The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1920-11-12

The Fourth Roll Call Is not q eem-
paign.
II Is 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,
10 much at any time since tt en-
tered the great war, In the midst OF
tremendous cmcerns.
The world Is so full Of uncertainty
that which Is called modern civiliza-
lion Is so utterly npset-that no sooner
is one duty ended than another looms
as large.
The present program & the Amer
lean Red Crosn is vastly important and
fundamentally essential.
Its primary obligation was to the
service men VI the Army and Navy
OF that obligation these things still
remain:
First, To st,y with the Army 81 Oc-
cupation, comprising about 170O0 Of
acers and mel, and serve as their Red
Cross
Second, To continue In the hospitals
Of the Army, the Navy and the Public
Health Servics where there are more
than 10000 man. many Of whom will be
retained there for months and some OF
them for yeartL and carry on their rec
snak{one1 and aocia1 WORK
Third, To Keep in touch as an ad-
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
nestle problems. In many cases It
only intensif1as them This is partic-
ularly true IN the case Of more than
125, 900 families whose men ere in the
number Of tho dead. where there is q
wealth of service that the Red Cross
can still render.
Fifth, While the Government ftsalf
Is carrying OH vocational training for
MANNED and crippled men, 4 has turn
ed over to thD Red Cross the care Of
those who hsye bean blinded in the
crash Of war. No more sacred serv'
Ice can be imagined than this.
Work In Europe:
SO far ss the world at large to CON.
cerned the American Red Cross must
sttll stand by to the limit OF its pos
ability 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 feat firmly set upon paths
of reconstruction.
The Eastern Belt Of Horror still re-
mains-not only menace to civiliza-
ton, but challenge to the Red Cross.
The enormIty Of It's yant is stag
gering.
The entire fabric Of civilization is
tottering into ruin.
Pestilence 0nd famine are stalking
In the midst of calamity.
The Red CROSS cannot carry the bur-
den that only Western Civilization
land, the Baltic States, Czechoslovakia
and the Balkans. II cannot clothe and
shelter hundreds Of millions Of people,
we're It go inclined.
No voluntary organization can any
longer face task Of such dimansions
But to the best Of its ability the
American Red Cross can do what It
did during the months before Amer
ica's armies came to take their part
In the great donfict.
It can, by Its very presence. give
promise Of assistance.
II can carry ON at least a hopeful
fight against pestilencs and epidemic.
It can minister to the extreme Of
It can try to protect and care for the
children who are the one hope for the
future
More than this. IN the present condi-
zion OF its funds and its personnel It
dare not undertake.
Far more than this 1t is willing to
undertake, II the American people
choose again 10 make it the repository
Of their confidence and to contribute
for the relief Of suffering millions Of
fellow men.
What the American Red Cross does
for Europe depends upon what the
American people ask It to do.
II knows how. The experience Of
the past Is Invaluable. The American
Red Cross is ready. It Is up to the
American people TO decide.