Connecticut western news., 1922-10-26
RED CnOSS MEALS WOUG""cc OF WAR 25,O ,OOO Disabled Ex-ServiCe Men in Hospitals After Four
 Years of Peace. CHAPTERs' FIELD OF SERVICE Every Veteran Needing Help Gets Individual Attention of-Sym-
 pathetic Workers.
CHAPTERS FIELD OF SERVICE

When on November Il the world halts to observe the fourth annver- sary of Armistice Day, and the Ameri- can Red Cross inaugurates its Annual Roll Call for the enrolment of the 1923 membership, the people of the United States may well pause to think of the unparalleled contribution to the cause of peace made by our Army and Navy in the World War. The glory of 1t is common tradition; but the wounds of war remain. They are not healed In a day, in a year, nor in four years. And on fArmistice Day there will be under treatment In Government hospitals over 25,O00 ex-service men, broken physically by wounds, expo sure. nervous strain and exhaustion incident to their service in the war. The Government without stint is un- dertaking to furnish these disabled \ men with the compensation and med ical care to which they are entitled, yet their especial care is duty of the. Red Cross. Why? Because the Gov ernment cannot handle the cases of ex-service men individually; 1t must handle these men In bulk under a standardized policy. The Government has neither the authority, the funds or the equipment for working out the problem of the individual man. There is where the American Red Cross finds its greatest field for service, aid ing through its very active Chapters AL InI 4x,a mediate practical help, assisting his family while his claim Is emerging from the process of adjustment, furnishing articles of comfort, funds to tide over the difficult periods, the friendly touch of personal encouragement, helpful recreation and worry -dispelling amuse- ment. It Is the warm hand of sym pathy and understanding which the American Red Cross extends to the majority of these disabled ex-service men. some of them friendless in the whirl of life, thousands of them with wives and children dependent upon them, and hundreds of them frequent ly helpless in the face of grim ne- scessity. :.
 2,67e Chapters Aiding Veterans . Tn this work, upon whose accom- plishment the American Red Cross Is urging record-breaking enrolment in the Roll Gall which opens on Armis- tice Day and closes with Thanksgiv- ing Day, 2,679 Chapters in all parts of the country are engaged. This Is $50 more than were working for ex-service men last year when approximately S1O,OOO,O00 was expended by the Ma tional Organization and the Chapters working together in harmonious unity.
 For the current fiscal year National Headquarters appropriated $3,O30,- 6929O, an increase of $365, ,56O.84 over the amount spent for the work among ex-service men in the year ended June 30 last. Since 1t is estimated that the Chapters will expend close to $7,O0O,- 900 from their own funds. the grand total of Red Cross expenditures for this single work is expected again to reach the $1O,OOO,Oo0 mark by June 30, 1923.
 Hospital and District Office Work During the fiscal year a total of over 1000 persons, paid and volunteer, has been engaged in Red Cross duty in hospitals or district offices of the U. S. Veterans Bureau. An average of 5000 new cases requires definite and par {, ticular attention each month. The de mand for Chapter-made articles fol hospital patients is constant.
 During last year Service Claims anc Information Service at National Head quarters handled 37,200 compensation and insurance claims, 24,560 allotment and allowance cases, and 9,700 miscel laneous claims Since February, 1919 1t has disposed of 64,174 allotment checks payable to veterans which thu Post Office Department reported unde liverable.
 r The Chapter Is the unit of the Rec Cross organization which Is accessible to every disabled veteran or his fam ily. Between July 1, 1921, and June 30 1922, the Chapters had reported 1865, O79 instances of service to ex-servic men and their dependents, at a cos estimated from reports now at hand O more than $5,34o,0OO.
 The basis of this far-reaching worl of the Red Cross is the individua needs, of the disabled veteran to tn end that he may obtain his rights UT der the law, that his especial want may be immediately supplied. that hi own and his family's situation may b rendered happy and cheerful, and tha
 their outlook for the future ma
 visualize incentives for independer
 and fruitful effort
 Spread Christmas Joy Abroad
 More than 100000 Christmas boxe