The Ordway new era., 1919-03-14


months the American people have
given In cash and supplies TO the
American Red Cross more than $780,
100000 No value can be placed upon
the contributions of service which
have been given without stint and Of
tentimes at great sacrifice by millions
Of our people.
1.-THE effort Of the American Red
Cross In this war has constituted by
far the largest voluntary gifts Of
money. OF hand and heart, ever con-
tributed purely for the relief of hu-
man suffering. Through the Red Cross
the heart and spirit of the whole
American people have been mobiIized
TO take care of our own, to relieve the
misery Incident TO the wnr, and also
to reveal to the world the supreme
Ideals of our national life
Everyone who has had any part In
this war effort of the Red Cross is en-
Titled to congratulate himself. No
thanks from anyone could be equal In
value to the self satisfaction every
one should feel for the part taken
Fully S,O00,0OO American women have
exerted themselves In Red Cross serv-
ice
Has Over 1000, 600 Adult Members.
"When we entered the war the
American Red Cross had about 500 600
members. Today. as the result Of the
recent Christmas membership Roll
Call, there are upwards of 17OOOOOO
full pnid members outside of the mem.
bers OF the Junior Red Cross, number
n mr.
additional.
"The chief effort OF the Red Cross
during the war has been to care for
our men In service and TO aid our
army and navy wherever the Red
Cross may he called on to assist As
TO this phase OF the work Surgeon Gen.
eral ireland Of the U. s Army recent
Iy said: The Red Cross has been an
enterprise as vast as the war itself.
From the beginning II hns done those
things which the Army Medical Corps
wanted done hut could not do itself
1.-The Red Cross endeavor in France
has naturally been upon an exception
ally large scale where service has
been rendered TO the American Army
and to the French Army and the
tirularly during the trying period
when the Allied World was waiting
for the American Army TO arise In
force and power Hospital emergency
service for our army in France has
greatly diminished. hut the Red Cross
is still being called upon for service
upon large scale In the great base
HOSPITALS where thousands of Ameri-
can sick and wounded are still receiv-
ing attention AT these hospitals the
Red Cross supplies huts and facilities
for the amuse menf and recreation of
the men as they become convalescent.
Our Army of Occupation in Germany
was followed with Medical units pre-
pared TO render the same emergency
aid and supply service which was the
primary business OF the Red Cross
during hosfilifies The Army Canrpen
).rvice along the lines Of travel has
actually increased since the armistice.
''As 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-
terInined that the guiding principle of
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 a designated French relief Organi-
Zation.
The American Red Cross work In
France was Initiated by commission
of eighteen men who landed on French
shores June l3, 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.
1.-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
. 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-
tion 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
nersnnnel In large men sIlrs, To the aid