The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-03-04
RED CROSS GIFTS
$400,000,000
War Council on Retirement An
nounces Cash and Supplies
Contributed.
WORKERS WILL "CARRY on"
Five Biz Societies In World Wide Plan.
H. p. Dawson Heads International
American Red Cross Commission.
Dr.. Livingston Farrand Permanent
Leader of Peace Organization.


Leader of Peace Organization.
Washington.-(Special.) l.)-Henry p.
Dawson as chairman issues the follow
ing statement on behalf Of the War
Council Of the American Red 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 armistice 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 1t was con-
cluded 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 ex-
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 a
complete audit Of its 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
q brief resume q Red Gross 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.
"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 mobilized
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 100000 Adult Members.
"When we entered the war the
American Red Cross had about 100000
members. Today, as the result of the
recent Christmas membership Roll
Call there are upwards of 100000
full paid members outside Of the men,
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 well, the latter par
ticularly during the trying perod
when the Allied World was waiting
for the American Army to arise in
force and power. Hospital emcs gcncy
service for our army in France has
greatly diminished, but the Red Cross
is still being called upon for service
upon a large scale in the grcai base
hospitals, where thousands Of Amcri-
can sick and wounded are still receiv-
ing attention. At these hospitals the