Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-10
1rsuiae'0G Ire"'ns Yesterday sg 1905
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1915
Rad CSuss Christmas Ron Call.

Red Cross Christmas Ron Call.
When the Red Cross, In the midst of
IL npsrtant work imposed upon ITS
elective agencies by the stress Of war,
caned upon the people of our country for
contributions to meet the large expenses
e it's operations, the response was splen-
did. Nothing, in our opinion, so signaily
demonstrated the real patriotism OF our
eeopls. Appeals for subscriptions to the
vrious war loans did not involve fat
9ving. They were simply opportunities
for poop1e with funds available to make
very good investments, with undoubted
security IS to redemption at the explra-
tion of the time period, and regular
dividends right along But the Red Cross
.eked the people to give-and the people
gave, magnihcently.
Now the Red Gross IS making another
sppcal to the peopIe-An appeal for per
sonaI co-operation through membership.
Beginning next Sunday, December is,
there will be set under way the Red
Gross Christmas Roll Gala campaign
Of one week for universal membership
ID this great organization. All the people
ii the world Will be called upon to enroll
themselves as members of the organize
ton. In order to give the approval and
cooperation OF their personal connection
in support OF the cause.
The hope of the Red Cross is to secure
The enrolment of every man and woman
In our nation as its members. And why
not? Since its formation, now more than
half q century ago, by that noble woman,
Clara Barton, the BED Cross has given
signal evidence of the value OF It's exist
ence. Started under the incitement Of
the cruel sufTerinr caused by var, and
aiming TO give aid and assistance 70 wars
victims it has extended it's activities TO
times of peace, and shown to the world
that it has q reason for existence, 8 great
work to perform, even IN times when the
world is not upset by the dread turmoil
of war. Disasters VIII occur, even when
war Is not raising IT'S rampant and de
etructive front Human suffering Is
oa4eed by pestlence. And all the time the
Red Cross is ready to do everything m its
power 70 alleviate human suffering.
No more noble work could appeal TO
the eympAthetic oo-operatio OF the peo-
pie Of the world What the Red Gross
has done during the dreadful war IN ku-
rope, now happily comes to an end, is
weIl-known But IT must not be sup
posed that Its MISSION ends with the close
Of the war II still has q large field 70
cover. great work to do The incidents
sstending the close Of the war viii cal
for It's Intervention, almost as completely
II did the exigencies of the awful conflict.
There is q field In Europe filed with
those who suffered from wars horr1d
br,rtalitses. VINO viii have need OF assis-
tanoe. And even our soldiers who remain
there viii have demands that only the
asncis OF the Red Cross can adequately
comply with
II Is well, m this connection, to make |
brief reference to what the Red Cross |
did II the great war, after our country |
took part 10 the contest for q worlde |
democracy II hospital was needed in |
an emergency at any particular point |
and war always creates a need for hos |
pitals-ouickly the Red Cross supplied /
il. II trainload Of troops crossed the /
country, and for one reason or another i
the provisions failed, the Red Cross had /
the facilities, and the willingness, and the /
organization TO cope with the situation /
and see that our soldiers were sent on their Il
way without suffering any deprivation.
Never did the Red Cross fail to answer
any call for its services No matter how
it might be stressed by lack Of financial /
means-and at times In its history it i
found itself in this position-it was always
ready TO do its part, N some way or other
Never was it called upon to meet an
emergency that it did not respond, and
respond In a manner that brought results
And now it rs preparing for service ia
peace tImes-a service that vii call for
the exercise of It's utmost resources It's
work is not finished with the ending OF
the war Millions Of American boys are
still under arms Thousands Of them are
sick or suffering from wounds Owing to
the shortage of shipping, it may take a
year or more TO bring them back from
France. But whatever the time required,
the protecting arms Of the Red Cross
must be about them and their families,
over the whole period which must elapse
before the normal life of peace can be re-
sumed.
And, as we have said, there is work for
the Red Cross, even when all the traces
Of war are obliterated. In times of great
-shipwreck, disaster on land
through terrible accidents, or the awful
, visitation OF pestilences--the services of