The Era-leader., 1919-08-28

and sailors.
Will che dawn OF peace prove to be
the twilight of the magnificent work
OF the American Red Cross?
That was the question asked at first
by social workers and later taken up
by the great mass Of people as they
realized the possibility OF the passing
of this great uplifting and helpful In
fluence to hundreds OF thousands not
only in the trenches Of Europe, but IN
myriads of American homes.
But the question has been answered
The American Red Cross, true to its
unwavering spirit of tenacity in the
doing OF good, will go on in marvel
Gus peace program encouraged by its
wartime success and has developed q
policy that cannot fail to rebound to
q greater, more happy, more con,
tented and consequently 9 more pros,
porous America.
People Rally.
1t the time the United States en-.
tered the war, there we're not more
than three properly constituted chap
ters of the Red Cross in the three
states, Louisiana, Mississippi and Al.
ALBANIA constituting the Gulf Division,
and there were not more than 5000
members affiliated With the society
Today there are 43S,413 adult mem.
bers, procured from population 81
per cent rural, using towns Of over g.,
900 inhabitants as q basis OF urban
population.
Every major-sized camp in the di.
vision has been equipped with an op'
ertting personnel, including field d.
rectors and assistants
Convalescent houses have been built
at the four big cantonments first
named. Nurses recreation houses
installed at Camps Mcclellan Beaure-
gard and Shelby.
Only men who have travelled troop
trains can appreciate the blessings of
the canteen service. The Motor Corps
essential adjunct to an enlarged can.
teen service. has been built up.
Civilian Relief.
The Department of Civilian Relief
was sven the important duty of car.
ing for soldiers and sailors families
through its Home Service Section
DurinG 1918 reports Of assistance to
4S,463 C these families In the division
were received from the various chap.
tsrs.
Women Respond.
Some 1000 disabled returned sol.
diers have been ordered cared for by
the after-care section. Extensive relief
work was done by the Disaster Relief
section following the Lake Charles
hurricane last August. Assistance also
was rendered to influenza stricken sec
tions during the past winter In New
Orleans an emergency hospital of SOC
beds was equipped.
The magnitude OF the work done by
American women working through the
Red Cross during the war can be ap
preciated by an inspection Of the fig
ures of these activities furnished fol
the Gulf Division during 1918. With
out including the large amount O.
work turned out by the members o.
the New Orleans chapter, the follow
Ing were manufactured in the first si]
months OF 1918. 1,696,052 surgica
dressings, 232,273 hospital garments
14e,769 knitted articles and 4,752 ref
ugee garments. Production OF like ar
ticles by the division in the last si1
months Of 1918 was valued at $512,62e
Juniors Organize.
In September, 1917, the Junior Ret
Cross was organized in response to .
demand from the school children tina
they be given opportunity to help. TIT
schools were organized as Junior Rel
Cross auxiliaries, and large quantities
of supplies were turned on: by the ju
ni0r members.
Extension Plans.
The broadcast phase concerns the OK
tension of the Department OF Civilian
Relief During the war the Red Crosi
Of this department, except in epidemic
and disaster relief, had to do with thu
soliiers and sailors and their families
AID NOW the Red Cross intends
10 extend this service Of devotion
sympathy and relief 10 all families IN
der eertin limitations. The work vii
Ss directly carried forward by thu
Hone SeTYiee sections.
Tbe extensive peace program gives
promise of wtdssfaag Interest In %
eisj WelgaFs wegx
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