Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-03-21

actually increased since the armistice
AS for work among the French peO-
pie, now that hostllities 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 Cross policy in France hencefOrth
shall be to have punctillous 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 a designated French relief organi-
zation.
THE American Red Cross work In
France was initiated by q commission
Of eighteen men who landed on French
shores June ID, 1917. Since then
some 1900 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 Expeditlonary Force
having largely evacuated England, the
activities Of the Red Cross Commits
sion there are naturally upon a dlmin-
lshing scale period. Active operations
are still in progress in Archangel and
Siberia.
THE 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, 1t 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 sufferngs
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.
IAN 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.
Hvities, a Balkan commission has been
established, with headquarters nj
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.
"An 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 only
agency able to carry relief in the In
terror of Turkish domlnlons.
Red Cross VIII Continue.
Red Cross effort is thus far flung
1t will continue to be So But tbs
movement represented by this wOrl
has likewise assumed an intimate place
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 demobilized All our ex
perlence In the war shows clearly tina
there is an unlimited field for servic,
OF the kind which can be performed
with peculiar effectiveness by the Rec
Cross. What Its future tasks may BE-
1t Is yet impossible to forecast. W.
know that so long as there Is an Amer
lean army In the field the Red Gross
VIII have special function to perform
Nothing could be OF greater impor
lance TO the American Red Cross thai
the plans Just set IN motion by the fv'
great hed Cross societies OF the worlt
10 develop program OF extended ac
Invites IN the interest OF humanity
Inc conception involves not alone ef
iorts 10 relleVe human surering, blu
10 prevent III not alone movement
Dy the people OF an Individual nation
Dut an attempt 10 arouse all people t
sense OF thelr responsibility for tn
weliare OF thelr 1eilow beings through
out the world. IL Is program bot
loeal ana practleal. Ideal In that IL
supreme aim Is nothing less than yer
liable "Peace on earth good viii Il
men, ana practical In that 1t seeks T.
take means ana measures which ar
actually aVailaole ana make them eff
receive IN meeung without delay tn
crisis whlch Is oaliy recurrent In tn
lives OF all peoples
For accomplishing Its mission II
the years or peace which must III