The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-03-08
BY James L. Fieser,
ny James L. FiSS~Es
Director, Civilian Relief, Lake Divi-
sion, American Red Cross.


Director, Civilian Relief. Lake Divi- |
sion, American Red Cross.
Organizing and training 10000 |
Home Service committeeman to aid |
families of enlisted men is the most
stupendous and pretentious task be
ing undertaken by the American Red
Cross within our own borders.
This statement is made without
fear OF contradiction.
Even were there established social
agencies in every community from
which men have been drawn for active
service, this Red Cross duty would be
hardly less difficult, because with the
war have come new problems which
must be solved, and efficiently too, Il
i tie good name of the Red Cross is to
be held aloft and the minds of our
fighting folk set at ease about the
welfare of their loved ones back
home"
To school willing Home Service
workers with no previous social train
ing as well as keep professional COM
munity workers abreast with new de-
velopments, the Red Cross war coun-
Gil established in the Lake division
| Home Service institutes at IndianapO-
lis, Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleve-
land. each identified with a strong
university and each affiliated with
healthy social agencies.
Thirty-fye counties were represent
/. ed by ffty-six students at the first
series of institutes, each institute last
ing six weeks. A second series has
just opened In addition, chapter
courses of information are to be es-
tabllshed in cities of $4,000 popula-
ton and over.
There is no guess work about Red
Cross Home Service.
Workers are being trained to help CIT
liens gain all sorts of information. If a
family has not heard from a son III
the service, If the allotment and al
lowance check is delayed or wrons
In amount, if boy Is reported missing,
If any ore of hundreds Of possibilit es
occur, the Home Service worker must
be alert to his or her responsibilities.
To show that there are hundred
of possibilities" for this service, the
American Red Cross has prepared
for its committeeman handbook con-
tanning correct answers TO $50 ques-
tons which these committeeman have
already been asked
Forty-nine answers to questions on
army and navy service. running from
the composition of the fighting forces
to explaining what must be done 10
assist the family of a man who has
entered the service under an assumed
name. are given in this handbook.
Eighty-six points on the soldiers and
sailors allowance compensation asd
war risk insurance are explained. The
latter in itself is so large a task that
Home Service worker, anticipating
soft snap" might be driven to
IL
institute course to lessen his perpleXi-
ty. 1t is down in black and white
how the insurance is written and for
whom. how premiums are paid and
by whom. Six points OF information
are provided to cover insurance for
crews of merchant vessels and trans
ports.
American Red Cross Home Service
for families of enlisted men fighting
for our allies causes twenty-nine que1-
, tons to be answered III the hand
book
, All this is supplemented b. eighty
, nine statements giving information on
the status of families of DISCHARGED
men, deserters, ana alien enemy fami-
lies and explaining relationship of
, the Red Cross to other relief societies
, and the operation of the Red Cross
, bureaus of camp service and COM
: municatiOn.
t Despite the fact that this handbook
: has just been issued, new and puz-
2 cling questions are arising with such
2 rapidity that the bureau of civilian
r relief of the Lake division, is plan
ming az international service to keep
9 its Home Service workers in $50 chap
7 tiers in step with the fast-moving pro-
J cession.
War regardless Of the Yuscania
! calamity and a few scattering casual
7 tfes)-w and Rec Cross Home Serv-
Y ice are still in their infancy. but al
1 ready some 5000 families Of Ohio. In
! diana and Kentucky enlisted and Sc
D lective service men are under the
L. care OF Red Cross Home Service
) workers.
I Picture tie immensely OF the task
D when the American offensive" be
: gins.
Red Cross Home Service will b