The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-11-03

somerset OndpleT Vi Tic AhiCife"
Red Cross will have its annual roll
call from November / to November
"a in accordance with the custom pre-
Vailing elsewhere. This annual roll
call involves the support of its pres
ent six million dollar medical relief
campaign among destitute European
children and its permanent program
nj home. The relief operations dur
ing the past fiscal year were con-
cerned almost entirely in establishing
n chain of chiId-healtli units that are
rescuring thousands OF undernourish-
cd and diseased stricken children
from the misery war has visited upon
them. and in aiding otherwise helm
less hordes of refugees. The Ameri-
can Red Cross is an organization of
which our country is Justly proud. 1t
is dedicated TO noble purpose, the
alienation of suffering mankind. and
the story of it's achievements speaks
for itself In order that thi organic
alton may continue faithful service
and hiring assistance to suffering hui
manitv in the various crises which
arise from time to time it needs con
slant announcement and support from
the people of Somerset county as we'll
as elsewhere.
The following article from Comman-
der Marston of Simon Peters Post
lives some idea of how the ex-service
men feel toward the work of the Rel
Cross,
Dear Mr. Chairman
On the eve of this coming Red Cross
Roll Call desire as Post Command
or Of Simon Peters Post. American
Legion to tell YOU and through you
the pcople of Skowhegan and SOmer-
set County how the ex-service men
feel regarding the work of the Red
Cross.
Our government passed excellent
and gcnerons laws providing for the
relief Of diaahlcd soldier and sailors
of the World War hut the machinery
created to handle this relief was who'll
~ inadequate to properly do what
I Congress expected would he done un-
dor the law. | believe that the people
of America now realize that there
1 has been great Injustice in the cxecu-
ton of these laws which has resulted
in untold suffering ON the part OF thor
onghly deserving. disabled service
men. Delays due to the red tape OF
I inefficient and unsympsthetic govern
ment officials have been the chief
kcause of suffering. In many instances
even after the official award had been
/ mahe. weeks and sometimes months
would e'arse before authority for hos
nitalization or compensation would
come from Washington. One man in
| Skcwhegan who was rendered totally
and permanently disabled by his SER
/ vice overseas was ten months securing
compensation. He renuired a very seri-
Gus surgical operation to enable him
| to i've when he came under the OBJ
servation of the Somerset Chapter Of
! the Rel Cross, He was five times or
dered to various government examin-
ers and each one pronounced him to-
tally disabled and recurring an imme-
diate operation by comnetent surgeons
There was no flaw in the papers that
I had heen fled with the War Risk Blu
reau by the soldier. and no rea-
son was given for the delay. Somer-
set Chapter finally took the matter IN
directly with Congressman Peters and
inside of AZ hours an order came from
Washington to have the operation per-
formed at the nearest hospital where
competent surgeons were available.
During these ten months this sol
der was not only unable to earn his
! livelihood, but he required constant