The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-22
Red Cross Was Ready When
German Drive Came. ,
1t Cared for Refugees and
Fighting Men Alike.
EVER IN THICK OF DANGER
Reiterated and Worked at the
Same Time.
New Line Established When
Drive Was Stopped.

Washington, May 22.-How the
Red Cross relief organization IN
France met the crisis thrust upon II
by the recent great German offensive
when its lines were driven back To-
gether with those of the French ana
British armies, is one OF the insplr-
ing stories of that greatest of world
battles. Caught suddenly on the
edge of the vast conflict ana IN oaE-
ger of being overwhelmed by liie
great number of refugees and wound
ed soldiers fleeing before the German
onrush. the Red Cross relief army
too, was compelled to fall back ana,
while maintaining it's organization ana
preserving it's supplies, had TO give
every possible aid to the refugees ana
soldiers.
Just as the German drive tested the
resources of the allies, so, indirectly,
it tested every relief organization. II
was necessary to connect the renei
work under a field general, TO Keep
the transportation lines between al
the various stations of the Red cross
in the field connected, to work on a
big plan so that the work instead Oh
decreasing could grow.
Refugees in ThrOngS.
Compiegne is where field mead
quarters have been established. AS
the most advanced Red Gross workers
withdrew from their posts. reinforce
ments were sent from the rear. Wnen
the first accommodating party arrived
there, they found that there was Work
to do helping the refugees with wnom
the roads were crowded. Back they
dashed to Paris to give the word. And
back again to Compiegne with orders
and supplies. But the refugees Were
no longer alone in the roads. There
were soldiers also. Tho the flrst plah
had been to help the refugees at this
point, the assistance was also turheo
over to the soldiers.
The Red Cross men arrived TOT
their second visit to Compiegne on
moonlight night. Uncouth German
aviators were flying low and their
machine guns were beating a tattoo
on the town while from time to tune
while his car sped thru the moonlight
s'There was just a piece of canvas be-
tween me and hell
A bomb had dropped on three army
trucks standing close together. Their
gasoline tanks exploded and flame
shot up thru the clear n1ght ngnt-
Compiegne was not a pleasant place
that night. But the relief workers
were stuck there in spite of machine
guns and bombs. Finally they round
the hotel which had been abandoned
and taken over as emergency Red
Cross headquarters.
Now Well Established.
So the line drew back from Beau
yais to Scissors and with the field or
eanization establishing itself solidly
and calmly. Fine work is being done
at Beauvais and the movement of sup
plies is now fully organized. The ref
ugees problem has only begun for the
Red Cross, because that organization
has the intention of following the
great body of the refugees to their
final destinations further south and
continuing to help them.
The Red Cross kept its field organ
ization intact but some warehouses
and construction work was destroyed.
The stores were partly saved and part
ly given over to the soldiers to take,
the rest being burned so that the bar
barians should not benefit by them
Every one worked his hardest and the
drivers especially deserve the highest
praise. The spirit OF the armies
caught hold of all the other workers.
The refugees were resigned but I'M
complaining and turnout these twelve
days of crisis a spirit was shown by
all concerned that should teach even
the Germans that tho they may have
taken some territory they have not
conquered one bit of the spirit of the
allies