The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1918-08-17
SOME RED CROSS HIS
TORY OF INTEREST
tcontluned from page one)

\ our Allies, wnere they VIII serve u
alleviate 80 far as possible the suf
fering OF old men, of women and o.
children and at the same time sery,
as q reminder OF this country's inter
est and sympathy at time wher
such evidences OF sympathy mean sc
much to the morale Of these sorely
stricken countries. This is a war not
OF the soldier and sailor alone, but
OF the whole people, and the morale
OF the civilians behind the lines IL
quickly reflected at the front. II
the people falter, the soldiers Will
lot fight so effectively. You will
see therefore that what we are doing
for the civilians In France, Italy
and Belgium Is just as truly for the
fighting man as II II were done for
himself.
The same disciplined effort which
has met the needs of the past year
| will answer the new demands. The
women OF the country must expect
/ to respond to sudden change In or
lers aud to accept irregularity In
supplies as these are necessary out
come OF war demands and war con
ditlons. 1t Is precisely this ability to
respond to the situation. be II what
Il may. no matter how confusing to
previous plans and ideas, that makes
the Red Cross dependable and ef-
ficient force for winning the war
| Other Red Cross Activities.
We are not attempting In this let
ter to cover the situation with res
pect to many other equally impor-
tant Red Cross activities Of the Chap
ters the Home Service and the Can
teen Service, and work of the actual
administrative affairs OF the Chapters
neither have we made any attempt
to forecast some of the newer forms
of activity, such as reclamation OF
soldiers clothing. While all OF these
matters are OF first importance. we
are combining ourselves In this letter
to Chapter production.
Your Chapter viii be asked ny this
office to produce definite quantities
OF certain articles These allotments
viii be changed from time to time as
we receive further estimates Of re
quirements from National Headquar
ters. and you are urged on all ac
counts TO confine your production to
these definite allotments and to se
cure your material through our dl-
vision Supply Warehouse.
You are particularly requested not
to purchase through outside sources
any of the materials we carry in stock
even though you may at times be able
to get more expeditions deliveries
thereby. The reason for this re-
quest Is that the Government has
agreed to allow us to participate in
purchase of gauze. cotton. outing |
flannel and such staple materials at
the prices paid by the Government |
and on practically the same terms of |
delivery only with the specific under
standing that Chapters would re-
frain from outside purchases OF thesS
This condition Is impos-
ed because such purchases tend 10
demoralIze market conditions and
make more difficult the Government
task OF regulating the manufacture
and marketing of these staple mater
ials.
II Is hoped that this long letter
may convey very clear understand
Ing of the difficult problem which
confronts rs and the spirit I'm which
we arc trying to meet It.
There has been nothing finer than
the unselfiah and devoted way that
the women OF the country have given
of their time and skin In making Red
Cross aid dependable. We appreciate
hat work done In this way lacks
Of the personal touch
which comes from working for par
icular institution or for a particu-
ar group OF people abroad. or in the
'ield. We are none the less sure that
he basis on which. broadly speaking,
We are attempting to handle the mat
er, is the only practical one. Our
standards are based on first hand
and careful observation
If people who are right on the
ground. We hope to change our
standards as little as possible; we ,
nope to have them as simple as pos
'ible. Other patterns OF n particular
hings are sometimes urged by some
me. who has had limited experience
abroad, as superior to the Red Cross
Our standards are, how
'ver, meeting the test OF real service
very day. The goal which we have
et IL not visionary one but we
iaye hard practical war facts to face.