The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1918-10-31
WHAT RED CROSS
DID LAST YEAR
Report Of War Council Surely
Will Thrill the Hearts OF
All Americans.
WOMEN GIVEN HIGH TRIBUTE
Contributions Of Materials and Time
Have Been Practically Intending
Figures Tell Of Work Done
by the Various Chapters.

py inc NdElOuk SUSptSFo.
October % the 1854 chapters Of the
Red Cross held their annual meetings
to elect officers and make reports To
be read at all these meetings through
out the United States the Red Cross
War Council sent the following an
nunl message covering the work OF
the Red Cross for the past year:
To the Chapters Of the American Red
Cross:
The War Council sends greetings to
the chapters OF the American Red
Cross on the occasion of their annual
meetings for 1918.
With these greetings 60 congratula-
lions on the great work OF the chapters
during the past year and, above all
things, on the wonderful spirit OF sac
rifice and patriotism which has per-
vaded that work.
The strength Of the Red Cross rests
upon its chapters. They are Its bone
and sinew. They supply Its funds,
they supply its men and women. they
supply Its enthusiasm. Let us, then,
IcNlcW tOHtthtE Tic ItCu SIOSb Duly
Of the past year.
Some idea Of the size to which your
Red Cross family has grown may be
gathered from the following facts:
On May 1, 1917, Just before the ap-
pointment of the War Council. the
American Red Cross had 4S6,194 men,
bers working through 562 chapters.
On July 81, 1918. the organization
numbered 2O,64S. 1903 annual members,
besides s.OOOOOO members OF the
Junior Red Cross-a total enrolment
Of over one-fourth che population Of
The United States.
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 to 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 $115OOO.OOO. The sub
scriptions to the second war fund
amounted to upwards Of S176,0O00OO
From membership dues the cOllec-
lions have amounted to approximately
f24, 100000.
Splendid Work Done by Women.
To the foregoing must be added that
very large contribution Of materials
and time given by the millions Of wom-
en- throughout the country in surgical
dressings, In knitted articles, In hos
pital and refugee garments, in canteen
work. and the other activities the chap
tcrs have been called upon to perform.
1t Is estimated that approximately
100000 women are engaged in can
teen work and the production Of relief
supplies through the chapters.
For the period up to July 1, 1918,
American Red Cross chapters, through
their wOrkrooms, had produced:
49O.120 refugee garments.
7.123.621 hospital supplies.
| 1O.7S6.4 S9 hospital garmentA
1O,134,5 knitted articles.
l92.74S.107 surgical dressings.
A total Of 221, 2S2. 1888 articles-of an
estimated aggregate value OF at least
&44.O0O,OOO.
These articles were largely the
product of women's hands, and, BY the
same token. infinitely more precious
than could have been the output Of
factories or machines. These articles
going to the operating room of the hos
pitfalls, to homeless or needy refugees,
and carrying comfort to our own boys
In the field, convey a message Of love
from the women of this country entire
~ distinct from the great money value
attaching to their handiwork.
Money Spent In Work.
BY the terms under which the hrs,
Red Cross war fund was raised, the
chapters were entitled to retain rs pei
cent of the amount collected. In order
defray local expenses. to carry on theil
home service work, to purchase ma
teriais to be utilized In chapter produc
ton and otherwise to meet the numer
, GUS calls made upon them. The chap
tiers were thus entitled to retain nearl,
+, S29,O0O.O0O. AS a matter of fact. thei
actual retentiOns amounted to onl!
about $22.OOO,OOO.
> Out Of collections from annual mem
bershlps. the chapters have retained
J, about $11,0OO.0OO.
4 From this total sum, therefore, Of SSS
: 100000 retained by the chapters. the
!, have met all the Oftentimes very heav
local demands upon them, and in add
!, ton have provided for use by natlona
headquarters products valued. a
stated above. At upwards OF $4,000
. 600.
!, The chapters have In effect returne
x to the War Council, not alone the SS3
4 100000 retained out Of the war fun
X membership dues but, In value G
actual product an additional contribl
=. ton Of at least Sl1 100000.
a. II will thus been seen that durin
IT. the eighteen months which hay
n elapsed since the United States el
l. tered the war. the American poop
will have either paid In or pledged