The Robesonian., 1918-05-23
PRAISES RED CROSS WORK.
A Service Rendered by American Red
Cross to Expeditionary Forces
Described.

Atlanta, Ga, May 21.-Ambassa-
dor Page, by cable through the Sec
retary Of State, has transmitted the
following letter in which Col. NJ. E. |
Ireland, cnle1 surgeon, medical corps.
United States army, describes and
praises service by the American
Red Cross to the expeditionary forces:
american EXpeditionary Forces.
May 10, 1918.
"Major James H. Perkins, Q. N. r. c.,
"American Red Cross Comnais ssioner
for Europe.
"My dear Major Perkins:
"Eefore returning to France to as
sumo the duties of chief surgeon
American Expeditionary forces l de-
sire to express my appreciation Of
the valuable aid the American Red
Cross has rendered the army since we
came to Europe. 1t is impossible to
enumerate all of these activities in
letter but several of them have been
| of such great value that they should
| be mentioned.
"The American Red Cross made
possible the trench fever investiga-
| ton which demonstrated the mode of
transmission Of this disease. Trench
fever is one of the greatest sources
of wastage in the Allied armies. The
result of the investigation gives a
| scientific basis on which to combat
this disease. In my opinion the as
sistance given in this great work alone
just;fies the existence of the Aneri-
can Red Cross during the first year
of the war.
/ "The American Red Cross provided
J for US splint and dressing manual and
made its distribution among the
+ American forces possible at an early
! date The American Red Cross has
also provided for US all Of the spllnts
called for by this manual. In doing
this the American Red Cross has saw
ed the medical department from the
great confusion which existed in the
hospitals Of our Allies by the multi
: plication OF appliances for the treat
ment Of fractures.
) "The American Red Cross at an ear
!. ly date took steps to provide Tor the
medical department of the American
expeditionary forces plant for t5he
manufacture of oxygen. The supply
+: ing of this gas will be of inestimablt
r value in our hospitals for purposes o.
: anesthesia and in the treatment o
: many Of our distressing cases. Tn
5 use of nitrous oxide gas for enesthe
7 sia purposes at our evacuation hosp1
:, tails and general hospitals will ungIes
l. tionably result in great saving 9
d life and prevent untold suffering: !
this way the American Red Cros
4. has enabled the medical departmef
X Of our forces to begin work with III
F: ! saving devices which are not Supplle
e; I'M abundance to the hospitals OF ol
4. Allies.
Y 'eThe American Red Cross has pr
X yided and is administering convale
r. cent homes for the officers and sc
iv diers Of the American forces who a
IL, nearly recovered from disabling d1
e; eases where they can be sent and
es surrounded by every necessary col
lie; fort during their convalescense.
n "The American Red Cross has U
ar, dertaken the maintenance and
n; pervisory control of several OF
Ter important hospitals.
es, isThe American Red Cross has p1
ar, yided homes for the members OF t
m army nurse corps who are recover
le; from illness and has also provid
81 places for the recuperation OF the
ry, nurses who are below par physlca
ie :; due to long and continued work IN c
as hospitals.
T. "The American Red Cross has fou
great amount of transportation
the medical department Of the ar
7er which could not have been obtai1
rs, otherwise BY this act it has ma
ke; possible certain activities among
lbs, professional divisions of great
es; portance to the sick and wounded.
good accomplished by the Amerit