River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-10-24
This outpouring Of generosity in ma


terms % time or dollars.
IL hss been because Of this spirit
which has pervaded all American Red
Cross effort in this war that the aged
governor of one Of the stricken and
battered provinces of France stated
not long since that, though France had
long known of Americas greatness,
strength and enterprise, it remained
for the American Red Cross In this war
to reveal Americas heart.
In this country, at this moment, the
workers of the Red Cross, through it's
chapters, are helping to add to the
comfort and health Of the millions Of
our soldiers in 102 camps and canton
ments, as well as Of those travelling on
railroad trains or embarking on ships
for duty overseas.
The home service Of the Red Cross,
with it's now more than 10000 workers,
is extending it's ministrations of SYM
pathy and counsel each month to up
wards Of 100000 families left behind
by soldiers at the front-a number
ever growing with the increase of ouI
men under arms.
But, of course, the heart of the Red
Cross and it's money and attention al
ways move toward and focus them
selves in Europe where the American
Red Cross, as truly ''the greatest moth
er in the world" is seeking to draw "a
vast net of mercy through an ocean Of
unspeakable pain"
Red Cross Worth Recognized.
Nothing is withheld that can be
given over there to supplement the
efforts of our army and navy in caring
for our own boys. The Red Cross does
not pretend to do the work Of the
medical corps Of the army or the navy;
it's purpose is to help and to supple
ment.
Nor does the Red Cross seek to
glorify what it does or those who do
it; our satisfaction is in the result,
(Which, we are assured by Secretary
Baker, General Pershing, General Ire
land and all our leaders, is of ines
Unable value and of indispensable i'm
pOrtance.
BY the first of January your Red
Cross will have working in France up
wards Of 5000 Americans vivid
contrast to the little group of eighteen
men and women which, as the first Red
Cross commission to France, sailed
about June 1, 1917, to initiate our eff
forts in Europe.
Under your commission to France
tho work has been carefully organized,
facilities have been provided, and eff
fective efforts made to so cooperate
with the army as to carry out the de-
termination of the American people,
and especially Of the members of the
Red Cross, that our boys lover there"
shall lack for nothing which may add
to their safety, comfort and happiness.
Your Red Cross now has active, OPP
Grating commissions in France, in Eng
land in Italy, in Belgium, in SWitzer-
land in Palestine and in Greece. You
have sent a shipload of relief supplies
and group Of devoted workers to
northern Russia; you have dispatched
a commission to work behind our arm
special representatives to Denmark, to
Serbia and to the island of Madeira.
Carries Message of Hope.
Your Red Cross is thus extending re-
lief to the armies and navies Of our
allies; and you are carrying practical
message Of hope and relief to the
friendly peoples of afflicted Europe and
Asia.
Indeed, we are told by those best in
formed in the countries of our allies
that the efforts of your Red Cross to
aid the soldiers and to sustain the
morale Of the civilian populations left
at home, especially in France and
Italy, have constituted very real fac
tor in winning the war.
The veil has already begun to lift.
The detection of Bulgaria, which by
the time this message can be read may
have been followed by events still more
pOrtentous, may point the way to yet
greater Red Cross opportunity and OBJ
legation. 'The cry from Macedonia" to
come and help will probably prove one
of the most appealing messages to
which the world has ever listened.
What the Red Cross may be called
upon to do in the further course of the
war, or with the coming of victory,
peace and reconstruction, it would be
idle to attempt to prophesy.
But your great organization, in very
truth ''the modified heart and spirit
of the whole American people," has
shown itself equal to any cali, ready to
respond to any emergency.
Spirit of All Best and Highest.
The American Red Cross has become
not so much an organization as great
movement, seeking to embody in organ
lied form the spirit Of service. the
spirit of sacrifce-in short, all that Is
best and highest in the ideals and as
pirations Of our country.
Indeed we cannot but believe that
this wonderful spirit which service in
and for the Red Cross has evoked in
this war, is destined to become in our