Oxford eagle., 1918-09-12
RED CROSS COUNCIL
Announcement


ing is authorized by the Red Cross
War Council:
The Red Cross War Council announ-
ees herewith its matured program Of
Home Service which the Red Cross
has now put into effect throughout
the United States on behalf of the
families of soldiers and sailors serv-
ing in the war.
The scheme, undertaken with the
sanction of the war and Navy Depart
ments, Is to so enlarge the effort Of
the Red Cross as set forth in its char
ter Ito act IN matters of voluntary re-
lief as a medium of communi-
cation between the people of the
army and navy" as to become also
medium of communication between the
people of the United States and the
families whom the men of the army
and navy leave at home.
The scheme Of the Red Cross is TO
perfect from the battle line in Europe
to homes in the remotest villages in
America plan Of communication and
service to aid in maintaining the mo-
rale Of the army in the field and to see
to it that the fighters families at home
are provided with whatever may be
necessary to make their lives comfort
able and cheerful. Under the plan the
Red Cross will give friendly advice
when it is needed and acceptable, ex-
pert council and sympathetic assist
ance IN household affairs; and above
all neighborly sympathy to those suf-
fering from troubles growing out of
the war. In no case viii there be un-
welcome intrusion into the homes Of
our fighting men.
The people who viii have the actual
contact with the fighters families at
their homes will be their own neigh
bors and fellow townsmen. Headquar-
ters at Washington, and even the
Home Service Bureaus at Red Cross
division headquarters, will seek merely
to guide and dirces the work which is
to be done. Fifty thousand men and
women have been enrolled on Home
chapters and branches.
Each community is to take care Of
its own people. Out of the Red Cross
war fund each chapter is entitled to
withhold for local purposes % percent
of the amount collected. From that
percentage and from each chapters
collections from other sources, such
money aid as may be required viii be
provided. Now that the Red Cross has
organized chapters and branches in
every city, town and hamlet in the
United States il viii be able to pro-
vide that no fighting mans family is
neglected.
More than 100000 families, or about
one half million people, received aid
of some kind from the Red Cross
Home Service during the month of
July. This included 100000 in money,
although money is the least valuable
| or important feature OF Red Cross
Home Service. However. the money
expenditures alone amounted TO $780,
600 for the six months ending Decem-
Der 81, 1917, and 81 SOC, 900 more for
the first six months of 1918. Now that
the army is getting to be so large and
the plan has been put into full-fleged
operation throughout the country, il is
estimated that the expenditures for the
second half of 1918 viii amount TO al
least S4,000,000. Thus by January i.
1919, the Red Cross viii have spent in
its Home Service some S6,000.000.
The need which would arise for look
ing after dependents of fighters was
forecasted by President Wilson in say
ing, soon after the United States en-
tcred. the war, "civilian relief viii pre-
sent field for increasing opportunity
in which the Red Cross organization is
especially adapted to serve, and am
hopeful our people will realize there rs
probably no other agency with which
they can associate themselves which
can respond so effectively and univer-
sally to allay suffering and relieve dis
| tress."
To supervise this work an executive
staff Of experts has been created,
which at the Washington headquarters
and in the division headquarters in
other cities numbers $50 people. Some
1000 additional young men and wom-
en-. especially trained, are also serving
as full time secretaries-often as vol
unteers-for local committees.
In order that additional trained
worker may be available to fill similar
positions, the Red Cross has estab-
llished a system Of Institutes or Home
Service Schools in different parts Of
the country; it has established lecture
courses in universities and colleges;
and il has conducted training courses
in scores of chapters, attended thus
far by not less than 1000 persons. Ger
tifcates Of graduation have already
been issued to more than 1000 men
and women students in the institutes
alone, thus accrediting them with SUI
!, ficient training TO carry on Home Ser
vice work intelligently.
The problems with which the heo
Cross through its Home Service VIII
deal in ever-increasing numbers are
UNIQUE and Of growing importance anc
complexity. When the United States
has 100000 men under arms, TN.
Home Service will come to be one oi
? the most vital phases Of Red Cross &C
tivity, for every American family VII
; then be represented by fighters at th'
front.
When the fighting men leave home
their families, may find themselves
1 with diminished incomes and oolgef
: TO cope with sickness, worry, BACK
, ward or unruly children, perplexite'
in household management, busines
and legal difficulties, bad working con