Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-31
RED CROSS HAS
ACHIEVED MUCH
accomplishments OF Local Chapter
Merit Commentator of Rock
Island Citizens.
CANTEEN SERVES $4,000 MEN
Vast Number of Garments. Knitted
Articles, and Surgical Dress
ingS Turned Out

Returning soldiers and sailors
alike are loud in their praise OF
me work and accomplishments OF
the Red Cross. 1t proved a God
send 10 US" they say.
During the last II months more
fully than ever before, perhaps
Rock Island has proven its chapter
20 he an important cog in the vast
American Red Cross machine In
the far-reaching miuistratiOns Of
comfort. relief and good cheer OF
this organization the local branch
no lesser part
During the last year over twenty
i've thousand Yankee fighting men
we're served by the Canteen Of the
home chapter Last month the
duties Of canteen members were es-
Oecially strenuous, many wOrking
IS hours a day in fulfllment OF
their duties.
OF the grand total since its or
saniZatiOn not quite two years ago
Of $4,000 garments, 1880 knitted
articles and 2S6,300 surgical dress
.ngs; 10.330 garments, 10000 knit
ted articles and 246.0O0 surgical
dressings were made during the
last year-truly a wonderful record
and one of which Rock Islanders
may justly be proud. 1t is fairly
impossible to estimate the blessings
OF comfort. relief and of the actual
'ifesav1ng power itself which these
carried with them to men at the
railroad stations, in the camps at
LONE. on the high seas and in the
very front line trenches in France.
With the beginning of 1919 the
Rock Island chapter approaches the
second anniversary of its Organiza-
ton. Behind it lie % months OF
splendid achievement in the prac-
tlce Of service to men in
arms, 70 waT-stricken non-cOmbat-
ants and to civilians who are the
victims OF disaster Behind it there
also lies a remarkable story of de-
velOpment, organization and coop
Grafton
It was not two years ago that IS
Rock Island citizens won a charter
for he chapter. In less than a year
over fifteen thousand men and wOm-
en- had Joined ranks In Rock Is
lands newest and largest brother
hood. When IS months had passed
1860 adults and over four thou
twenty-five thousand, had recorded
their names in the membership
rolls of the chapter.
Perfects Organization.
In that same period the chapter
lad perfected an organization which
extended TO the ourermOst bounds
of its Jurisdiction: every township
outside Of Moline, South Moline and
Hampton (Which lie outside the
chapter hmits1 had been organ
:zed into an efficient and self-sup-
porting branch In addition the CO.
operation of nearly ninety women's
societies was secured for the pro
ductiOn activities OF the chapter
And thousands of school children
were organized into junior auxil-
aries which became active working
units.
The chapter entered into every
type Of service it was asked to IN
dertake Over sixteen thousand
garments were collected in old
clothing drives Hundreds OF fam
lies of men in service found com
fort. advice and financial relief in
the service Of the home service
section And the movement for the
community welcome of returning
soldiers was sponsored by Red
Cross.
Several classes in elementary by
giene and home care of the sick
we're conducted during the past
year. thus increasing the nursing
esources of the community and
fostering public health Under
the direction of the local chapter Is
graduate nurses were enrolled for
Red Cross service.
Establish Hospital.
Perhaps one Of the most notable
Of the chapter was
the establishment and operation Of
the emergency hospital during the
influenza epidemic of October and
In record time a model
ospital was equipped and a mars
ing staff organized During a pc
riod of q days IS patients were
cared for, and although ten Of these
lad pneumonia, but three deaths
occurred During that time as new
ar before was demonstrated the
vhole-hearted cooperation which
every citizen stands ready to &C
eord TO the American Red Cross.
The Rock Island chapter has Just
.arried out its Christmas roll call
membership drives. The results are
rot yet definitely known; but one
hing is certain the chapter should
lot be allowed to lose a member /
or many a month TO come As /
ong as there are men in arms. as
Ong as there is suffering and mis- /
~ brought on by the cause in {
( hich our men have given their I
ives. so long does the war task Of /
he Red Cross remain clear before 7
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