The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-03-08
additional.

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 y. s. Army recent.
ly said: The Red Cross has been an
enterprise as vast as the war itself.
From the beginning 1t 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 period
when the Allied World was waiting
for the American Army to arise In
force and power. Hospital emergency
service for our army In France has
greatly diminished, but the Red Gross
Is still being called upon for service
upon large scale In the great base
hospitals, where thousands of Ameri.
can sick and wounded are still receiv-
ing attention. At these hospitals the
Red Cross supplies huts and facilities
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 hostllities. The Army Canteen
service along the lines Of travel has
actually increased since the armistice.
"As for work among the French peo-
pie, now that hostilities have ceased,
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 punctllious 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-
zatlOn.
1.-THE American Red Cross work III
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
ent scale Of the work will be obtained
from the fact that the services Of 5000
persons are still required.
"Our American Expeditlonary 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 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.
1.-THE occasion for such concentra-
ton 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 80 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-
tieities, 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 Pc
land with doctors and nurses, medical
supplies, and food for sick children
and invalids. An American Red Cross
Commission has also been appointed
tn aid In relieving the suffering of Rus