Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1918-02-14
RED CROSS NEEDS
100000 NURSES IN
WAR ZONE ALONE
PATRIOTIC WOMEN OF SOUTH.
WEST ARE URGED TO VOL.
UNTEER THEIR SERVICES.
RARE CHANCE FOR PATRIOTS
Those Between the Ages Of Fl and 40
Who Can Pass Physical Ex-
animation Are Qualified
for Enlistment.

"OIucu VI tuc EoulIlWcSt nave q
chance to show their patriotism now
as never before since the beginning of
the war. They have been bravely civ
ing up their sons, fathers, brothers,
sweethearts and husbands to fight in
the great war; they have knitted thou
sands of sweaters, helmets, wristlets
and mufflers; they have practiceo
food conservation, bought Liberty
bonds, Red Cross memberships, thrift
stamps and certificates; they have
marched in dozens of parades, attend.
ed hundreds of meetings and made
hundreds of patriotic talks.
But in few instances have they been
given an opportunity to 60 into the
field of the world struggle. This is
the path they now have a chance to
take.
The Department of Nursing Of the
American Red Cross, the mobilizing
agency for nurses in military service,
still Is in urgent need of recruits. The
Red Cross wants the strong, brave,
competent women of the Southwest to
step forward and prepare to go to
France and help nurse the brave sons
of the United States when they fall on
the battlefield.
Thousands OF Nurses Needed.
This appeal to the Southwest is is
sued by Miss LYDIA Anderson, head Of
the Nursing Department, Southwest
ern Division American Red Cross, and
should be heard by every woman in
this district. The need for more nurses
Is so acute that the surgeon-general Of
the United States estimates that with
In a short time the Red Cross Will
need 100000 nurses for the army alone.
Besides that, he points out that the
Allies also are depending upon the
United States to supplement their
nursing service.
1t is estimated that there are be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 registered
nurses in the United States at the
present time, meaning graduates Of
accredited schools. Of this number
16. 500 are enrolled Red Cross nurses,
the majority Of whom are in active
service. ready for mobilization or pre-.
pared for specific service.
To be a Red Cross nurses one must
be a graduate of an accredited school,
be between the ages of 81 and As and
must pass a physical examination AT
er the necessary 10000 nurses are
| drawn from the total number of regis
tered nurses in the country there will
be only half enough nurses left here
to take care Of the civilian needs.
Nursing Is Fine Preparation.
Therefore, the only solution to the
problem--the only way to provide suf,
ficient number of nurses 10 care for
the American soldiers in Europe-is
for women Of the Southwest to answer
the call of the Red Cross and say
eve will help you fill the necessar!
number"
There are rs, accredited schools OF
nursing in this district that will pre-
pare volunteers for service. Two years
duty is required.
Nursing education not only prepares
for u large variety Of professional
fields, but it ia an excellent prepaia
ton for home and family life Il iol
public service in many ways. Almost
upon enrolment the studen; begins
her service to the community in help
ing to care for the sick, as part OF he,
instruction and training. This service
to the community will be greatly in
creased in war time. because the con
ditions of war, which take wage earn
ers from the homes and nurses FRO,
the civilian hospitals. produce an in
creased amount of sickness and dis
tress among the civilian population
with decreased facilities for guarding
its health.
1t might be added that enrolment n
the Red Cross does not compel one tt
20 into war service, though there Il
moral compulsion that II should
do SO.
When Red Cross nurses are called
upon for active DUTY they receive $50
a month in the lkited States and $e'
a month elsewhere, plus maintenance
and travelling expenses.