The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-12-14
RED CROSS HAS A
NOBLE TASK AHEAD
Maj. Gen. Edwards just Back From
the Front Cites Cases in a Signed !.
Article.
BY MAJ. GEN. CLARENCE r.
EDWARDS.
Commander Department Of Northeast
u. s. A.

The Red Cross mas a great Worl
ahead OF 1t, very great work, a no
bic work. We don't yet realize hoy
great this work is to be, right here ii
New England. But we shall know
better in a few weeks, when on
wounded boys are hers. and bette
still in year from now, when W,
have seen them with our own eyei
and have heard their stories.
The work that the Red Cross ha.
done in France has been great anc
useful When we arrived there we
were in terrible need of tents and
blankets. When we had done oul
best there was still need. Then the
Red Cross stepped in, without any
useless red tape, and found US the
tents and the blankets, and saw to IL
that our New England boys were kept
comfortable. That means great
deal 10 a boy when he is three thou
sand miles away from home, and cold
and wet The Red Cross will be busy
in France and Belgium for long time
yet, with the people in the devastated
regions and with our own boys. But
the work that can't help thinking Of
most. the work dearest to me, Is that
which VIII be absolutely necessary for
our boys here and for their families,
right In cur midst.
Every day / get scores of letters
from the relatives of our boys. Some
of them are most pathetic-they take
d bold On my heart. They come from
the mothers of our boys, mothers who
do not know where their boys are,
and who are sick with worry, moth
ers who know that their boys have
been wounded but wish to learn more
about them, to ease their terrible
anxiety, mothers who wish to know
when their dead boys will be sent
home.
Letters come from widows whose
emily sons are in the army in France
and who are dependent on these sons.
There mothers are sometimes in
great need Of financial aid, and they
are afraid that their government al
iotments will not arrive in time. They
need money for food and for rent.
Here is letter from a widow whose
son has been wounded and is now in
the hospital in another state. He
cannot yet be discharged, but he is
her only support, and she writes TO
tell me her needs because unless help
comes she is going to suffer.
Last year these mothers were send
ing boxes at Thanksgiving time to
their boys. This year many of them
are waiting, while they weep. for the
terrible box that will bring the body
of the dear son homo to them. These
mothers are the rightful care Of the
Red Cross, and what a work it can
do for them
On our boat coming home were 1876
crippled men, coming back 10 make
their way again Another boat start
ed the same day with as many more
Some OF those boys have only one
arm, some have only one leg. some
Will not see their mothers face ha-
cause they are blind What is going
to become of those boys who have
given all that they could? Many of
them cannot hold their ID places of
work. Where will they find new
ones? No nobler work AN he done
than for the ed Cross to see to il
mat they are made comfortable, thar
they are looked after until they are
settled again. And they must not
come back to homes that have been
nprooted while they were away. The
Red Cross can make them most hap
by by having their homes safe for
them, and their mothers and sisters
well.
One Of the best tbirgs about tbo
Red Cross is that it has no red tane
il goes straight to the heart Of thing.
Rt once, and wastes no time he
help is sure and quick. and that
means everything. | hope that the
Red Cross can see to It that no man
shall be found, a year from now. with
IN empty sleeve or on crutches. who
is wandering the streets LOOKING for
work. We don't yet know what q
all means, but we are ng TO find
out pretty soon when the bows are
here again.
The Red Cross has a great and a
yery noble task ahead