The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-03-08

actually increased since the armfstice.
las for work among the French peo-
pie, now that hostilities have ceased,
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 s
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-
cation.
1.-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 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,OOO
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-
ishing scale period Active operations
are still in progress In Archangel and
Siberia.
'sThe work in Italy has been almost
entirely on behalf of the civilian pop
ulation of that country. In the critical
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 ac-
tiyities, 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 invalids. An American Red Cross
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 The
war special cooperation has beer
given to the Armenian and Syrian Re
lief Commission, which was the onl!
J agency able to carry relief in the in
terror OF Turkish dominions.
Red Cross viii Continue.
"Red Cross effort is thus far flung
1t will continue to be so. But tn
movement represented by this worl
has likewise assumed an intimate plac'
in the daily life of our people at home
The army of workers which has BEEF
recruited and trained during the wa
E must not be demobiliZed. All our ex
. perience In the war shows clearly tina
9 there is an unlimited field for servic
Of the kind which can be performe
with peculiar effectiveness by the Re
: Cross. What its future tasks may b
0 1t is yet impossible to forecast. W
n know that so long as there is an Amer
|. will have a special function to perform
e Nothing could be of greater inlpol
: lance TO the American Red Cross tina
the plans just set in motion by the fiv
great Red Cross societies of the worl
Q to develop program of extended a.
y tiyities in the interest of humanit.
o The conception involves not alone e
i forts to relieve human suffering, b,
o to prevent 1t; not alone a movemer
!. by the people of an individual natiol
: but an attempt to arouse all people
n a sense of their responsibility for til
welfare of their fellow beings through
& out the world. 1t is program bot
r ideal and practical Ideal In that Il
r supreme aim is nothing less than We
a table "Peace on earth good will
men," and practical in that it seeks
). take means and measures which al
/. actually available and make them c
N fective in meeting without delay Il
: crisis which Is daily recurrent in Il
"a lives of all peoples. f5s0
: For accomplishing Its mission
tho vaorc ne poaaa which y,uSt