The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-25
YER $4,000 women are now
actively enrolled as workers
In the TOO American Red

- YER $4,000 women are now
actively enrolled as workers
In the 700 American Red
Cross canteens extending
froTa the most northern point In Cana
d. to the most southern in the United
States and from the Pacific to the At
lantic. Together with the canteen
Kitchens, medical supplies and small
transfer hospitals, they comprise the
equipment Of the Canteen service.
primarily organized to stimulate the
morale OF the soldiers and to let them
know that the country is with them
and appreciates the sacrifice they are
making. It was also organized for the
purpose Of meeting emergencies which
may arise with troops In transit-un-
avoidable delays, accidents, supplies
exhausted, sudden illness or accidents
to the men en- route.
The American Red Cross Canteen
Service Is one branch Of the service
which, owing to its nature, requires
4 certain amount of secrecy. The
United States is a tremendous cOun-
try, with miles of track, and its troops
are spread over tremendous areas.
Men are sent from their home towns
to camps, troops are moved from one
camp to another, and they are shipped
from camps to embarkation points and
sent overseas, but wherever they are
they find the American Red Cross has
already blaxed the trail and is there
ION the Job" This service, like all
efforts In behalf Of the soldiers, sailors
and marines on duty In the armed serv-
Ice Of the United States, both Of this
country and h Europe, Is rendered to
white and colored officers and enlisted
men alike, without distinction.
Six hundred negro sold RS were
served recently by an American Red
Cross canteen at point in Arkansas
In press report Of the work it was
stated: 1T will be long time before |
the activities Of that great organiza-
ton, the American Red Cross, will
perform better service, or one that
gives the good women. both white and
colOred. more pleasure. They were en-
listed colored men coming direct from
their farms and homes in Louisiana,
going to a strange city and surround
ings. They were q timid set when
they stepped OF the train here like a
drove Of lost sheep, but there was q
far different feeling when they left.
The interest shown in them here made
new and fighting men out of them.
They will take their places in the
just like the white soldier,
and every time one Of them does it he
takes the place of your boy or my boy.
He's an American soldier, and all hon
or Is due the splendid work of our
Canteen women and thei.. colored wo-
men helpers" .5. a,.gs
Negro Auxlilaries.
Many cities OF the South are rgan-
King colored auxiliary canteen COM
mlttees. The colored canteen in New
Orleans is In charge Of q very fine col
pred woman OF education and gradu-
lite nurse. The canteen has headquar-
.ers on the ground floor OF the Pythian 1
Temple, owned entirely by negro capt.
al. It has ave large rooms, well equip (.
,ed for rest and recreation. and to-
late has entertained every batch of [
legro selects leaving for environments. |
I is maintained by New Orleans Chap !
er funds /,
AT some points. notably In Texas, II
;anteen service is maintained to give
efreshments to the aviators at their {
anding fields. In some of the large t
abroad yards model canteen buildings