American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-03-14

pie, now that hostilities have ceased,
the French themselves naturally pre-
fer as far as possible to provide for
their own. II has accordingly been de-
termined that the guiding principle Of
Red Gross policy In France henceforth
shall be to have punctiliOus regard to
Its 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-
Lation.
"The American Red Cross work in
France was initiated by a commission
OF eighteen men who landed on French
shores June 18, 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 5000
persons are still required.
"Our American Expeditionary Force
having largely evacuated England, the
activities OF the Red Cross Commits
sion there are naturally upon a dlmin-
ishlng 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 pop
ul8tiOn OF that country. In the critical
hours OF Italy's struggle the American
people, through their Red Cross, sent
q 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 ever in France having hatur-
ally and normally diminished, II has
been possible to divert supplies and
personnel In large easu to the aid
of those people in the Near East who
have hitherto been inaccessible to out
side assistance, but whose sufrerlngs
have been upon an appalling scale.
The needs OF these peoples are so vast
that government alone can meet them,
but the American Red Gross 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.
~tiyities, n 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, medlca.
supplies, and food for sick children
and lnvalids. An American Red Gross
Commission has also been appointed
TO aid In relieving the suffering Of Rus
sian prisoners sim confined in German
prison camps.
IAN important commission Ia still
working In Palestine. Through th'
war special cooperation has beer
4 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.
Rcd Cross VIII Continue.
Red Cross effort IL hui far iung
II will continue to be sc. But tn,
movement represented by this worl
has likewise assumed an intimate plsc,
In the daily life OF our people at home
The army OF workers which has beer
recruited and trained during the wal
must not be d%emoblllEed, All our ex
p%erlence In the war shows clearly tina
there is an unlimited field for servlc,
OF the kind which can be performed
with peculiar effectiveness by the Rec
Cross. what Its future tasks may b,
Il is yet impossible to forecast, w,
know that So long as there is an Amer
lean urmy IN the field the Red Cross
win have n special function to perform
Nothing could be of greater Impor
lance to the American Red Cross thar
the plan. Just set IN motion 10y the hy,
great Red Cross societies OF the worl,
to develop n program OF extended nc
~tlvltlcS IN the interest OF humanity
The conception Involves not alone ei
forts to relieve human suffering, bu
TO prevent It; not alone Il movement
by the people OF an individual natloT
but an attempt TO arouse all people I
n sense OF their responsibility for tn
welfare Of their fellow beings through
out the world, II Is a program bot
Ideal and practical, Ideal in that II
supreme aim Is nothing less than vel
table peace on earth good viii I
men" and practical In that it seeks I
take can and measures which ar
actually available and make them e.
tectIve In meeting without delay IN
, crisis which is daily recurrent In IN
lives OF all peoples.
) "For accomplishing lts mission 1
8 the years OF peace which must II
ahead of us the Red Cross will requlI
Q the ablest possible leadership, an
|. must enjoy the continued support, ayr
8 patty, and participation In Its woI
y of the whole American people. II
e particularly fortunate that such a ms
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