Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-24
INTERESTING FACTS RELATIVE
TO THE RED CROSS MADE PUBLIC At
MEETING TOELECT OFFICERS, n. Y.

II
New York, Oct. 2.-The American peo.
pie have either paid III or pledged 20 the
American Rad Cross for it's work ct ~.
lief througho.. the world, in money or
material values. . net total Of at least
$a25. 100000.
The American Red Cross has total
membership of coS4S.1o3 and. in addi-
lion, S.0ooo members in the Junior Red
Cross; total enrolment OF more than
States.
American Red Cross workers produced
up to July last total Of ~ .2s2, SIS ar
ticles Of an estimated value OF $A.ooo. 900.
About 100000 women are engaged 81
canteen work and the production Of re-
lief sur plies.
The American Red Cross IL distribuk-
ing aid in 10 countries-the United
States. England. France, Italy. Belgium,
Switze land. Palestine. Greece. Russia
and Siberia. Besides it has sent repre-
sentatives to Serbia. Denmark and Ma
deira.
More than 5000 Americans will be
working under the Red Cross il France
by Jan. next.
These facts were laid before the 1854
chapters Of the Red Cross in the annual
message of tn: War Council OF the Red
Cross when the cha pters throughout the
country today held their annual meet
ings to elect officers.
Announcement was made in the mes
sage that every man. woman and chill
in the United States would be asked at
Christmas i'm. to enroll in the Ameri-
can Re Cross.
The message signed by Henry p. Da.
vison, chairman of the war council, said
i'll part
Since the beginning OF the war. you
| Of the chapters have co-operated with
the War Council in conducting two war
fund drives and one membership drive.
> in addition 20 the campaign on behalf Of
the Junior Red Cross. The total actual
collections to date from the first war
fund have amounted to more than s!15.-
oeO. 0a0 The subscriptions to the second
war fund amounted to upwards of $176,-
100000. From membership dues the col
= lections have amounted to approximate
ly s24.JOO.000.
, ITO the fore going must be added that
very large contributions of materials
q and time given by the millions of women
throughout tn country For the Pc
r Rod up to July !. 1918. American Red
, Cross chapters. through their work.
, rooms had produced. 4s0.120 refugees
= garments. ?,13,G21 hospital supplies. 10.-
!S6.4s9 hospita: garments. 1013i, SOL knit
ted articles. 1872, 74S .1N surgical dressings,
d a total of 22l. 2S2.S3s articles-of an esti-
+ mated aggregate value of at least
$44,o co.,
n These articles were largely the pro-
I duct of -,cmens hands, and, by the
v same toke.:. infinitely more precious
: than could have been the output of fac
. tories or machines. These articles 60
!; irg to the operatir g rooms of the hospi-
7. tails, to homeless or needy refugees. and
e carrying comfort to our own boys I'm the
r field. convey :. message Of love from
the women of Thu country entirely dis
tinct from the g"eat money value at
d taching to their handiwork
= by the terms under which the first
t Red Cross war fund was raised. the
= chapters were entitled to retain Is per
] cent of the amount collected. in order
S to defray local expenses, to carry on
}. their home service work, to purchase ma :
terials to be utilized in chapter produce
ton and otherwise to meet the numer-
Y GUS calls made upon them. The chap
l. ters were thus entitled 20 retain nearly
: so 100000. AS a matter OF fact. their
n actual retentions amounted to only
7 about 80, 900 800 Out Of collections from
annual memberships, the chapters have
retained about $l!,00o.0O0.
From this total sum, therefore, OF
\ Sc, 600. 900 retained by the chapters they
have met all the oftentimes very heavy
y local demands upon them, and in addi-
ton have provided for use by National
. Headquarters products valued at up
: wards of 81, 900, 900.
The Chapters have in effect returned
to the War Council, not alone the $685.
. COG. 600 retained out of the war fund an |
membership c-,es but, in value of act cal
;, product, an additional contribution of
- at least $l1. 900 0O0
! 1T will thus be seen that during the
! Is months which have elapsed since the
r United States entered the war, the
: American people will have either paid In
/ or pledged to the American Red Cross
. for its work OF relief throughout the
r world in money or in material values.
!; net total of a. least s325, coo, 600.
This outpouring Of generosity in ma
: terra! things has been accompanied by a
G *pontaneity in the giving, by an enthu-
n s.asm and devotion in the doing.
] which. after al. are greater and bigger
s than could be anything measured IN
= terms of time or dollars
$ 1t has beer because of this spirit
i. which has 2ervadei all American Red
Cross effort in { Is war that the aged
governor Of one OF the stricken and bat
tered provinces of France stated, not
long since. that. though France had
| long known CT Americas greatness.
strength and e terprise. it remained for
the American Red Cross in this war 20
| reveal Americas heart
,. III this country. at this moment. the
workers of TIE Red Cross through is
chapters. are helping to add to the COM
fort and health o. the millions of our
soldiers in 1902 camps and environments.
as well as of hose travelling on railroad
J trains or emtarking on ships for duty
overseas.
The Home Service of the Red Cross.
= with its no more than 200 workers. is
extending its ministra tons of synpa-