The Washington herald., 1921-04-03
,REDCROSS ExPENDS
H,6OO,OOO FOR U. 5.
VET RELIEF IN 1920
Report Says Problem of
Care for Soldiers Is
Expanding.


the care of veterans OF the world
war as manifested in but one OF its
phases was shown in a statement
by the American Red Cross yester-
day. which disclosed that its work
alone In this field now involves an
annual expenditure of approximate
iy $500. 900. Nor is this the peak.
1t was stated. for all information
reaching national headquarters in
oicates that the calls for Red Cross
service to veterans are constantly
increasing and to meet this situation
for veterans is being put into effect.
OF the total annual rate of .ex-
penditure for this work, more than
81. 500. 900 is discussed from national
Red Cross funds while the remain
der is spent by the nationwide
chain Of chapters. through which to
a large extent Red Cross service Is
made available to former soldiers.
sailors and Marines and their fsmi-
lies. The bulk uf chapter expendi-
lures Is for home service and ffnan-
eial assistance 10 veterans.
100000 Claims Handled In 1870.
Hundreds Of soldier cases are
brought to the attention of the Red
Cross chapters, daily. In 1920. chap
ters handled more than 2on. n.9oO@serV-
Ice claims. While compensation
cases form a large part of this work
Of the Red Cross for the former
service men, they are by no means
the only cases handled.
Because of the increasing number
OF cases entitled to government as
sistance. 2.514 chapters of the Red
Cross out Of $3.50 scattered through
out the country are still maintain
ing service to tie disabled former
service man.
BY far the greater part of the
work done by the Red Cross for the
soldier Is accomplished in the chap
ter. Acting as his agent il aids him
in filing out his application for
compensation, medical treatment
and vocational training and points
out Just wherein he is entitled t.
assistance from the government. In
an average month, the American
Red Cross at, National Headquarters
handles $500 compensation and in
surance claims. 1900 allotment and
allowance cases and hundreds of
miscellaneous cases.
Loans Money, Too.
While the man waits for his gov
ernment claims to be paid. II he
needs financial aid the Red Cross
lends him money. During 1920
chapters expended s3.166.000 for the
relief of these men and their fam
lilies
In December, 1920. I9.s4S War
Risk patients were treated in the
sixty-one Public Health Service
hospitals and in 1906 contract hos
pitfalls 13.90l were treated In all
of the Public Health Service hos
pitaIs, which are today caring for
5000 patients and increasing at an
average of 1000 monthly. the Red
Cross is providing recreation for
the man. helping him with his COM
pensation claims, keeping him in
touch with his family. attending to
his needs outside of his medical
treatment. which is the obligation
Of the government, and serving him
in numerous other ways.
Hospital service Costs Million.
In all. including the expense OF
it's personnel and the heavy charge:
incident to maintaining its pro-
gram, this hospital service involve:
expenditures of Sl.0O0.O00 yearly
This expense is borne by national
funds
Exclusively for men who have
been accepted for training by the
Federal Board for Vocational Edu'
cation, the American Red Cross ha:
appropriated more than 1875. 1000 t.
be used as a loan fund until the
men begin to receive monthly
maintenance pay from the govern
ment- Approximately 30 per CEN
Of the money already lent tc
trainees while their cases were IN
what is known as the ''investiSa.
tion status" has been repaid. Thi,
experience led to the government
making available a $500, 900 loar
fund for use after June 80. 1921.
A special appropriation of $4,000
for medical assistance to men ir
training has also been made by tn,
Red Cross.
The work is still far from com
pletion," the announcement con
ciudes, "and until its charter obli
cations to these men are fulfilled
all of these Red Cross activities