Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-07-24

important as ever and that great diff
ficulty is being experienced in carry
ing on this work because of the in |
difference of the public, as result |
of the change back to peace condi-
tons, or because the people do not |
understand the Red Cross program.
Miss Ruth Clark, secretary of the
Home Service section Of the Sumter
county chapter of the Red Cross, mas
asked the Times Recorder to tell the
people of this part of Georgia some
thing of the continued need for the
organization, and she puts the ap-
peal for laying its needs before the
people in the following letter:
Editor Times-Recorder The Home
Service section needs your help. In
stead of letting the department die
as the soldiers return, and their prob
lens are settled, the Red Cross is en-
deavoring to extend its activities, and
undertake social work with the fam
lies, improve the health conditions Of
tee community as well as the ).hcr
things tnat would tend - be per
maaent asset to this country. Of
course, the first help belongs to the
turning soldier, and W. Dlvite HIM
to come to US at any 3 that we
may be of any ASS ~ ~ him. Eut
just lots of returgin,s soldiers do not
know that there is a Home Service
section--lots Of people do net know
what we are up lere for an.how and
il you will please glanca ore. he en-
closed pages perhaps you will get an
idea of what / am trying to say, and if
you have space in the Times-Record-
er for anything that you think would
help make the peple understand what
Home Service is and what it stands
for, We'll be grateful to you. Yours
very truly, RUTH CLARK"
Following is the article enclosed by
Miss Clark:
Work Goes On.
While the American Red Cross has
by no means finished its war program
and will not as long as a single Am
erican soldier remains on foreign soil
or in the military camps of this coun-
try, or as long as the stricken coun-
tries of Europe are suffering from
results of the war with which they
are still unable to cope and for which
! they need Red Cross help, plans have
already been laid and are rapidly be-
ing perfected for the permanent work
of the organization, which in almost
every case is merely an expansion
and continuation of work already be-
gun.
The object of the extension of Red
Cross work in times of peace is sum-
med up briefly in the Articles of AS
ISOLATION of the International League
of Red Cross Societies and indorsed
in article 25 of the revised covenant
of the League of Nations is ''the i'm
provement of health, the prevention
of disease and the mitigation of suf-
fering throughout the world"
The work that lies before the Red
Cross in Home Service may be con-
sidered under four general heads:
/. The continuation of service to.
the families of soldiers, sailors and
marines.
2. The after care of the return
ed disabled soldiers.
3. The extension of Home Ser
vice as a community activity.
A. Disaster relief.
Until the last American soldier
comes home from Europe and is re-
stored to family life, the highest duty
that lies before the Home Service
department is to fulfill its pledge
that the families of the men in the
service of the United States shall
not suffer during their absence. By
suffer, we do not mean merely fl
nancial or physical suffering that
may be caused by friendly advice in
family troubles, by ignorance of the
government provisions for them, or
by some lapse from the former
standard of health, education and
happiness. The first responsibility,
therefore, that rests upon Home Ser
vice sections is to continue to main
tain communications between the men
and their families, to insure the pro-
tection of the families in the absence
OF re men in respect to health
schooling and living conditions, and
to give needed assistance in respect
to government claims.
Another Responsibility
With the return to civil life of num-
bers of disabled men another respon-
sibility devolves upon the Red Cross
service workers. They must see that
disabled soldiers are adequately as
sisted before their compensation
claims are granted, must help them
in filing such claims and securing
compensation due them, must see to
it that every man who is entitled to
re-education is thoroughly familiar
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