Gilpin observer., 1919-03-06


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
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-
xatiOn.
1.-The American Red Cross work in
France was Initiated by commission
Of eighteen men who landed on French
shores June 13, 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 6l0OO
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 Gross, 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.
1.-THE occasion for such concentra-
tion 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 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.
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 ac
tivities, 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 Po-
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 been
given to the Armenian and Syrian Re-
lief Commission, which was the only
agency able to carry relief in the in
terror of Turkish dominions.
Red Cross Will Continue.
"Red Cross effort is thus far flung.
It will continue to be so. But the
movement represented by this work
has likewise assumed an Intimate place
in the daily life Of our people at home.
The army of workers which has been
recruited and trained during the war
must not be demobilized. All our ex-
perience in the war shows clearly that
there is an unlimited field for service
of the kind which can be performed
with peculiar effectiveness by the Red
Cross What its future tasks may be
1t is yet impossible to forecast. We
know that so long as there is an Amer
lean army in the field the Red Cross
will have special function to perform.
Nothing could be Of greater impor-
| tance to the American Red Cross than
| the plans Just set In motion by the Ave
great Red Cross societies Of the world
to develop a program Of extended ac-
tivities in the interest Of humanity.
The conception involves not alone ef-
forts to relieve human suffering, but
to prevent 1t; not alone a movement
by the people Of an individual nation.
but an attempt to arouse all people to
q sense Of their responsibility for the
welfare Of their fellow beings through
out the world. 1t Is a program both
ideal and practical Ideal In that its
supreme aim is nothing less than YER
table "Peace on earth good will to
men," and practical In that 1t seeks to
take means and measures which are
actually available and make them ef-
fective in meeting without delay the
crisis which is daily recurrent In the
lives of all peoples.
"FOr accomplishing its mission In
the years Of peace which must lie
ahead of us the Red Cross will require
the ablest possible leadership, and
must enjoy the continued support. SYM