The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-23
VAST SUMS PAID
INTO RED. CROSS
FAR WAR RELIEF
Annual Report Shows Twenty
Million Members and Aid
Being Distributed in Ten
Nations of the World.

NEW YORK, oct. 23.-The American
people have either paid in or pledged 10
the American Red Cross for its work
Of relief throughout the world, in money
or material values, Il net total OF at
least SS26, coo, coo.
The American Red Cross has a total
membership OF 20, 64S, 1903, and, in ad-
ton, 5000, 900 members in the Junior
Red Cross a total enrolment OF more
than one-fourth the population OF the
United States.
American Red Cross workers pro-
duced VI to July / last n total Of 22l,-
2S2, 1888 articles Of an estimated Nalue
of $i4, 0O0, 900.
About 5000, 900 women are engaged
In canteen work and the production OF
relief supplies.
The American Red Cross is distribut-
ing aid in 10 countries-the United
States, England. France. Italy, Bel
GUM, Switzerland, Palestine, Greece,
Russia and Siberia. besides 1t has
sent representatives to Serbia, Den
mark and Mgderia.
More than 5000 Americans will be
working under the Red Cross IN france
by Jan, ], next.
These facts were laid before the s.
S64 chapters of the Red Cross in the
annual message of the war council
Of tho Red Cross, when the chapters
throughout the country today held their
annual lltbN lllES ~ GlGtl blllNNlo
Announcement was made In the mes
sage that every man, woman and child
in the United States would be asked
at Christmas time to enroll In the
American Red Cross.
Great Work Done.
The message, signed by Henry p.
Dawson, chairman Of the war council
said, in part:
since the beginning of tho war, you
Of the chapters have co-operated with
the war council in conducting two wal
fund drives and one membership drive,
In addition to the campaign on behalf
az the Junior Red Cross. The total &C
tuRl collections to date from the first
wal fund have amounted to more than
SIl5, O00, 00o. The subscriptions to the
second war fund amounted to upwards
OF SIG, 000, 900. From membership dues
the collections have amounted to APP
proXimately SEA. 500, zoe.
"To the foregoing must be added that
very large contribution of materials
and time given by millions of women
throughout the country. For the period
up to July !, 1918, American Red Cross
chapters, through their woTkrooms had
produced: 400, 100 refugees garments;
T,l23, 62l hospital supplies; 10, 1856 S9
hospital garments; 10,l34.501 knitted
articles; 1872, 74S. i07 surgical dressings
q ADA"A Va AHH = NJ NhNlNR Va 49, ~
timated aggregate value Of at least
50, 000, 900.
These articles were largely the prod
uct OF women's hands. and. by the same
token, infinitely more precious than
could have been the output OF factories
or machines. These articles going to
the operating rooms of the hospitals,
TO homeless and needy refugees, and
carrying comfort to our boys ini the
field, convey a message Of love from
the women Of this country entirely dis
tinct from the great money value at
tsching TO their handiwork,
BY the terms unde which the first
Red Cross wal fund was raised, the
| chapters were entitled to retain 25 per
| cent OF the amount collected, in order
to defrRy local expenses. to carry on
their home service work, to purchase
| materials to be utilized In chapter pro-
ductlOn and otherwise to meet the nu-
merous calls made upon them, The
chapters were thus entitled to retain
nearly S29. 600, 600. As a matter of fact,
their actual retentions. amounted to
only about $22, 900, 900. but OF collec-
lions from annual memberships, the
chapters have retained about $ll ,000,-
900.
From this total sum, therefore, Of
f5S, 900, 600 retained by the chapters,
they have met all the oftentimes very
heavy local demands upon them, and
In addition have provided for use by
national headquarters products valued
at upwards Of g44, 000, 900.
THE chapters have in effect returned
to the war council, not alone the S33,-
0N0 900 retained out Of the war fund
and membership dues. but, in value Of
actual product, an additional cohtribu-
ton Of at least Sil, 900, 900.
1T win thus be seen that during the
is months which have elapsed since the
United States entered the war, the
| American people will have either paid
in or pledged to the American Red
Cross for its work OF relief throughout
the world in money or In material val
| ues, net total Of at least 1926, 900. 900.
IN this country at this moment the
workers of the Red Cross. through its
chapters. are helping to add to the
comfort and health OF the millions Of
| our soldiers in 102 camps n canton
| ments, as we'll as of those travelling on
railroad traN1s or embarking on ships
for duty overseas.
THE home service OF the Red Cross,
with its more than $4,000 workers, is
extending its ministrations OF sympathy
| and counsel each month TO upward OF
| 100, 900 families left behind by soldiers
at the frout-a number ever growing
with The increase OF our men under
arms.
BY inc llfSL OF Jdlludl1 your lNtL
| Cross win have working In France up
ward Of 5000 Americans-a vivid con.
trast to the little group of - men ant
women, which. as sthe first Red Gross
commission TO France, sailed abou'
June !. 1871, TO initiate our efforts II
Europe.
Your Red Cross now has active, op.
Grating commissions In France, in Eng,
land. In Italy. in Belgium. in Switzer
land, in Palestine and IN Greece. Yol
have sent n shipload OF relief supplies
and a group OF devoted workers I,
northern Russia, you have dispatched
commission to work behind our armie
in eastern Siberia; you have sent spe
cial representatives. TO Denmark. 4
Serbia and to the Island OF NiaderiaN
"At Christmas lime we shall ask III
whole American people TO answer III
Red Cross Christmas roll call. II wi
constitute a unique appeal TO ever,
man, woman and child IN this grea
land of our to become enrolled In on
army Of mercy. II is tho hope Of tn
war council that this Christmas mem
bership roll call shall constitute a re
conservation of the whole America
people, an inspiring reRssertton 10 man