The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1919-04-17

the French themselves naturally pre-
fer MS far ns possible to provide for
their own II has accordingly been de.
termlned that the guiding principle Of
Red Cross policy in France henceforth
shall be to have punctilious regard To
Its every responsibility. but to direct
Its efforts primarily to assisting
French relief societies. The liberated
and devastated regions OF France have
been divided by the government into
small districts each officially assigned
to designated French relief organi.
zation.
"rhe American Red Cross work In
France was Initiated by commission
OF eighteen men who landed on French
shores June 10, 1917. Since then
some 5000 persons have been upon the
rolls In France. OF whom 1900 were
actively engaged when the armstice
was signed. An indication OF the pres
ent scale of the work win be Obtained
from the fact that the services of 5000
persons are still required.
"Our American Expeditionnry Force
having largely evacuated England, the
activities OF the Red Cross Commits
sion there ARE naturally upon dimin.
lshlng scale period. Active operations
are still In progress in Archangel and
siberia.
"rhe work In Italy has beeD almost
entirely on behalf OF the civilian pop.
nlation Of that country. In the critical
hours of ltaly's struggle the American
people. through their Red Cross, sent
practical message OF sympathy and
relief, for which the government and
people Of Italy have never ceased TO
express their gratitude.
Supplies and Personnel to Near East.
"The occasion for such concentra-
ton OF effort in Italy, England. Bel.
GUM and even In France having natur.
ally and normally diminished. II has
been possible to divert supplies aud
personnel In large measure to the aid
of those people In the Near East who
have hitherto been inaccessible to out.
side assistance. but whose suirerings
have been upon an appalling scale
The needs of these peoples are 80 vast
that government alone can meet them,
but the American Red Cross Is making
an effort to relieve Immediately the
more acute distress.
IAN extensive group OF American
workers has been dispatched to carry
vitality needed supplies. and to work
this winter In the various Balkan coun-
I tries In order to coordinate their ac-
4 tiyities, Balkan commission hns been
established, with headquarters AT
Rome, I,aly, from which point alone
all the Balkan centers cnn be reached
! promptly.
"a commission has Just reached po-
/ land with doctors and nurses. medical
supplies and food for sick children
J aud inyalids. An American Red Cross
Commission has also been appointed
to aid In relieving the suffering OF Rus
! sim prisoners still confined in German
| prison camps.
IAN important commission Is still
working In Palestine Through tho
war special cooperation has been
given to the Armenian and Syrian Re
/ lief Commission. which was the only
\ agency able to carry relief In the In
terror OF Turkish domlnions
Red Cross VIII Continue.
RED Cross effort Is thus far flung
II will continue to be so. But the
movement represented by this work
has likewise assumed an Intimate place
In the daily life Of our people M home
The army OF workers which has been
recruited and trained during the war
must not be demobillzed. All our ex
perience in the war shows clearly that
there Is an unlimited field for service
Of the kind which can be performed
with peculiar effectiveness by the Red
Cross What its future tasks may be
II is yet impossible to forecast. We
know that so long as there is an Amer
/ lean army In the ield the Red Cross
will have n special function to perform
Nothing could be OF greater impor.
lance to the American Red Cross than
the plans just set In motion by the five
great Red Cross societies of the world
to develop a program Of extended &C
tivlties In the Interest Of humanity.
The conception involves not alone ef
! forts to relieve human suffering, hui
| 10 prevent II; not alone movement
by the people of an Individual nation,
but an attenp: to arouse ell people TO
@ sense Of their responsibility for the
welfare OF their fellow beings through
ont the world II Is a program both
! ideal and practical Ideal In that Its
supreme aim Is nothing less than YER
able Peace on earth good will to
men," ami practical In that 1t seeks to
take meurs and measures which are
actually available aud make them ef-
fective In meeting without delay the
crisis which is daily recurrent in the
lives of all peoples.
For accomplishing Its mission In
the years of peace which must lie
ahead OF us the Red Cross win require
the nblest possible leadership, and
must enjoy the continued support. sym
patty. and participation in Its work
OF the whole American people. II Is
particularly fortunate that such man
as DR. Livingston Farrand should have