The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1918-05-22


can Red Cross, the nations oficia
mercy organization, is this week con.
Quoting its second drive for a $780,.
100000 war fund.
With its appeal for subscriptions
sanctioned and endorsed by President
Wilson, the cabinet, General Pershing
Vice Admiral Sims, Cardinal Gibbons
and other prominent Americans, the
Red Cross has set in motion its vast
machinery of 2O,000,0O0 members in
an intensive campaign of one week to
obtain funds necessary for the main
tenance and expansion of a great sys-
tenn of relief work overseas and at
home.
Emphasizing that the war council
has faithfully and economically adj
ministered the peoples trust" Presi-
dent Wilson, in his recent proclama-
ton announcing the drive, pointed out
that the war fund raised in 1917 need
ed replenishing in>order to care "for
the welfare of the men III our military
and naval forces and for those depend
ent upon them, and for the yet more
urgent necessities of our allies, mill
tary and civilian, who have long borne
the blunt of the war;
Contributions to the war fund are
described by the president as "the dis
covery of new opportunities of help
fitness under conditions which trans
late opportunity into duty"
Last years fund was easily raised
and the campaign to treble the mem
bership went over the top with rush,
so national officials of the organization
now maintain a justifable confidence
in the willingness of the American
people to respond again to the plea
for subscriptions.
Since the first band of American
workers sailed last June, the Red
Cross has built up a system of relief
that extends from the home stations
of the destroyer fleets on the Irish
coast down to the battle lines in north
ern Italy. Vast sums of money have
been entrusted to the American COM
missions, but the expenditures have
effected full measure of relief.
Moreover, the generosity of the Am
erican people as expressed in the read
mess of the Red Cross representatives
to devote time and money unsparingly
in an effort to relieve the distress of
both the military and civilian popula-
ssfhon, has irnbued the war-scarred peo-
pies of Europe with an enduring love
and respect for this nation.
1t is in France, the land that has
suffered most from Prussian barbara
ty, that the accomplishments of the
Red Cross are most prominent. Head
ed by James H. Perkins, of New York,
a great mercy organization has been
built up, consisting of 1000 American
men and women. A vast number are
unpaid, while the others receive only
enough to meet simple living ex-
penses.
With General Pershing's expedition
airy forces the closest touch is kept
through divisional and regimental
medical officers, while representatives
of the department of information and
casualties and the department of home
service are in constant contact with
the men whether in the hospital, train
ing camp or field. Rest stations and
canteens operated by American wom-
en- have been established along the
lines of communication, and emergen-
cy needs for hospital supplies, drugs
and comforts readily are supplied
from warehouses maintained at strate-
gic points along the line.
To the civilian and soldier in
France the message of Americas
friendship has been carried in count
less ways" declares Eliot Wadsworth,
of the war council, who has just re-
turned from a three-months' observa-
ton trip in Europe. Supplies for
thousands of hospitals; rest and food
for hundreds of soldiers at railroad
functions; food, clothing and trans
portation for refugees driven from
their homes, and a helping hand in
their housing and the beginning again
of their housekeeping are few of
the activities"
With vision that has distinguished
its work since Americas entrance in
to the war, the Red Cross already has
established at Berne, Switzerland,
large warehouses containing supplies
of food and clothing for Americans in
German prison camps. Packages for
the prisoners are being sent forward,
under arrangements with the German
government, and through Red Cross
- a1<.st a. - ~ II n