Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-11-11

The Fourth Roll Call is not cam
paign
1t ia merely the yearly opportunity
for American men and women to pay
their annual dues and renew their
membership In their Red Cross.
This Roll Call finds the Red Cross,
as much at any time since 1t en-
tered the great war. in the midst OF
tremendous concerns.
The world ia SO full of uncertainty
that which is called modern ciyiliza
ton is so utterly upset-that no sooner
is one duty ended than another looms
as large.
The present program of the Amer
lean Red Cross is vastly important aao
fundamentally essential.
Its primary obligation was to the
service men of the Army and Navy
OF that obligation these things still
remain:
First, To stay with the Army of DC,
cupation, comprising about 1000 Of
ficers and men, and serve as their Rec
Cross,
- Second, To continue in the hospitals
OF the Army, the Navy and the Public
Health Service where there are more
than 26, 900 men, many of whom will be
retained there for months and some o1
them for years, and carry on their rec
rational and social work
Third, To keep in touch as an ads
visory organization with the dis
charged men of the Army and Navy,
and be ready-not in the way OF
financial aid, but what is worth far
more-to contribute kind advice and
friendly assistance.
Fourth, To continue the work that
has been going on in connection with
(. the families of soldiers and sailors,
and as growing out of this similar
work for the community at large.
The fact that the men have returned
does not by any means eliminate do
mestic problems. In many cases IL
only intensifies them. This is partlc'
nlarly true in the case of more than
1850 families whose men are in the
number of the dead, where there is
wealth of service that the Red Cross
can still render.
Fifth, While the Government itself
Ia carrying on vocational training for
manned and crippled men, 1t has turn
ed over to the Red Cross the care OF
those who have been blinded in the
crash of war. No more sacred serv'
Ice can be imagined than this.
Work in Europe:
So far as the world, at large Is con
eerned the American Red Cross must
still stand by to the limit OF Its pos
nbility and the measure of Its ability
On the Western Front its work Is now
over. Belgium. France and Italy are
slowly but surely making progress
With their feet firmly set upon paths
Of reconstruction.
The Eastern Belt OF Horror still re
mains-not only menace to civiliza
ton, but a challenge to the Red Cross
The enormity of its want is stag
gering.
The entire fabric OF civilization II
lettering into ruin.
Pestilence and famine are stalking
in the midst of calamity.
The Red Cross cannot carry the bur
den that only Western Civilization
united can bear 1t cannot feed Pc
land. the Baltic States, Czechoslovakis
and the Balkans. 1t cannot clothe ant
shelter hundreds of millions of people
were it so inclined.
No voluntary organization can an.
longer face task of such dimensions
But to the best of its ability tn,
American Red Cross can do what
did during the months before Amer
sca's armies came to take their par
In the great conflict.
It can, by it's very presence, Civ
nromise of assistance.
It can carry on at least a hopeful
fight against pestilence and epidemic
II can minister to the extreme @
n emergency.
!, It can try to protect and care for tn
children who are the one hope for tn
future.
More than this, in the present cond
ton Of its funds and its personnel.
dare nee undertake.
Far more than this it is willing t
undertake, If the American peopl
choose again to make it the repositor
of their confidence and to contribut
Tor the relief of suffering millions {
fellow men-
What the Americas Red Cross doe
for Europe depends upon what tn
American people ask It to do.
It, knows how. The experience (
the past is invaluable. The America
Red Cross is ready It is up to tn
american people to decide.