Evening star., 1926-09-23

How does the National Red Cross
function In the face of MAYOR ca
Iamity? How does it's great macnln-
cry get into action and what are its
methods and aims?
These questions were propounded
at National Red Cross headquarters
and the answer came in the form OF a
narrative Of what happened last sun
day and what has been going forward
since, in meeting the emergency Oh
the Florida hurricane.
Word came first early Sunday morn
ing to the head of one of the depart
ments, by telephone from an employe
of The Evening Star, who CHANGED
to have relatives in the danger zone.
Immediately telegraphic orders were
sent to Mr.. Henry l.. Baker, national
director of disaster relief, who was
in Kansas City Mo-, looking after the
work of flood relief, that he should
go Immediately by airplane to the
scene of the new and greater disaster.
There was no airplane in Kansas City
large enough for so long a journey,
but by train he proceeded to Memphis,
where he took a plane supplied by the
cooperation of the War Department,
through orders from Gen. Patrick.
This plane was forced down when
Red Cross official made his way into
Montgomery, there found another
plane awaiting him and he reached
Miami. Fla, yesterday morning, ready
to take command of the situation.
In the meanwhile. on Sunday after
noon, by telegraph and telephone, the
Red Cross national headquarters had
gotten in touch with Gov. Martin of
Florida and with it's own officials near
the scene and had received full au-
thority from the governor to take of
fetal charge of all relief.
. Sunday night, every train out of
Washington bound South carried ex-
perienced Red Cross personnel from
headquarters, and that included finan-
cial men bearing signed. but blank,
finances for quick use. On Monday
morning 100000 was telegraphed to
officials on the scene.
Sunday afternoon a message was
telegraphed to LOO local chapters
of the Red Cross SocietyAlocated in
that section of the country, appriSing
them of the emergency and requesting
prompt aid in personnel and supplies.
AS always occurs, there was 1mme-
diate response, and by Tuesday word
came that no more food or doctors
or nurses We're needed at present.
But that was very far from mean
ing that the disaster had been eXag
gerated or that all emergencies had
been met. 1t only meant the first
stage of relief-the easiest stage to
meet.
Formerly, the plan Of the National
Red Cross was to maintain storage
of staple supplies, at what was
counted strategic points throughout
the country, but that was found inn
practical and uneconomical. The goods
deteriorated. That system has been
abandoned, and such supplies now are
purchased for cash in the nearest
market.
For example. one of the first needs
was food for the victims of Sebring.
and instead of shipping 1t from the for
mer warehouse in Atlanta, a tele
graphic remittance of $4,000 was
made to the Red Cross authorities in
Sebring, and the supplies came
promptly from Tampa. Several car
loads of water as well as food were
hurried to the stricken city.
Local chapters acted upon their
own initiative until the medical direc-
tor. DR.. Reddin, arrived and organ
lied the field into four or five zones
and placed deputies in charge of each
zone. The director himself rides over
the entire field daily, for inspection.
Red Cross experts are able TO visual
ize the probable needs as soon as they
learn what kind of a disaster has oc-
Cured. When the great explosion
occurred I'm the harbor Of Halifax, IL /
blinded scores Of citizens. even victims
far from the explosion. The terrific
conclusion destroyed the optical
nerves \ hurricau" produces nu-
merous fractures ~ bones, including
skulls. due 20 nyiuC debris or falling
buildings So the FIRST order Or. Red
din placed was for 500 Thomas spliOts
tn hc used iu setting broken limbs
Then after tho 'tuuult aud The
shouting dies down. Hud thr Nuluu
to.r helpers have 'fuct tho cfurr
rcnrV" and Some homo after thc
press has turned tu rrvrr news. thon
the serious work ~ the Hed Crosse
really baAinA. thu wntk of EohAbiiitAr