The Lamar register., 1919-03-05


for the amusement 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 hostilIties. The Army Canteen
service along the lines OF travel has
actually Increased since the armfsr~e
As for work among the French peo-
pie, now that hostillties have ceased.
the French themselves naturally pre-
Ter as far rs possible TO provide for
their own. IL has accordingly been de-
termlned 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 organl-
zation.
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 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 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 a dimin-
ishing scale period. Active operations
are still in progress I'm Archangel and
Siberia.
The work In Italy has been almost
entirely on behalf OF the civilian pop
uiation OF that country. In the critical
hours OF ltaly'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-
tion Of effort in Italy, England. Bel
glum and even In France having natur-
ally and normally diminished. IL has
been possible 10 divert supplies and
personnel In large measure to the aid
Of those people In the Near East who
have hitherto been inaccessible 10 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
mn effort 10 relieve Immediately the
more acute distress.
An extensive group Of American
workers has been dispatched to carry
vitality needed supplies. aud TO work
this winter IN the various Ralkan coun-
frles. In order 10 coordinate their ac-
tivitieS, n Balkan commission has been
established, with headquarters nt
Rome, Italy. from which point alone
all the Balkan eenters can be reached
promptly
"A commission has lust reached Po-
land with doctors and nurses, medical
supplies. and food for sick children
snd inyallds. An American Red Cross
Commission hns also been appointed
W H'H IA Ol
sian prisoners it.'I 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
sgency able to carry relief In the in
ierior OF Turkish doninions.
Red Cross Will Continue.
"Red Cross effort is thus far flung.
VI will continue to be SO. But the
movement represented by this work
ms likewise assumed an intimate place
n the daily life OF our people at home
The army OF workers which las been
r'rruited and trained during the war
must not lie demobillzed. All our .x
'~rience in the war shows clearly that
here Is an unlimited field for service
4 the kind which can be performed
tsiili peculiar effectiveness 10y the HE'D
r"Ss. What its future tasks may Lp
u is YET impossible to forecast. We
know that 50 long as there is an Auer
an army In the field the Red Cros>
10 have special function to perform
Nothing could be of greater imulr
'iuce 10 the American Red Cross iltnt
lie plans just set in motion by the iiv,
freat Red Cross societies of the WORT,
- develop n program Of extended ne