Evening star., 1924-11-09

Navy, Marine Corps and three reli-
gious faiths yesterday afternoon de-
liNered keynote speeches to a large
and distinguished audience attending
luncheon at Rauscher's, which fired
the preliminary gun for the annual
Red Cross Roll Cali in the District
of Columbia, scheduled to open Off
cially Tuesday, Armstice day.
The speakers inspired those present
many of whom had served in roll
calls of the past, while others were
about to begin their first work in
behalf of this guardian of humanity
with unparalleled enthusiasm.
Miss Mabel T. Boardman. secretary
of the American National Red Cross
presided and in her opening remarks
told the campaigners that Lieut.. Col
=. o. Sheriff., officer in charge OF
Public Buildings and Grounds, had
given permission for them to operate
in the corridors of the governmen,
establishments
She cited the need for Il Red Cross
today as well as in war time, explain
ing that there were 1872 disasters ir
America last year and six in other
lands that received the aid Of this
organization. She appealed for q
magnificent roll call for Washing
tom
Va
the afternoon. Mgr. =. c. Gavan OF
Sacred Heart Church. Miss Boardman
eulogized the late Cardinal Gibbons
a pioneer in Red Cross work in Bal
timore, 20 years ago. and chairman
of that city's first chapter.
Lauds Army of Mercy.
Mgr. Gavan declarSd: 1T will be
the proudest day Of my life to see
every man and woman in the United
States a member of the Red Cross
which is destined to be the greatest
army of mercy the world has ever
known"
He asserted that this countrys
title to fame does not rest in sci
entific and material accomplishments
but on the work done for human
kind
Brig. Gen. Dennis Nolan. deputy
chief of staff. the next speaker, said
the Red Cross had won the undying
gratitude of the officers and men in
France during the war. 1T is the
only organization which can be de-
pended upon to give needed support
to the veterans of the war and their
families" was his statement The
Army does and always will support
the Red Cross, he assured his audi
ence.
From the audience arose a speaker
not on the program, but who had
been asked by Miss Boardman to say
few words. He was a veteran from
Walter Reed Hospital and is fighting
the biggest battle of his life to save
the left arm, which he carried in a
sling, and which had been shattered
by gunshot in France. Fred Dury, a
sergeant in the Regulars, was his
name, and few Spr6ndS he
brought home to the workers huge
dividends for their efforts expended
at the hospital for the wounded boys.
He told how the Red Cross goes
through the wards distributing good
cheer, which makes "our wounds
seem small" At the Red Cross hut
the boys always are welcome and en-
tertainInent never is lacking. They
do not have to want for a thing, he
said, explaining that letters are
written home to mother and sister
regularly, while cigarettes, candy and
automobile rides are always at hand
Sergt. Dury was accompanied to
the luncheon by delegation OF
wounded veterans and several Red
Cross nurses from the hospital
Praises Woman Workers.
Rabbi Lewis T. Schwei the next
speaker, praised the women who will
go forth in the campaign and give
up hours and days of their time while
the men only have TO give a dollar
or five dollars for membership fees.
But he declared it was only natural
for them to devote themselves to a
service which stands for calm and
peace in the world. He saw in the
Red Cross a medium for Jews.
r,tI ~
gether and work for peace.
Rear Admiral William S. Benson,
retired, who headed the American
naval forces during the war, told the
audience the Navy has no stronger
ally. than the Red Cross. The latter,
he promised, could depend upon the
support of the Navy, generously, if
not unanimously" The Red Cross, he
continued, is plane on which all
factions can meet. He promised his
personal services to the cause
Maj. Gen. George Barnett, retired,
formerr commandant of the Marine
Corps and chairman of the District of
Columbia Chapter of the Red Cross.
spoke in the capacity of a Red Cross
worker. and not a "devil dog" al
though. he said. when the offer of
the chapter craftsmanship was made
to him, Il was marine, had been
one all my life, and as a marine
could not refuse"
He gave few pointers to the cam
pafgners to use in their arguments
against those who do not understand
what the Red Cross means, and told
them to stress the fact that the
greater part Of the District chapters s
work here is in dealing with enlisted
men Of the service and their de-
pendents.
A great mant cases come to the at
tention of the chapter. he said
through veterans from all parts of
the country coming here to the Vet