The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-03


These were the inspiring words of
George w. Simmons of St Louis, gen.
eral manager of the Southwestern di-
vision of the Red Cross in a wonder
full address before Chairman Mulvane,
Chairman Cobb, Chairman Hall and
500 Topeka and Shawnee county Red
Cross workers at the Chamber OF
Commerce.
Mr.. Simmons, a man at the head of
one of the largest hardware concerns
in the world, has locked his desk in
St. Louis for the duration of the war,
that he might donate his energy and
time to the successful outcome OF
Americas conflict.
Mr.. Simmons impressed upon his
listeners the importance of the Red
Cross in France, the great work the
organization is doing. not only among
the soldiers but among the families of
the soldiers over here, the orphans
and widows of France and Belgium
and in the morale of the allied troops.
We Laugh as We Fight.
In speaking of the spirit of the
American troops in France. Mr.. Sim
mons told q story of a recent Hun raid
against the Yankee trenches.
"A band of fifty Huns, following
an intense barrage, came over the top
against the American trenches. Now.
taceerdinR 70 All accepted rules OF war
1.-THE trenches until the Huns came tol
the wire entanglements. Instead. the
Sammies also jumped from their
trenches and went out there to meet
the Hun in No Mans Land. Not a
Hun reached the American wire. Not
a Hun got back to their own lines. |
Then the Americans rushed forward.
On, on. on to the third line trenches.
Here the Germans, instead of await /
ing them. rushed to the right of their
!
outstretched. surrendered to theI
French on the Americans left. And
this is what the German .prisonersI
said in explanation afterward: Wei
don't mind surrendering hut We don't
want to fall into the hands of those
crazy, mad Americans who laugh asI
they fight"
Two Eggs for Family.
Simmons then swept into a recita i
ton of the work the Red Cross is dol
ing in the stricken land of Belgium.
Simmons told of the hundreds of Bell
gian children who are cared for by theI
Red Cross.
One incident in particular that Sim-i
mons spoke of was the story of al
little Belgian girl who was given t|
poached egg which I had poached
When this little lady was first brought
in she was SO frightened that she was|
afraid to eat. But I poached her AMI
egg and finally prevailed on her to|
privation that called down immedia te
investigation and relief in that COM
munity by the Red Cross According|
to the girls story her family got Just
two eggs week and each one of these|
eggs had to be divided between herr
self and her brother"
Ideal Meeting.
The tables for the big rally were
strung along the full length of the big
Chamber of Commerce dining room
and salon. The decorations were al
strip of the national colors running|
the length of each table and at each
place was a booklet explaining in de-
tail the work of the Red Cross in all
its departments. The big tables wereI
crowded with the team men and q
scattering of women found place near
the speakers table. Bishop James|
Wise delivered the Invocation. The|
| Orpheum orchestra entertained the|
guests all thru the meal
The first talk of the day was made|
by ID. w. Mulvane as county chair
man of the 1918 Second Red Cross|
| War Fund drive. Mulvane urged the|
( team and district captains to recruit
their teams to war strength imme edi-|
ately-and he requested that he bel
| (Continued on Page Four.)