The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-02
ONE THING WE'LL DONE.
American Red Cross a Shining Spot in
Our War Work.

where the war is such terrible reality.
MAJOR Grayson Mp. Murphy, former
wee president of the Guaranty Trust
company OF New York, just home after
seven months IN France, Belgium and
Italy, where he had charge of the Red
cross field work, points out that the
greatest good now being done is through L
he encouragement which our Red Cross
gives to the people of France and italy.
Its units, now established in practically
every city and town in France and MANY
parts OF Italy, are accepted by the peo-
lie as an earnest indication that the
United States will soon be III the war
on large scale and will be a great |
factor i'll defeating Germany.
When American troops began to ar
rive IN France in June the war-wearied |
people there greeted them with wild |
enthusiasm, IN the belief that their com
ing meant that the war was practically |
over FROM tins cXtravagant height of |
acclaim there has been a natural recess
SION, deepening as January has come, |
and It Is seen that it must be some time
still before the United States can be
come a real factor on the war front. In
tempering the disappointment of the
masses nothing has helped so much as
If France to convince the people that
America is in the war after all, and
that this country will in time take a
great part in it. -
In Italy the heartening which the Red
Cross has carried was of even greater
value, because arriving at the most crit
zeal time. Four days after our declara-
ton of war, and while Italy was Keeling
under the great offensive against her.
the Red Cross came ''to encourage and
stimulate the whole nation. There
had been widespread propaganda
against this country, and until the Unit
ed States declared war on Austria it
was contended that we cared nothing
for Italy and did not mean to give her
any real help. The fact that we were
already lending assistance in money and
supplies was not generally understood
or properly appreciated How the Red
Cross helped to turn the tide of
opinion in Italy Major Murphy shows:
When the first American sections
consisting of 60 ambulances arrived in
Italy a revival of enthusiasm took
place in every town and district through
which they passed, and as more units
arrived and spread throughout Italy the
effect was felt on the spirit of the whole
lngs and other comforts We're provided
for large part of the refugee popula-
lon, who has produced a great problem
IN Italy, which was pretty bare of food
and other necessities as far as the or
binary population was concerned. Great
quantities of medical supplies were lost
IN the retreat, and they were worth
their weight in gold during the first
few days OF the retreat. This gave to
the he'd Cross ITS opportunity to be of
the greatest possible service. 1t sent
INTO Italy from ITS great French depots
Il lotaI or 10 carloads OF medical sup
[ fFIltS WITHIN the hrstrteN aQAS,g aEa4 cQu.
, tlhued TO send more as long as they Were
r. needed.
: ENefE contributor 10 the Red Cross
! f0tlEe is entitled to take particular salts
, laeiloh III TINS demonstration that his
! ,iFln2 was so well worth while. From
= the threatened Venetian district the
i He'd Cross removed large bodies of lace
t. makers. They were taken away in
I groups with their machinery. and es
O tablIshcd IN towns removed from the
4 front, SO that Workmen We're able t
+ resume then laborS immediately with
. out being thrown on charity or forced
to suffer from unemployment. Better
- sum- btiN lh1ti NlbSS HtlHAti III tI III
u portant way to protect the morale of thG
h Italian army by its care of the wive,
y and children Of soldiers. Fear for their
p loved ones Is the thing that all tot
d quickly takes the heart out of fighting
Y men. 1t IS worth noting at that point
y as showing the extent of our aid, thai
- there are 2oo motor ambulances in Italy
against 500 iii France.
= The Red Cross in France is fighting
o tuberculosis, and giving medical attend
II ance, care and food to French children
r Ia need of this help, too often becaus
Is of the death of their parents. 1t is no
d ~ easy matter to ''see the doctor i
~ france, because nearly all the physician
are at the front Therefore, III man
" towns IN the north of that country an
- Elsewhere the Red Cross has establishc
~ lying sqnadrons OF physicians, VIII
h, make regular automobile tours for man
6. miles IN all directions from these heae
"a quarters, treating the civilian populs