Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-10-30

battered provinces OF France stated,
not long since, that, though France
had long known of Americas great
ness, strength and enterprise, 1t re.
manned 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 can.
tonments, as we'll as of those travel
ing on railroad trains or embarking
on ships for duty overseas.
The Home Service of the Red Cross,
with its now more than 10000 workers,
Is extending its ministrations of SYM
pathy and counsel each month to up
wards Of 100000 families left behind
by soldiers at the 'front.' number
ever growing with the increase of our
men under arms.
But, of course, the heart of the Red
Cross and its 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"
Nothing is withheld that can be
given over there to supplement the
efforts of our Army and Navy in car
ing 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
supplement.
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 inestim-
able value and of indispensable i'm
portance.
BY the first of January, your Red
Cross will have working in France
upwards of 5000 Americans-a vivid
contrast to the little group of eighteen
men and women which, as the first
Red Cross Commission to France, sail
ed about June 1, 1917, to initiate our
efforts in Europe.
Under your Commission to France
the work has been carefully organized.
facilities have been provided, and ef-
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 cover there"
shall lack for nothing which may add
to their safety, comfort and happiness.
Your Red Cross now has active,
operating commissions in France, in
England, in Italy, in Belgium, in Swift
zerland, in Palestine and in Greece
You have sent shipload Of relief
supplies and group of devoted work
ers to northern Russia; you have
despatched commission to work be.
hind our armies in eastern Siberia;
you have sent special representatives
to Denmark, to Serbia and to the Is.
land Of Madeira.
Your Red Cross is thus extending
relief to the armies and navies of our
Allies; and you are carrying a prac-
tical message Of hope and relief to
the friendly peoples Of afflicted Eu-
rope 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 a very real
factor 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 obligation. "The cry from Mace
donia" to come and help will prob
ably 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 call, ready
to respond to any emergency.
The American Red Cross has be-
come not so much an organization as
great movement, seeking to embody
in organized form the spirit of service,
the spirit of sacrifice-iH short, all
that is best and highest in the ideals
and aspirations 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. national life an element Of perman.
ent value.
At Christmas time we shall ask
the whole American people to ans
wer the Red Cross Christmas roll
call. 1t will constitute an unique
appeal to every man, woman and
child in this great land of ours to be-
come enrolled in our army of mercy
1t is the hope of the War Council
that this Christmas membership roll
call shall constitute remuneration
of the whole American people, an in.
| spiration reassertion to mankind that
in this hour of world tragedy, not to
conquer but to serve is America s
supreme aim.
THE WAR COUNCIL OF THE AM
ERICAN RED CROSS.
Henry P. Dawson, Chairman
Washington, D. c., Oct. 1O,191S.
n11AraAn A1nlR