Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-12-11
RED CROSS HAS A
NOBLE TASK AHEAD
MAI Gen. Edwards Just Back From
the Front Cites Cases in Signed
Article.
BY MAJ. GEN. CLARENCE r.
EDWARDS.
Commander Department of Northeast.
y. s. A.

I The Red Cross has a great work
ahead Of 1t, very great work. a no
Bile work. We don't yet realize how
great this work is to be, right here In
New England. But we shall know
better IN a few weeks, when our
wounded boys are here, and better
stfll in year from now, when we
hsve seen them with our own ewes
end have heard their stories.
The work that the Red Cross has
done In France has been great and
useful When VIC arrived there we
were in terrible need of tents and
blankets When we had done our
best there was stiIl need. Then the
Red Cross stepped in, without any
useless red tape, and found US the
tents and the blankets. aud saw to 1t
that our New England boys were kept
comfortable, That means a great
deal to boy when he is three thou
sand miles away from home, and cold
and wet The Red Cross win be busy
In France and Belgium for long time
yet, with the people In the devastated
regions and with cur own boys. But
the work that can't help thinking of
most, the work dearest to me, Is that
which WIN be absolutely necessary for
our boys here and for their families,
right in our midst.
Every day l get scores of letters
from the relatives of our boys. Some
OF them are most pathstio-they take
hold On my heart. They come from
the mothers of our boys. mothers who
do not know whore their boys are.
and who are sick with worry, moth
ers who know that their boys have
been wounded but wish to learn more
about them, to ease their terrible
anxiety. mothers who wish TO know
when their dead boys win be sent
home
Letters come from widows whose
only sons are in the army IN France
and who are dependent on these sons
There mothers are sometimes In
great need OF financial aid, and they
are afraid that their government al
iotments win not arrive In time. They
need money for food and for rent
Here is letter from widow whose
son has been wounded and is now In
the hospital in another state. He
cannot yet be discharged, but he is
her only support, and she writes to
tell me her needs because unless help
comes she is going to suffer
Last year these mothers were send
ing boxes at Thanksgiving time to
their boys. This year many of them
are waiting. while they weep, for the
terrible box that will bring the body
OF the dear son home to them. These
mothers are the rightful care Of the
Red Cross, and what a work it can
do for them
On our boat coming home were 1856
crippled men, coming back to make
their way again Another boat start
ed the same day with as many more
Some Of those boys have only one
arm, some have only one leg. some
viii not see their mothers face be-
cause they are blind. What is going
to become of those boys who have
given all that they could? Many of
them cannot hold their old places of
work Where viii they find new
onesf No nobIer work can be done
than for the Red Cross to see to il
that they arc made comfortable, that
they are looked after until they are
settled again. And they must not
come back to homes that have been
uprooted while they were away The
Red Cross can make them most hap
by by having their homes safe for
them, and their mothers and sisters
well.
One of the best things about the
Red Cross Is that n has NO red tape,
II goes straight to the heart OF things
at once, and WASTES no time. IT'S
help Is sure and quick. and that
means everything l hope that the
Red Cross can see to II that no man
shall be found, year from now, with
an empty sleeve or on erutches. who
Ia wandering the streets looking for
work. We don't yet know what 1t
an means, but we are going to and
out pretty soon when the boys are
here again.
The Red Gross has great and a
very noble task ahead.