The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-06-28
RED CROSS OPENS A
HOME SERVICE
SECTION
Will Help at Home in Order
to Keep up Spirits
of Army

Men and women everywhere in Am
erica are asking themselves what it
is that they can do to help win the
war. Not many are able to go over
seas. There is something at home
however, the importance of which,
will only be widely understood per-
haps, when the armies of the United
States sustain losses on scale as
large as the other belligerents.
That something is morale-the
spirit that bouys an army and navy.
1t is not academic or abstract; it is
an actuality.
1t has direct connection between
the men in the service and the fami-
lies to whom they are bound.
Let one man become discouraged
through worry over his family, and he
will become drain on the vitality Of
the man fighting near him.
Let one family become distressed
because of lack of information, OF
misinformation, and the neighboring
families may become distressed.
To sustain the morale of the Am
erican Army and Navy, the men and
women in America, who are not them
selves able to fight, but who can de-
vote their time and attention to war
service, are being organized by the
Red Cross into what is known as the
Home Service Section
At the outbreak of the war, and for
many months sincee, popular know
ledge of the Red Cross conferred about
the preparation of hospital supplies,
equipment of base hospitals, and sup
plying personnel and provisions of
relief. But the many chapters of
the Red Cross throughout the coun-
try have been given new obligations,
and there will be more as the exigen-
cies of the war command, but not the
least in importance to the success of
our Army and Navy is Home Service.
Gen. Pershing said, "The thing
most needed to the American fighting
forces overseas, is the anything and
everything that will contribute to the
morale of the men in the service. The
Germans can not beat an army that
keeps it's spirit"
The Government regards the Red
Cross as an auxiliary to the Army
and Navy. These are making men
over physically, and improving them
morally and mentally. Therefore the
Government has a right to expect as
much of the Red Cross for the fami-
lies of soldiers and sailors.
The Red Cross never fails to meet
it's obligations. The Home Service
Section has been organized to meet
this demand This the one activity
of the Red Cross that is concentrated
in the United States, and deals prim-
arily with the people this side of the
trenches.
Uncle Sam does all he can for his
sons, but there are lots of things ne
can not do. Only the women can give
them the sweaters they need; when
they stop at railroad station, 1t
cheers them tremendously if the kind
ly women of the town give them cot-
fee, post cards, ETC., and when they
are gone from home, it means the
preservation of the fighting spirit OF
the whole army, to know that there
is some one back at home who is
going to look after those they are
compelled to leave behind.
The American Red Cross does all
these. Home Service does the last.
We hear a lot about the morale OF
the fighting men. What about the
morale of the women at home who are
fighting battles just as complicated
and serious to them as those of the
absent husbands, sons or brothers!
The woman has to fight new res
ness, and other material hardshlps..
possibilities, Encouragement, lonell-
If her morale-her courage, her
cheerfullness, is affected, her letters
will show it, and then the spirit OF
the soldier is affected.
All over the country the Home Ser
wee is keeping up the morale OF the
Army and Navy by keeping up the
morale of the homes.
How is this being done? By giving
financial help, after an investigation
shows that it is necessary; by finding
employment for the unemployed; by
furnishing information as to allo'
ments and allowances; by explaining