Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-29
LEGION STARTS
MOVE TO TAKE
IN A.R.C.MEN
Convention to Consider Mem
berships of Red Cross
Overseas Workers.

Probably one of the most important
issues to come before the national
convention of the American Legion at
New Orleans in October is the ques-
ton of admitting those members of
the American Red Cross who served
with the land forces of the American
expeditionery forces in the world war
to membership in the Legion, according
to word received Monday in the office
of 10y J. Molumby, state commander.
One point which is brought out in
support of the movement is the fact
that the Great War veterans, the Brit
ish organization of ex-service men, has
admitted to membership those members
Of the Red Cross who served with the
British army 'in the theater of actual
war;"
Part Of Sanitary Servioe.
from the president said that, "the or
ganized Red Cross units serving with
the land forces will constitute a part
of the sanitary service of the land
forces" and In a general order Of the
war department issued in the early
days of the war, it was said of a home
service representative with the land
forces, that this representative of the
Red Cross Ia lieutenant) viii have
the status of an officer in the army"
and his American Red Cross assistants,
will have the status Of noncommis-
stoned officers"
American Red Cross officers and
representatives who served abroad
have discharge papers which are
signed, with facsimile signature, by
the president of the United States.
The A. X. G. worker signed regular
enlistment rolls, after regular medical
examinations were had, at the begin
ming of the war, the same as the sol
der. He also enlisted for periods OF
six months, one year or for the period
of the war and only military grounds
were considered in ~lengthening or
shortening this enlistment period.
An A. r. C. officers commission
from the president of the United
States, signed by the secretary of war,
gives him a rank of an officer "in the
army of the United States" Then, ac-
cording to officials in Commander Mol
umby's officer, IF the American Red
Cross officers had a status and were
in and were a part then they have a
strong case. If the A. r. c. unit was
"a part of the army, and IL the person
mel of the A. r. c. make up that unit.
then there is every reason to accord
the entire personnel of the A. r. c.,
serving with the land forces, such
a degree Of militarization as will sup
port a connection with the Legion"
The portion of the American Red
Cross which served overseas during
the wal was especially signalized as an
adopted military organization, and by
the process of assimilation becomes a
part of the land forces and a portion
Of the army, according to a special
regulation of the war department,
which says that, "the use of military
titles, rank and uniform is authorized
only for the American National Red
Cross representatives actually in for
eign countries constituting the theater
of actual war"
Wore U. S. Uniforms.
Another general order of the war
department cites an act of congress
of 1915 as authority in directing that
A. r. c. officers wear 'the uniform of
the United States army" and this same
order accepts and militarizes base
hospitals of the A. r. G.
The petition brief which will be
presented to the annual convention was
signed by So members of the American
Legion in several states and asks that
former officers and other represen-
tatives of the American Red Cross IN
the American expeditionary forces
may be accorded membership in the
American Legion