Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-31
RED CROSS HOME SERVICE
TAKES SOLDIERS PLACE

I
Helping to keep the fighting man In
trim Is one of the important tasks Of
the Home Service Of the American
BED Cross, although it L. 50 ire
fuently accomplished by indirect
methods.
Typical OF the problems which
must be met is that of young soldier
as one of the Southern camps who
wrote pathetic appeal to a Congress-
man from his state, who in his turn
sought the aid of the Home Service.
The soldier began his letter with
IN apology for seeking the help OF the
representative, but confessed that his
troubles were great. AS he uhrased
", i. nave got my hands overloaded. !"
Just after he had enlisted in the
army his wife was burned 80 badly
with boiling grease that her left eye
was completely blinded. This had
!eIt ner also in miserable state of
health. timid and dependent.
She is an orphan" he writes,
having no-education, no parents or
relations at all with the exception of
myself to take care of her."
He had gone home to get her finally
ana was taking her from camp to
camp as he had been moved several
times. Conditions were bad, espe-
cially for her in her weakened con-
d1tton and the doctor had said that
upon her return home to ways of set
tied abode and comfort depended not
only her own life but probably that of
her fve-year-old child as well.
SO the distraught husband pleads
with his Congressman that he be
given furlough to go home with his
little family, see that she may be
placed safely there. and leave her
again with peace Of mind for both of
them.
i will be more use to the govern
ment and my country IL am allowed
to do this" he urges. But, with quick
alarm, lest he be misunderstood, he
adds, II am no Stacker and no traitor
to my country or my God. Only let
me be discharged long enough to do
this and can come back and fight
better against the ugly enemy"
He had given up his business and
his home to enlist and fight, and three
OF his brothers are in the army so that
proof had been given he felt, that the
members OF the family were all true
and loyal Americans.
With a final expression of his de-
votton to his country's cause, but q
strong hope that he might be spared
from duty long enough to save. the
lives Of his wife and child, he signed
himself as a private of Field Artil-
lery.
The Congressman to whom the let
ter was addressed wrote the soldier
that his furlOugh must come through
the officers OF his company, but, dem
onstrating his faith in the Red Cross,
he sent another letter to the Director
Of Civilian Relief asking that the
Home Service take such measures as
were possible 10: the relief Of the
wife
Immediately a letter went from the
national headquarters OF the Home
Service to the Director Of the Division,
who communicated as quickly with
the camp director. A visitor will call
on the family. Medical care, encour-
agement, advice and, il necessary, q
loan or gift Of money will be pro-
0ided. II the case proves to be as re-
ported, the matter will be referred to
the Home Service workers In the
home town of the little family and
all through the war, so long as the
husband must be absent, no matter
where they are living, the welfare
Of the woman and her child will be q
sacred charge.
UNIFORMS TO FIT MEN
Hereafter the uniform will at the
man instead of the man trying to fit
the uniform, according to the Quar-
termaster Corps. A new tariff OF
sizes OF uniforms has been worked
out by the Clothing and Equipage
Division and It provides for not only
the regular sized clothing, but special
sizes for longs. shorts and stouts.
Get your proper size.
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