Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-31
Red Cross ActtUttfes.

~HE activities of the American Red Cross
are by no means confined to the pre-
vention of disease and the relief of
suffering, though these are popularity believed
to be it's sole functions. 1t is of course i'm
possible to estimate the results of its achieve
ments along these lines, and it is probably
due to the public's appreciation Of this char
acter of it's work that relatively little Is known
of systematic campaign against illiteracy.
There is no public problem of more imme-
diate concern to the South than the presence
of illiteracy, and the activity of the Red Cross
in combating it's existence should commend
itself especially to Southern people no less en-
phatically than its work in the field of pub
lie health The Red Cross is taking distinc-
tive part in the fight against illiteracy-a
part, we are happy to remark, no other or
ganization is so well equipped to handle.
The Red Cross is exercising it's best eff
forts to deal with illiteracy among soldiers
discharged from the service, and, as re-
marked, it's organization is such that it is
performing a distinctive work that is sus-
tanning it's admirable record of accom-
plishments on the battlefields and in the hos
pitfalls of Europe and in America.
The public generally is familiar with the
efforts of the Government, through the Fed
eral Bureau for Vocational Training, to pro-
vide discharged soldiers with means to edu-
cate themselves for the trade or profession
of their choice. It is the desire of the Gov
eminent to enable the discharged soldiers
to better their positions in the world, or
to overcome the handicap of crippled arms,
wooden legs, blindness or other injuries re-
ceived in battle which have impaired their
efficiency or wholly untitled them to earn
a living.
But" perfinently remarks a Red Cross
bulletin, providing the means of training
crippled and manned soldiers was only half
the battle. The other half was providing stu
dents. Many men were not aware Of the ex-
istence of such an opportunity, or had heard
of it only casually. Others wished to take
the training but did not know how to go
about it. Still more were in frame Of mind
to pass it up either through ignorance of it's
real value, mere Indifference, or lack OF am
bition.'
The Red Cross undertook to furnish the stu
dents for the training. The friend Of the
soldier on the field battle and in the hospital,
the Red Cross has remained his friend in
peace, and through its organization has en-
couraged thousands of discharged soldiers to
avail themselves of the opportunities proVld-
ed by the Government.
The Federal Board for Vocational train
ing is authority for the statement that sew
enty-five per cent of the applicants it has
received within the past month were sent
by the Red Cross, which acted as the inter-
mediary between the Board and the men.
Except for the work Of the Red Gross In
this field, thousands of men would have fall
en- back into the old rut and others, crippled
and despairing, would have lost hope and
happiness. The discharged soldiers and the
public alike are under everlasting obligations
to the Red Cross for its activities along this
line.