Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-10-26
YER G5,000 women arc now
actively enrolled as workers
In the 700 American Red


~ YER G5,000 women arc now
Al "A actively enrolled as workers
q " in the 700 American Red
Cross canteenS extending
FROM tho most northern point in Cana
do to the most southern In the United
States and from tho Pacific to the At
lantic. Together with the cnntccn
kitchens, medical supplies and small
transfer hospitals, they comprise the
equipment Of tho Cantoen service,
primarily organized to stimulate the
morale Of tho soldiers and to let them
know that the country is with them
and appreciates the sacrifice they arc
making. 1t was also organized for the
purpose of meeting emergencies which
may arise with troops In tranSit-un-
avodnbe delays, accidents, supplies
exhausted, sudden Illness or accidents
to the men Ell route.
j =. The American Red Cross Cantecn
Service Is ono branch Of tho service
which, owing to It's nature, requires
certain amount of secrecy. The
United States Is tremendous coun-
try, with miles Of track, and It's troops
arc spread over tremendous areas.
Men are sent from their home towns
to camps, troops are moved from one
camp to another, and they arc shipped
from camps to emburkatlon points and
sent overseas, but wherever they are
they find the American Red Gross has
already bln2cd the trail and Is there
"on tho job" This service, like NIL
efforts In behalf Of tho soldiers, sailors
and marines on duty in tho armed scrv
Ice Of the United States, both of this
country and In Europe, Is rendered To
white and colorcd officers and enlisted
men alike, without distinction.
Six hundred negro sold. rs were
served recently by IN American Red
Cross cnnteen at point In Arkansas.
In Il press report Of the work 1t was
stated: at will be n long time before
the activities Of that great organiZa-
ton, the American Red Cross, will
perform a better service, or one that
gives the good women, both white and
colored, more pleasure. They were ell
listed colored men coming direct from
their farms and homes In Louisiana,
going to n strange city and surround
ingS. They were timid set when
they stepped OF the train here like n
drove of lost sheep, but there was n
far different feeling when they left
The interest shown In them here made
new and fighting men out of them
They Will take their places In the
trenches just like the white soldier,
and every time one Of them does II he
takes the place OF your boy or my boy.
He's an American soldier, and all hon
or is due the splendid work. Of our
Canteen women and their colUfed wo-
men helpers"
Negro AuxIlIaries.
Many cities of the South arc ryan
izing colored auxiliary canteen COM
mittees. The colOred canteen in New
Orleans Is in charge Of very flno col
ored woman of education and a gradu-
ate nurse. The canteen has headluar-
tiers on the ground floor Of the PythESn
Temple, owned entirely by negro cahi-
tai. 1t has five large rooms. well eIu!Cs
ped for rest and recreation, and "a
date has entertained every batch of
negro selects leaving for cantonmcnts
1t is maintained by New Orleans Chap
ter funds.
)At some points. notably In Texas
Canteen service Is maintained to give
refreshments to the aviators at their
landing fields. In some of the large
railroad yards model cantccn buildings