The spectator., 1919-03-21

the French themselves naturally pre- fer as far as 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 it's every responsibility, but to direct It's 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 13, 1917 Since then some 9,0Q0 persons have been upon the rolls in France of whom 1000 were actively engaged when the armistice was signed. An indication of the preo- ent scale of the work will be obtained from the fact that the services of 5000 persons are still required
 Our American Expeditionary Force having largely evacuated England, the activities of the Red Cross COmmis- sion there are naturally upon . dimin- ishing scale period Active operations are still in progress in Archangel and Siberia
 entirely on behalf of the civilian pop ufation of that country. In the critical hours of Italy'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- uon of effort in Italy, England, Bel gium 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 vitally needed supplies, and to work this winter in the various Balkan cOun- tries In order to coordinate their ac- tivities, Balkan commission has been established, with headquarters at 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, medical supplies. and food for sick children and invalds. An American Red Cross Commission has also been appointed to aid in relieving the suffering of Rus sian prisoners still confined in German prison campA
 An important commission is Still working in Palestine. Through the 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- terior of Turkish dominions
 Red Cross VIII Continue.
 Red Cross effort is thus far flung. It will continue to be so. But the movement represented by this work aas likewise assumed an intimate place In the daily life of our people at home. The army of workers which has bcen recruited and trained during the war must not be demobilized. 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 1t is yet impossible to forecast We know that so long as there is an Amer ican army in the field the Red Cross will have a special function to perform
 Nothing could be of greater impOr- tance to the American Red Cross than the plans just set in motion by the Ave great Red Cross societies of the world to develop a program of extended ac tivities in the interest of humanity The conception involves not alone ef- IOTls tO ltiIeNC Out to prevent IL; not alone movement by the people of an individual nation, but an attempt to arouse all people to sense of their responsibility for the welfare of their fellow beings through out the world. II is program both ideal and practical. Ideal In that its supreme aim is nothing less than yer itable Peace on earth good will to men," and practical in that it seeks to take means and measures which are actually available and 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 will require the ablest possible leadership, and must enjoy the continued support, sym pathy, and participation in its work of the whole American people. It is particularly fortunate that such man as Dr. Livingston Farrand should have