The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-19
Red Cross Has Home Service
Branch Here.
snake Soldier COntented,"
Motto of Organization.
WELFARE OF BOYS WATCHED
Fred Mcclure and Frank Cum
ningham in Charge.
Humanity Workers Handle
Nearly 1000 Cases.

How many soldiers are there in
camp who know the real mission of
the home service branch of the Ameri-
can Red Cross, located on the Golden
Belt highway, a few doors west of
the division headquarters building :?
We will venture a guess that there is
less than $3.50 of the population of
the cantonment who could state the
scope of their activities. To the aver
age soldier. Red Cross has no other
meaning than first aid for the in
jured." That Interpretation is true in
a sense of the word. but it embodies
the functions of that organization only
in broadest terms.
The word injured" covers a multi
tude of sins, so to speak, but it only
explains the great work being done
by the organization half way. Bodily
injury is the duty of the Red Cross
on the battlefield. but injury of feel
ings, spirit and mentality is the work
being sponsored by the home service
branch in camp. That branch of in
dispensable service in camp is under
the supervision of Fred F. Mcclure
and w. Frank Cunningham, formerly
sas City. The selection of these men
as associated field directors could not
be improved upon, as their past ex-
perience in that kind of work has es-
tablished them as wonder welfare
workers.
Mr.. Mcclure served on the welfare
board in Kansas City for eight years
and resigned to take up Red Cross
work He was succeeded by MIR. Cum
ningham who followed in the footsteps
of his predecessor after serving sew
eral years in the capacity of super
intendent of recreation. Both men
served the organization faithfully and
their loss has been severely felt. A
desire to do their bit, inasmuch as
they were not eligible for line duty,
caused the welfare workers to shift
their affiliations to the more human
side of affairs in the present crisis.
The inception of the home service
branch of the Red Cross came with
the opening of the environments thru
out the country. An organization TO
look after the welfare of the soldiers
in training was deemed necessary and
the Red Cross volunteered to fill that
role. Medical, financial and domes-
tic assistance is only part OF the
duties performed by the local chap-
ter. The keynote of the institution
is make the soldier contented,' and
with past activities as a criterion, they
have pursued their motto to the let
ter.
The welfare of the soldier as regards
the care of his family at home, love
tangles incorrigible children and oth-
er affairs that tend to depress the
spirits of the embryos, are watched
with zeal. The home service branch
have organizations in every city or
size in the country and camps, thereby
making it possible to transact any kind
of business without going out of the
organization
Nearly 1900 cases have been han
died by the office here since its in
ception The fact that the potentials
have not been informed that such an
organization is located within the con-
fines of the camp is probably respoD-
sible for the amount of work not be-
ing doubled. Here are few of the
problems the home branch would like
to help solve for every man in camp
who is affected: Is your family well
provided for? Have you any love af-
fairs that need attention; have your
dependents received their a1lotments
as per schedule2 Is there anything
that has tended to detract your atten-
ton from your duties in camp? These
questions and any others that will re-
lieve the anxiety of both the soldiers
and their families will be given prompt
attention if they are placed in the
hands of Mr.. Mcclure or Mr.. Cum
ningham.
The home service is lending great
assistance to the other organizations
in camp during the present influenza
epidemic. They have sent out hun
dreds of kilograms to FESTIVE families
at home, assuring them that the
health of their boys is being safe
guarded to the extreme by health Off
Gals here and every precaution is
taken to prevent a spread of the dis
ease. The organization is acting as
correspondents for men in camp who
forget to write home.
Mr.. Mcclure would like to hear
from more OF the boys in camp. If
you have any troubles. tell EN- to
Genial r red" or Faithful Frank" as
they're both a couple of real fellows
and are willing to go the limit for any
boy in camp. Their office is open to
all and you haven't got a problem
that's too intricate for these humanity
workers to solve.
One of the clasSieSt shows on the