Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-13

There IL one organization in Amer
lea which is not afflicted with stran-
Cling red tape; it is the Amer1-
can Red Cross. When disaster comes,
like the terrible explosion OF mu-
nftfons in New Jersey last Saturday
night and since, the very defamation
sets going, automatically, the ma
chinery of the most ubiquitous and
adaptable organization that could be
conceived. There is no passing OF
the buck" In Red Cross RELIEF, wn1le
scores of thousands OF human beings
are in distress, for, whether the
organization has a motto or not,
every official. every member. seems
to act upon the Injunction: Hoo
ageg'-"Do this!" Get busy DO
it and don't talk about It.
Yet there is seldom any confusion,
any duplication of effort, and while
the immediate initiative toward an
emergency is taken without hesita-
ton by the nearest local chapter, the
same electric button which starts
the little wheels to moving brings
the great machinery into operation,
in proportion to the needs.
-
{ Il CHANGED that Mrs. Alice Brock.
Red Cross field representative, was
in New York when news came OF the
blowing up of the munitions near
West Morris, N. J., and. without wait.
ing for any orders, she reached the
scene within an hour to direct the
work of the local chapters of West
Norris and Dover. There she soon
found Messrs. Evans and Storey.
from Governors Island. working with
Army and Navy personnel, and pres
emily they were joined by other offi-
Gals. BY first train from Washing
ton came Mr.. T. r.. Buchanan
division assistant director of disaster
relief: it CHANGED that Director Baker
was absent on annual leave. While
the explosions were continuing, the
emergency relief was working sys-
tematicaliy to provide shelter fol
the homeless and medical aid for the
wounded.
The munitions explosion Is q. good
instance illustrating how the National
Red Cross is organized and how It IN
stantly responds to the most unex-
pected crisis Every one Of the $1,000
chapters covering every county in the
limited states is trained by the read
ing Of & pamphlet, When Disaster
strikes This anticipates just what
should be done in the midst Of the
flrst excitement Of pestilence, food,
IRE. explosion or hurricane. It Is all
thought out and tested by years Of
experience. And it is simpliie d-fool
proof.
In the larger communities, where
| the local chapters are strong, they
have their permanent committees who
well understand their respective rune
ltions.
Az national headquarters in wash
Iington. there is q national director of
disaster relief, Mr.. Henry M. Baker,
with his assistant, Mr.. buchanan.
tMr. Buchanan has jurisdiction over all
disaster relief between the Atlantic
and the Mississippi River In st.
| Louis, there is branch with turis-
llictioIi oyer all west OF the Missis-
sippf to the Rocky Mountains, and in
San Francisco another branch with
ali territory west Of the mountains
| as It's field. In case of important dis
asters. the division director personally
hurries to the scene and takes gem
eral charge Of the relief, operating
with the aid Of the local chapter. the
police, the Army and Navy and the
American Legion. There are 700
county seat towns where there Is q
lpermanent office, with q fulltifne sec.
retary, representing the local chap
| ter, who Is specially trained to take
charge until the divisional director
can arrive.
Back Of these directors there Is q
| personnel OF trained relief workers,
nurses and accountants, fully en-
pl0yed by the national organization
II 5f4ffffAe urban
there Is no disaster requiring their
| special services. Back Of them are
many thousands OF volunteer work
lers, registered and pledged to respond,
Iinstanter, when called upon.
The President 81 the United States
| is the president of the National Ameri
can Red Cross, and President Coolidge
demonstrated in the case Of the Japa
nese earthquake that he looked upol
his personal resp possibility as Red Cros
president, not as that Of an honoraT.
office, but one which enabled him I.
assume direct command. He not oni.
1 proclaimed the Red Cross as tn
| ofIfeial channel for all financial relief
| hut as Commander In Chief OF TIL
| Army and Navy, he issued immediate
/ orders that their entire resources Wer'
put ct the disposal OF the Red Cross
| He gave his whole personal attention
| to expediting the relief to Japan
Through the Red Cross, until the eme1
| gency was met, communicating nava
vessels and army supplies for Re,
Cross use.
The relief Tor every disaster Is b
/ two kinds. The public usually hear
Of the emergency relief only; that 4