The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-12-12
RED CROSS HAS A
kUbLE Task AHEAD
Mai. Gen. Edwards Just Back From
the Front Cites Cases n a Signed
Article.
BY MAJ. GEN. CLARENCE r.
EDWARDS.
Commander Department Of Northeast
u. g.. 4.

The Red Cross has a great work
ahead of it, very great work no
bic work. We don't yet realize now
g4eat lAis work is TO be, right here In
New England. But we shall 40"
better in few weeks, when our
wounded boys are here, and better
stiL in a year from now, when we
have seen them with our own eyes
end have heard their stories.
The work that the Red Cross has
done in France has been great ana
useful. When we arrived there we
were in terrible need OF tents ana
blankets. When we had done our
best there was still need. Then the
Red Cross stepped In, without any
useless red tape, and found US the
tents and the blankets, and saw to II
that our New England boys were Kept
comfortable. That means a great
deal TO a boy when he Is three thou
sand miles away from home, and cold
and wet. The Red Cross will be busy
In France and Belgium for long lme
yet, with the people in the devastated
regions and with our own boys. But
the work that | can't help thinking OF
most, the work dearest to me, Is that
which will be absolutely necessary for
our boys here and for their families,
right in our midst.
Every day | get scores of letters
from the relatives of our boys. Some
of them are most pathetic-they take
a hold on my heart. They come from
the mothers of our boys, mothers who
do not know where 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 will 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
lotments will not arrive In time. They
need money for food and for rent.
Here is a letter from a 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 tho
Red Cross. and what a work II 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 eame day with as many more.
Some OF those boys have only one
arm. some have only one leg, some
vi n5l see their mothers face b.
cause thoy are blind What Is going
to become OF those boys who have
gifen all that they ceuldY Many of
ih7a cannot hold their ID places of
work. Who're will they And new
ones? No nobler work IN be done
than - d Cross to see to It
that they are made comfortable. tina,
theN are looked after until they are
settled again. And th"y must not
come back to homes that have been
uprooted while they were away. The
Red Gross can make them most han
ply by having their homes safe for
them, and their mothers and sisters
well
One of the best T. s about the
Red Cross is that 1t has no red tame
II goes straight to the heart Of things
at once, and wastes no time Its
help Is sure and quick, and that
means everything. hope that the
Red Cross can see to 1t that no man
shall be found, year from now, with
an empty sleeve or on crutches. who
is wandering the streets looking for
work We don't yet know what II
all means, but we are - TO find
out pretty soon when the bows ara
here again
The Red Cross has a great and a
very noble task ahead.