Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-16
10000 HELPED
BY RED CROSS
IN PAST YEAR
Victims of. 70 Disasters Re-
lieved-S9OO,OOO Elk
pended.
JUNIORS ALSO ACTIVE

WASHINGTON, oct Virtually
every phase of Red Cross service was
brought into play by the American Red
Cross during the last fiscal year in aid
ing $4,000 persons ia 1914 communities,
victims of seventy three disasters.
In the accomplishment Of this work
40 Red Cross chapters were called upon
to assist, the sum of 100000 in cash
and supplies was expended. Thirty tenn
porary hospitals were called into exist
ence, twenty odd motor corps were or
ganized seven special relief trains were
sent out and no special Representatives
h and nurses were furnished in addition
TO the aid given by the local Red Cross
workers in the, community visited by
disaster.
In these 70 disasters. including 10
tornadoes and cyclones, hurricanes. .
clou6bursts, hailstorm, ? earthquakes
l landslide, 10 fires, explosion, 8 foods
10 shipwrecks, / train wreck, 4 riots, I
motoA accident and droughts-S50 per-
sons were killed, 1900 were injured, 49,
900 approximately were rendered home
less, while property valued at Ss5,OoO,
coo was destroyed.
The largest and most destructive dis
aster Of the year was at Corpus Christi,
Texas, in September. 1919. Approx
mately 400 were killed and 1900 made
homeless. The Red Cross division di
rector with a STAFF OF thirty Eve assist
ants administered fund Of $500 900.
giving aid to $500 families and four
towns and rural districts end sufficient
| supplies to each family to enable it to
! stand on It's feet.
PREPAREDNESS NEEDEn
FOR DISASTER RELIEF
The record Of last year empha sizes
the need of abundant preparedness along
the line of disaster relief and has re
suited in the organization OF disaster
| preparedness committees by about 400
| chapters and the setting aside OF spe-
/ cial emergency fund by the national or
ganization OF 100000, in addition TO
the regular annual appropriation fer
/ this purpose made in its budget.
Another feature Of Red Cross work
which has been greatly extended the
! past year is the home service In the
| families Of civilians, patterned after
the home service which rendered assist
ance TO the $4,000 families Of soldiers
and sailors during the war
This service, which was inaugurnted
late last year. was extended to 600 fami-
lies during the year.
II Is furnished only where there is no
other established agency for perform
ing this especial class Of public service.
and is confined to chapters OF the Red
Cross which comply with certain restrie-
tions intended 10 maintain standards and
perpetuate the work. Approximately
1000 chapters have made application for
such authority and SIS have been given
the desired permission This plan 81
extension contemplates not only the con-
duct OF general family welfare work. but
& he tn out nd ~
mands for other forms OF community
service and securing the cooperation Of
specialized organizations TO al these
needs
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
WORK TAKEN OVER.
Feb. I, 1920. the foreign language In
formation service. which was organized
by the Government during the war. was
taken over by the American Red Cross
and became a bureau in the department
of civil relief.
The bureau has fifteen sections reach
ing eighteen foreign language groups,
and works In close cooperation with fifty
eight Government department bureaus,
$50 foreign language newspapers and o.
900 branches Of foreign language organi-
cations
During the school Year 1olo-1o the
Junior Red Cross was chiefly concerned
with the necessary relief work which was
the legacy of the war period. The school
children Of America were called upon 10
supply bedside rugs, curtains, bandagea,
splints. afghans, bedside tables and other
hospital equipment aud supplies for the
United States public health service hos
pitfalls where sick and wounded soldiers
were being restored to health and
strength.
Under the banner, Happy Children
the World Over" the Juniors OF America
carried good cheer to thousands Of chill
dren in war-strIcken Belgium. France
Italy and throughout central Europe.