
The great variety of mill
tary and civilian relief by the Red
Cross may be indicated briefly: Can
teens hat afford food, baths and
lodging for soldiers at the front; rest
stations and recreation centers for
soldiers in transit and at port OF
arrival in France; care of orphan
and destitute children; supplies for
1000 hospitals; teaching mutilated
soldiers new trades; reconstruction
of homes and villages: sanitariums
for tubercular and other patients;
food, clothing, medicine and shelter
for adult civilians in distress and
many other activities.
Anyone sufficiently interested may !
obtain a full report, showing in which
and for what purpose every
dollar was spent. by applying to the
American Red Cross at Washington.
Helping Families at Home.
Workers are needed in the home
section Of the Americ a Red Cross.
The increasing demands In this part
of the great organization have made
it necessary to get new workers and
workers. Every chapter is ex'
tending it's home service.
The section devotes itself to looking
after the needs-mental, physical ana
financial-of the families of soldiers
sailors who are in the making, or
are already overseas fighting for
democracy Of the world. 1t is in tbs
home service section that quick re-
suits Of the help extended are seen.
and for that reason 1t is n of the
satisfactory sections Of the work
amateur and volunteer service
Not only the quick response to
food where it is needed, cheer to the
sad and help for the troubled, but
the satisfaction of the man over
who knows his dear n will
be cared for in his absence and is
therefore a better soldier, is the re.