The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1919-03-13

the French themselves naturally pre-
fer as far as possible TO provide for
their own. 1t has accordingly been de-
termined 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 a designated French relief organi-
zation.
"The American Red Cross work in
France was initiated by a commission
Of eighteen men who landed on French
shores June Is, 1917. Since then
some 5000 persons have been upon the
rolls in France, Of whom 1000 were
actively engaged when the armistice
was signed. An indication of the pres
ent scale of the work will be obtained
from the fact that the services of 6,000
persons are still required.
"Our American EXpeditiOnary Force
having largely evacuated England, the
activities Of the Red Cross Commits
sion there are naturally upon dimin-
fishing scale period. Active operations
are still in progress in Archangel and
Siberia.
1.-THE work in Italy has been almost
entirely on behalf Of the civilian pep
nj Of IN
hours of Italy's struggle the American
people, through their Red Cross, sent
a 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, it has
been possible TO divert supplies and
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 sufferingS
have been upon an appalling scale.
| The needs of these peoples are so vast
that government alone can meet them,
but the American Red Cross is making
an effort to relieve Immediately the
more acute distress.
| "An extensive group of American
workers has been dispatched to carry
vitality needed supplies, and to work
this winter in the various Balkan coun
tries. In order to coordinate their &C
tivities, a Balkan commission has been
established, with headquarters al
Rome, Italy, from which point alone
all the Balkan centers can be reached
promptly.
"A commission has Just reached Pc
land with doctors and nurses, medica
supplies, and food for sick children
and invalids. An American Red eros!
Commission has also been appointed
to aid in relieving the suffering of Rus
sian prisoners still confined in German
prison camps.
IAN important commission is still
working in Palestine. Through tn
war special cooperation has beel
given to the Armenian and Syrian Re
lief Commission, which was the Onl
agency able to carry relief in the In
terror of Turkish dominions.
Red Cross Will Continue.
"Red Cross effort Is thus far flns
It will continue to be- so. But tn
movement represented by this wor
has likewise assumed an intimate plac
In the daily life of our people at hone
The army Of workers which has bee
recruited and trained during the wa
must not be demobilized. All our e.
perience in the war shows clearlyathf
there is an unlimited field for serviC
of the kind which can be perfOrme
with peculiar effectiveness by the Re
Cross. What it's future tasks may /
It is yet impossible to forecast. W
know that so long as there is an Anne
lean army in the field the Red Gro:
will have a special function to perforr
!, Nothing could be of greater impo
lance to the American Red Cross tha
the plans just set in motion by the III
! great Red Cross societies of the wor
= to develop a program Of extended
e tivities in the interest of humanit
D The conception involves not alone
e forts to relieve human suffering, b
i to prevent it; not alone a moveme
D by the people of an individual natlo
l. but an attempt to arouse all people
: sense Of their responsibility for t
n welfare of their fellow beings throug
out the world. 1t is a program bo
s ideal and practical. Ideal in that
r supreme aim is nothing less than We
r liable Peace on earth good will
d men, and practical in that 1t seeks
s take means and measures which a
l. actually available and make them
t. fective in meeting without delay
n crisis which is daily recurrent in
I. lives of all peoples.
;e "For accomplishing its mission
IS the years of peace which must
ahead of us the Red Cross will requ
.e the ablest possible leadership, a
n must enjoy the continued support, sy
Is patty, and participation In its VIC
" of the whole American people. 1t
he particularly fortunate that such a m
r as DIR. Livingston Farrand should hs
ID been selected as the permanent he
e of the organization. The unstin'
In | fashion in which all our people "a