Mexico Missouri message., 1918-09-19
Aids in COntentment of Families
of Our Soldiers.
PROVIDES RELIEF FOR NEEDY
sIuman Touch Is Found Necessary In
Addition to the AIIotments Of Pay
and Various Allowances From
the Government.
gFrom the Committee on Public Informa-
ton. Washington. d. C.l

the Office of one of the Red Cross home
service stations and laid down $21.50.
1t represented the profits Of luncheon
served at her home for the benefit Of
the children of the soldiers Of the
First Separate battalion.
''It is my Bit" she said. "You were
all so good to me when I was sick
that 1 wanted to do something for 9TH
.ers now that am able to-"
This woman has been one Of the
FIRST applicants for relief from the
home service of the Red Cross. Her
husband had volunteered In the army,
and, after his enlistment, she had done
such heavy work that her health had
broken down. She had been i'll in bed
and had been attended by a doctor
who had signed false certificates for
her insurance. Finally, in despair, she
sent word to the local Red Cross.
The Red Gross home worker came to
see her and learned the facts In the
case. A better physician was secured,
and it was found that she had incip-
tent tuberculosis. She was Immediate
Iy sent for treatment to tuberculosis
.dispensary, where she remained dur
ing the summer. Within few months
she had improved so wonderfully that
she could hardly be recognized as the
same woman.
This was only one of a very large
number of cases in which the Red
Gross has proved a blessing to the
families Of our fighting men.
War dIsturbs the even current Of
our lives. Few indeed are the families
who are not intimately touched by the
call which has gone forth to the young
men of the nation. Sons, brothers,
fathers, and close friends have gone to
the training camps, or will soon go.
They will leave more gladly If they
can be assured that the ones they love
are being watched and cared for in
every possible way during their abb
;sence.
The Human Touch Needed.
Most soldiers have friend to whom
they can entrust the welfare of the
mothers and wives. But many have
not. The government does the best II
can by providing allotments of pay
and allowances for the families OF sol
diers and sailors. But something more
is necessary. The human touch IL
needed, There are bound to be emer
gencies which call for ministrations
of a special and extraordinary sort
situations calling for wits and re
sourcefulness. Obviously the best way
to deal with such cases it to turn then
over to trained social workers, whose
4akill and experience fit them to dea
with these troubles. Hence, the gov
.ernment has done wise thing in turn
ing over to the home-service workers
of the American Red Gross official re
.sponsiblllty for such soldiers and sail
-ors' families as come into dithcultes.
The home-servlce work Of the Re'
Cross is a logical extension Of its mis-
sion of mercy. No other organization
has so splendid record in administer
ing relief, and none is better equippe
TO do what is now required. Its serN
ice stations are established In ever
district of the United States, and
is well prepared to look after the dt
pendents Of army and navy me
wherever they may be found.
The soldier is apt to worry mos
over his wife and babies. And this
not to be wondered at, because tn
predieaments they may fall into al
legion. The story which has alread
been told illustrates one type of dal
ger which may lie In wait for the SO
dier's wife. The records of the Re
Gross are filled with stories of serviI
rendered to the wives and children.
One of the home-service offices r
oceived from young corporal lett
which contained these sentences:
am SO thankful for all you have dol
for me. / will never know how
thank you. But for the help that "
extended to us we would have been
"a destitute condition"
Lost Their Baggage.
The story behind this simple tes
.mony was pathetic one. The hu
band had been ordered to Wnshingt'
from Western post. On the way
the family baggage had been lo
They recovered only $25 from the ra
road company, and when they final
decided to appeal to the Red Cross t
wife was nursing baby few da
sold.
The Red Cross worker found the
living in very poor little house. 4
oldest child, boy Of nine, was dol
all the work for the family. His
tie sister, eight years old, had abb
1uteiy no clothing and was wrapped
"a strip Of flannel. A caretaker "
secured for the mother, and the b
was sent back to school. Then clio
ing was secured for the little g
When the mother was able to get
4It appeared that she had no cloti
which were really fit to wear. WI
the Red Cross visitor first saw her
- .a.....A A. I,.,r,e.c. chf, WINS NQnn N