Smyrna times., 1925-11-04
RED CROSS AID TO
Vets MOUNTING
Heavier Demands for War Ser
vice Laid to New Legislation
Granting Wide Benefits.
ACTIVE FORCES AIDED ALSO
Duty to Ex-ServiCe and Service
Men First Responsibility
of the Red Cross.

A marked increase in the service
given by the American Red Cross to
ex-service men, through Chapters, hos
pitals, Government and Red Cross
Offices during the past year, and which
volume is expected to be maintained
during most Of the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1926. is shown in the re-
ports Of the war service activities of
the organization. just completed.
Service to the disabled and to
men now in active service continued
to be one OF the primary obligations
Of the Red Cross. The increased &C
tiYities in this regard were attributed
largely to the legislation giving new
benefits to ex-service men.
The keystone of the Red Cross ser.
vice lies in the Home Service work
OF the chapters to veterans and men
still in service At the close of the
fiscal year June SO 1925, 1851 Chap
ters were active in this work and had
expended approximately $2,237 900.
Included in their work was assist
ance to ex-service men in making out
adjusted compensation papers, in the
handling of claims reopened, or made
possible under liberalized terms OF
the World War Veterans Act of 1924;
and in many other ways.
An unusual amount of legislation
passed by Congress and State bodies
has necessitated the issue of much
new material in the past year. Leg
islation was passed during the
year liberalizing conditions applying
to disqualification, compensation and
other benefits under the Veterans
Bureau; this in turn has entailed re-
opening of many claims formerly dis
allowed filing of many new ones, and
many applications for disqualification.
The Claims Service at National Head
quarters this year handled 1896 in
comparison with 1000 cases the pre-
vious year.
Increased service to men in hospi.
tails was noted, as well in the number
OF hospitals in which service was
maintained by the organization. Due
to new legislation an increase of over
5000 patients were admitted for hos
pitalizatiOn, a new peak approximating
that of March 1922. Since a large
number OF this group includes pa
tients not eligible for compensation,
the solution of their personal and fam
lily problems has involved careful
study by the National Organization.
There are 10000 disabled ex-service
men in Government hospitals every
day of the year, and their need has
directly led to a revival of the best.
known and perhaps most popular ac-
t:Vity the Red Cross sponsored in war
"a new campaign for knitted RED
Cross sweaters" These articles are
among the few not furnished by the
Government.
For the men still on active duty in
the Army, Navy and Marines, the Red
Cross during the year maintained
Field Directors at all important sta
tions, camps, and hospitals of these
armed forces of the country.
A monthly average of 96,931 service
and ex-service men were aided by the
Red Cross during the year.
The man in service, and the man
who has served his country are among
the primary spOnsibilities for which
| the American Red Cross IS chartered
| by Congress. Nevertheless it has
many other obligations and It is on
this basis that an appeal will be made
for larger enrolment than ever dur
ing the Annual Roll Call, Armistice
! Day, November IL, to November 26.