The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-20
Has 2OO00. 00O Memhers.

Has 100000 Members.
Washington, May 2O.-The Ameri-
can Red Cross. the nations official
mercy organization, launches today
its second drive for 100000, 900
war fund.
With It's appeal for subscriptions
sanctioned and endorsed by Presi-
dent Wilson, the cabinet, General
Pershing, Vice Admiral Sims, Cardi-
nal Gibbons and other prominent
Americans. the Red Cross has set
in motion its vast machinery Of TO-
100000 members in an intensive
campaign OF one week to obtain
funds necessary for the maintenance
and expansion Of a great system Of
relief work overseas and at home.
Emphasizing that the war coun-
administered the peoples trust"
President Wilson, in his recent proc
laGnation announcing the drive,
pointed out that the war fund raised
in 1917 needed replenishment in Or
der to care for the welfare Of the
men in our military and naval forces,
and for those dependent upon them,
and for the yet more urgent neces-
sites OF our allies, military and civil
ian, who have long borne the brunt Of
the war;"
Contributions to the war fund are
described by the President as the
discovery Of new opportunities Of
helpfulness under conditions which
translate opportunity irEo duty" a
Last years fund easily was raised
and the campaign to treble the mem
bershtp went over the top with a
rush, SO national officials Of the or
ganization now maintain a Unsuitable
confidence in the willingness Of the
American people to respond again
to the plea for subscriptions.
Since the first band Of American
workers sailed last June, the Red
Cross has built up a system Of relief
that extends from the home stations
Of the destroyer fleets on the Irish
| coast down to the battle lines in
northern Italy. Vast sums Of money
have been entrusted to the American
commissions, but the Expenditures
have effected a full measure Of relief.
Moreover. the generosity OF the
American people as expressed in the
readiness Of the Red Cross repres-
entatives to devote time and money
unsparingly in an effort to relieve the
civilian population, has inlbued in
the war SCARED peoples of Europe
an enduring love and respect for this
nation.
France Has First Call.
1t is in France, the land that has
suffered most from Prussian barbar-
ity, that the accomplishments of the
Red Cross are most prominent.
hxr To- -
New York, a great mercy organiza-
ton has been built up, consisting Of
1000 American men and women. A
vast number are unpaid, while the
others receive only enough to meet
simple living expenses.
With General Pershing's expedi-
tionary forces the closest touch Is
kept through divisional and regi-
mental medical officers, while rep
resentatives of the department Of
information and casualties and the
department Of home service are in
constant contact with the men
whether in the hospital, training
camp or field. Rest stations and
canteens operated by American
women have been established along
the lines OF communication, and
emergency needs for hospital sup
plies, drugs and Comforts readily are
supplied from warehouses maintain
ed at strategic points along the line.
ITO the civilian and soldier in
France the message of Americas
friendship has been carried in count
less ways" declares Eliot Wads-
worth, Of the war coufctl, who has
just returned from a three months
observation trip in Europe. Sup
plies for thousands OF hospitals;
rest and food for hundreds of SOL.
diers are at railroad functions; food,
clothing and transportation for ref
ugees driven from their homes, and
a helping hand In their housing and
the beginning again Of their house
keeping are a few Of the activities"
A reorganization of the expendi-
lures made from last years war fund
shows that $30,986,103 was spent in
France; $2,Os6,1S1 in Belgium; $4,-
$685. 1926 in Italy; $1,206,900 in Russia;
50, 876,868 in Rumania; $894,58O in
Serbia; $3,260,230 in Great Britain:
$4,476, 300 for other foreign relief
work; and $9,723,123 for American
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