Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-03-06


the French themselves naturally pre-
fer as far as possible to provide for
their OWL. II has accordingly been de-
termined that the guiding principle Of
Red Cross policy in France henceforth
shall bs 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
10 a designated French relief organi-
cation
THE American Red Cross work in
France was initiated by a commission
Of eighteen men who landed on French
shores June 10, 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
from the fact that the services of 5000
persons are still required
Our American Expeditionary Force
having largely evacuated England, the
activities of the Red Cross Commits
sion there are naturally upon a dimin-
ishing 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
gium and even in France having natur-
ally and normally diminished, it 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.
AN extensive group of American
workers has been dispatched to carry
vitality needed supplies, and 10 work
this winter in the various Balkan coun-
tries In order to coordinate their ac-
tiYitieS, 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
"An 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
| 1t 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 beer
recruited and trained during. the wal
must not be demohlized. All our ex
perience in the war shows clearly thai
there is an unlimited field for service
/ of the kind which can be performo'
with pecu' af effectiveness by The {
! Cross. What its future tasks may b,
it is yet impossible to forecast. W.
know that so long as there is an Amer
lean army in the field the Red Gross
will have a special function to perform
"Nothng could be of greater impor
lance to the American Red Cross thai
the plans just set in motion by the tiy
great Red Cross societies of the worl'
to develop IA program of extended ac
The conception involves not alone Ell
forts to relieve human suffering, bu
to prevent it; not alone a movemen
by the people of an individual nation
but an attempt to arouse all people
a sense Of their responsibility for th
welfare OF their fellow beings through
out the world 1t is program bot
ideal and practical. Ideal in that il
supreme aim is nothing less than vei
table Peace on earth good will
men, and practical in that it seeks
take means and measures which al
actually available and make them e
fective in meeting without delay ii
crisis which is daily recurrent in III
lives of all peoples.
For accomplishing its mission
the years of peace which must i
ahead of us the Red Cross will requil
, the ablest possible leadership. an
must enjoy the continued support, syn
) pafhy, and participation in its woi
of the whole American people. 1t
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