New-York tribune., 1918-12-22

Just how many American lives were
saved, from the beginning of the war
to the signing of the armistice,
through the efforts Of the American
Red Cross probably never will be
known. Some idea, however. of the
magnitude Of the work done by that
organization, both in the saving OF
lives and in the preservation of France,
may be gained from the report of the
first year of the American Red Cross
in France, made public to-day.
Starting on June ., 1917, with moth
ing but a commission. composed OF
eighteen men, the American Red Cross
quickly became one OF the greatest
individual organizations in Europe.
In its rccapitulation of the year the
report lays stress on several features
of the organizations work. many of
which escaped all attention in the
stirring days of actual warfare.
Difficulties 1t Met
The very difficulties of organizing
for effective work form one of the
most dramatic chapters in the report
at is impossible for any one who has
not had the experience of the last year
in France TO realize the difficulties
which stood in the way Of organizing
an enormous quasi quasi
relief organization" says the report.
"Personne was hard to get from
America supplies were hard to get,
TRANSFORMATION almost impossible, the
mail service was bad and the telephone
service worse, but in spite of all these
troubles, the spirit with which the men
of the organization undertook every
thing carried things through in the
most wonderfully successful manner.
"Thc American Red Cross took upon
itself the burden of feeding and sue
coring the thousands upon thousands
who demanded its help-it did not
pause to count the mouths it fed, the
backs it clothed, the individuals its
hands were enabled to assist
100000 Persons Aided
"From March to June. 1918, the num-
| her of persons given direct medical re-
! lief, for example, by these two bureaus
reached a total of more than 17.5O0
while material relief. that is to say
food, blankets and clothing was eX'
tended to upward of $4,000. Lodgings
were supplied to 55,8OS individuals
while employment was found for nearly
$4,000. making a total of more than
100000 persons directly aided by these
bureaus, as shown by the figures al
ready collected.
"Probably if the full facts could be
shown. it would be found that more
than 100000 of the civilian popula-
tion of France had been aided by the
machinery Of these bureaus
"When it comes to a consideration
of the amount of clothing, food
blankets and other articles distributed
among these suffering ones in the try
ing spring and early summer months Of
1918 the figures are staggering.
"More than $50 COO separate articles
were given ont by the Bureau ot
Refugees and Relief outside the wal
zone alone, and in the war zone abou
100000 articles of food. clothing anC
furniture were distributed. Truly a re
markable showing
Cares for Tubercular Patients
CAS- an illustration of the scope o
its work it may be said that the Re-
Cross through this bureau has given
direct aid to no less than two hundred
and seventy three institutions where
tuberculosis is cared for, the benefit
of which assistance have been dis
tributed among more than 10000 beds
"Besides this far-reaching plan o
assistance for the tuberculous popu
lation of France, the American Re-
Cross has extended the experience o
, it's tuberculosis bureau to the Ameri
can EXpeditionary Forces, offering
1OO-bed tuberculosis hospital to tn
army for the care of cases that coul
not be transported to America TO
treatment.
CAT first it was feared that the vari
? Gus activities of the Red Cross in try
, ing to stimulate an interest in ne,
= life on the part of the man who ha
4 suffered for his country would find OF
position. There was a tendency on tn