The Benson signal., 1919-03-15
War Council on Retirement An.
nounCes Cash and Supplies
Contributed.
WORKERS WILL "CARRY ON"
Five Big Societies In World Wide Plan.
n. p. Dawson Heads international
American Red Cross Commission
Or. Livingston Farrand Permanent
Leader Of Peace Organization.

council or the american Re0<CrOSS:
''To the American People:
"The War Council of the American
Red Cross appointed by President Will
son on May 10, 1917, to carry on the
work of the American Red Cross dur
ing the war, at their request and by
vote Of the Central Committee, ceased
at midnight, February %.
Immediately the arnistice was
signed the War Council instituted
studies to determine when the strict
ly war work of the organization would
have been sufficiently matured to en-
able the direction Of affairs to be re-
sumed by the permanent staff Henry
p. Dawson, being in Paris when the
armistice was signed, summoned a
conference there of the heads Of all
the Red Cross Commissions in Europe
to canvass the situation. After con-
sidering all the factors it was con-
Guided to make the transition on
March 1. The very fortunate choice
of DR.. Livingston Farrand as the new
chairman of the Central Committee,
and thereby the permanent chief cx-
ecutive of the Red Cross, makes possi-
BILE the consummation of this plan un-
der the most favorable conditions.
Accounts Audited by War Department
Detailed reports to Congress and
complete audit Of is accounts by the
War Department will constitute the
final record Of Red Cross activity dur
ing the war; Although it has been
the rule to make public all expendi-
lures when authorized and to give de-
tailed information relative to all work
undertaken the War Council in turn
ing over its responsibilities to DR.. Far
rand and his associates desire to give
brief resume Of Red Cross war time
activities to the American people, TO
whom the Red Cross belong, and whose
generous contributions have made pos
sible all that has been accomplished
During the past nearly tWenty-one
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 modified
to take care Of our own, to relieve the
misery incident to the war, 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 100000 American women have
exerted themselves In Red Cross serv-
ice.
Has Over 1900, 900 Adult Members.
"When we entered the war the
American Red Cross had about 500 900
members. Today, as the result of the
recent Christmas membership Roll
Call, there are upwards of 100000
full paid members outside of the mem
bers Of the Junior Red Cross, number
ing perhaps 100000 school children
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 be called on to assist. AS
to this phase of the work Surgeon Gen
eral Ireland of the U. S. Army recent
ly said: The Red Cross has been an
enterprise as vast as the war itself.
From the beginning it has done those
things which the Army Medical Corps
wanted done, but could not do itself
'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
French people as we'll, the latter par
ticularly 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 he's
greatly diminished, but 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 amusement and recreation of
the men as they become convalescent
Our Army of Occupation in Germany
gas 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 hostilities. The Army Canteen
service along the lines of travel has