Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-04-05
TO PUSH BUILDING OF
RED CROSS HOUSES
rome Service Work For Army Camps
stressed In Conference At Divi-
sion Headquarters

a very important conference touch
ing the work Of the American Red
cross in the army camps Of the South
erh DIVISION was held in Atlanta a few
Gays ago. There were present not
only COL w L. Peel Division Manag
err Z. b. Bidwell. Associate Manager,
ana q Bennett Phelps. Division Direc-
'or OF The Bureau OF Military Relief, to-
gether with number Of the Red Cross
Fleld Directors and Assistant Field
directors from the camps, but
also, " Frank Persons Director Cen
eral OF Civilian Relief; Henry 5
thompson, National Director of the
bureau OF Camp Service, and Charles
b. FOX, Assistant Director of Camp
Service in charge of construction.
A number OF important matters
were discussed, among them being the
personnel In the training camps, tho
building and manning of the Red Cross
houses for convalescents in the camps,
and the appointment of directors for
these houses, instructions regarding
hospital information service. and the
relation OF the Home Service depart
ment to the department of Military
Relief and the Importance of Home
Service to the men in the training
camps and In the trenches, which
latter was taken up with the field di.
rectors by Mr. Persons.
The volume of Home Service work
10 be done necessifates the appoint.
ment OF an associate field director in
charge OF home service who will work
with the regular field director in the
camp. There will also be a Home Ser
vice director on every transport that
carries American troops to France. so
That every soldier who leaves family
or business worries behind may have
someone to whom to turn for help and
advice. The problem of keeping up
the morale Of the army by making
them understand that their families
are well looked after while they are
away as well as that Of helping to
maintain a normal standard of living
n the families where the men are
AWAY belongs to the Home Service or
Civilian Relief Department.
AT the time of the Napoleonic
said Mr. Persons, 1T was
estimated that the morale Of the army
vas more important than ammunition
n the ratio Of to l. In the present
var, one of the greatest English gen
rails has estimated the ratio as to
!. Home Service is more important |,
o the United States troops than to
hose Of England and France, because
he French and English soldiers have
wo weeks leave every 80 days, can
eturn to their homes and look after
heir most pressing business affairs
or themselves. But the American
older who goes to France will prob
bly, stay in France until the end OF
he war, and 1t Is only through the
lone Service Department of the Red
ross that his mind can be relieved
rom all worry concerning affairs al
'ome so that his entire attention can
70 concentrated on soldering"
Many illustrations of the value OF
Home Service in the training camps
4 this country were given by the
Held Directors, and the duties Of the
nen In charge Of this branch of the
FORK outlined.
Henry 8. Thompson, national direc
DR. Of the Bureau Of Camp Service,
poke on the duties of the military
cid directors In the camps and their
slation to the Home Service Directors
! the same camps.
The building of the Red Cross
ouses In 40 army camps in this eoun