The Washington herald., 1918-05-24
VIA RED CROSS
APPROVED WAY
TOREACH ARMY
Great Society Peoples OF.
fetal Medium of Com
munication.

The drive for q second war fund Oh
81oo, ,OOo. 900 of the American Red Cross
Ebrings home to the American people
the fact that the Red Cross is the
official medium Of communication be-
tween the people of the United States
and their army and navy.
Did you ever think Of the Red Cross
In that way? Many people think Of q
nurse when they think Of the Red
Cross, and, Of course. the Red Cross
nurse plays a large part in the work
Of the organization. but she is not all
there is to the Red Cross.
Between You and Your Soldier.
Above. all, the American Red Cross
Is the medium of communication be-
tween you and your soldier or sailor.
The President Of the United States
is the president OF the Red Cross. The
War Department audits its accounts.
and the work Of the organization,
which Is worldwide now. Is directed
by a war council created by President
Wilson May 10. 1917.
A year ago there were 562 chapters
in the United States and 4s6,1sl mem
bers Today there are S,551 chapters.
II.op branches. 5000 auxiliaries, o.
10000 adult members and q junior
membership comprising q large pro-
portion Of the school children of the
land.
Here are some Of the principal ac-
tivities Of the Red Cross. which sug-
gest the Importance and scope Of its
work:
Organization Of base hospitals and
ambulance companies; recruiting and
training Of nursing personnel for serv-
ice in the Army and Navy Medical
Corps; production of surgical dress
ings. hospital garments, refugee
clothing, knitted goods, emergency
NaSy at home and abroad, sanitary
service around cantonments; care OF
dependent families OF soldiers and
sailors; study Of the problem Of Grip
pied soldiers and sailors; canteen
service for troops en- route; feeding Of
American prisoners in enemy coun-
tries; casualty information; service
u convalescents; disaster relief.
Relief Fer Allies.
And there may be mentioned relief
for the allies, including canteen work,
itubercular work, hospital supply serv-
lice, ambulance and hospital service,
Idispensaries, recreation centers, recon-
istruction Of homes and villages. ma
fternity work, repatriation of refugees,
Rehabilitation of mutilated men and
many other forms of service.
The Red Cross supplements the work
yof the Army and Navy. The Red
Gross war council Is endeavoring in
every way to increase the effective
ness OF the whole program Of relief
by the utmost cooperation with the
commission on training camp acnVi-
ties, the Y. NJ. c. A. Knights OF
Columbus, Y W. c. A, Y. NJ. H. A.
and other great patriotic agencies.
Red Gross affairs are economically
administered. Every penny has been
spent under an appropriation by the
war council after careful study. Mem
bership dues pay the entire cost Of
operation, with q large balance for
the handling OF disaster relief and
other work.
Millions of Workers.
In all the volunteer service of Red
Cross none Is more notable for de-
voticn, none so notable for extent
as that which the women Of Amer
lea are giving in their chapter work,
it is declared. 1t is estimated that
there are 100000 of these women.
many giving most of their time to
this work. all giving unstintingly.
1t Is they who do the handiwork of
Red Cross-its surgical dressings,
hospital garments, kpitted gar
ments. To meet the demand for
these articles appropriations for
$1,000. 900 for raw materials have
been necessary so far.
During the month of April. 1918.
the women of the country produced
approximately 25.OOO.OOO surgical
dressings. 400. 900 hospital garments,
100000 knitted garments. 100000
pieces OF clothing for refugees and
many other important and useful
articles.
The chapters are performing other
great tasks. They are helping de-
pendent families of soldiers and
sailors 1t Is estimated that 100. 900
such families are receiving help
from the Red Cross at the present
day.
Red Cross commissions operate in
France. Belgium. Italy. Greece. Ser
bia. RUSSIA. EUman;a. Palestine and
Great Eritaiu. The commissions
and their stats are in the theaters
Of war. cooperating with the army
and navy forces and with the mill
tary and civil authorities of the
allied countries: cooperating also
with other relief agencies, avoiding
duplication OF effort and confusion
of purpose. assisting other agencies