New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Asks Women to
Speed Up America
GLOW Soon Are You Com.
ing?" Is Question "Over
There" He Says

American Red Cross in France, paused
yesterday to issue ringing war call to
the people of America above all. to the
women of America. Major Murphy will
soon join the American forces abroad
as an officer under General Pcrshing.
"a few days ago." he told an audi
cnce that packed the Waldorf Astoria
this country in buoyant mood. In a
few days more l am going back to
France, and l am going back as re-
suit of my stay-worricd.
"Ihis war, my frends"--and his
shoulders Strengthened tcrsely-"has
got to be won. And We have got to
win it. Over there they are all count
ing on US. How soon arc you coming i?
That is the question one hears every
where over there. Everywhere they are
counting on US, and il there is any bad
break on our part do not know what
will happen.
You women are the greatest power
III this country in this war, and this is
the war of every one of you. It is as
much the war of the United States over
OF you has as much active interest in
1t as if we were an old and savage
tribe and our village were surrounded
by an enemy. and some of our tribe
we're spiking the enemy with spears at
the walls and others were making
spears and arrows to be carried to the
front.
Would Mean the Finish
"1f the enemy gets into the village
We are done,
"And now let me tell you something
certain point but you will seldom get
a man to criticisc another man. Bu.
women are not that way. And if there
is one thing | would like to feel sure
would happen in this country it is that
our women would make up their minds
that this is their war and that they
we're going to see that the men to hold
TIE positions to run the war administer
their duties properly or get out
This view of the urgency of the sit
rasion, Major Murphy told his au-
ditors, was the direct result OF his
experience abroad. When he left this
country last May, with staff OF
eighteen mon to undertake the giant
task of organizing the Red Cross SER
vice, lie locked upon Americas part in
the war as magnificent, unseltish
crusade" thing necessary for us to
undertake for the sake of our position
IN the eyes Of the world and for the
good of our national soul and self
respect, but without practical applica-
tion to ourselves.
To-day the earnestncss of Major
Murphy's plea is in proportion to the
completeness of his conversion.
II want you to consider for a mo-
ment," he said, "the fact that up to
to-day Germany is entirely victorious
IN this war, that any peace that is
made to-day on the basis of to-day's
conditions or on the basis of the
status quo ante would be practically
a complete victory for Germany and
the German idea.
Germany Has Lost ONLY Men
Germany has lost nothing IN this
war save blood, and if The war ended
now, you must realize that the world
would not have a chance to live except
as Germany said that the world should
live, and our country would have to
anticipate the time when Germany
would cross with US. and when we,
with those habits Of unpreparedness
which are native TO us, would meet
her and go down. If we cannot beat
Germany now when we are fighting to-
gether with our allies. we can never
beat her single handed
Against this situation of unprepared-
ness, while all the world wondered at
our apathy, Major Murphy declared the
work of the American Red Cross had
shone, lonely beacon in a dark place.
as the one tangible earnest of what our
spirit might do once it was unlcashed
he told of how. when supplies were
difficult to get and labor impossible to
ind in France, the American Red Cross
imported supplies and labor, and then
developed it's own system of ware
houses and transportation, which to-
day runs all along the Western front
and is the backbone of American relief
work.
But perhaps the most spectacular
10b OF ALL said Major Murphy, en-
phas'zlng what the mere presence Of
the. American Red Cross has meant
during this period, "was the one we nmt
through in Italy. Never anywhere in
1he , world, except possibly on foot
ball held after they'd made an end run
on you, have seen a people SO utterly
demoralizcd as the Italians were dur.
ing the days of the big retreat. The
army was IN complete rout. Five or
SIX hundred thousand refugees were
streaming down into districts a,readv
terribly short OF the necessaries of life
Courage Given to Italy
The question then was whether
Italy would be absolutely lost to the
aliies for the balance of the war. and
II ever there was time for some one
10 pat fellow on the back and Get him
10 buck up and do something. it was in
Italy" wac ''
This was the task that the American
Ked Cross performed. At time when
the great mass Of Italians left America
was not with them, because we had NOT
then declared war on Austria. and when
there was no chance of sending official
word because Congress was not sitting
the Red Cross pitched in and plastered
tn. American flag over Italy from one
end to another.
Carl Taylor was the man who did
K. IaJor Murphy said, "and it was one
o. she greatest pieces of work | ever
Sa,r."
II. P DAWSON. chief of the war coup.
= OF the Amer San Red Cross. nitro
dNced Major Murphy in a brief address.
which he told of the enormous
growth Of the organization during the
as. SIX months, and called the task
Igor Murphy has put through on the
Western front "the most brilliant piece
Of work have ever known"
Or the platform with Major Murphy
and Mr. I)Hyison woro E'Io+ IVo d,,,..,.L