Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-19

twins or triplets-increasing and multi
plying to replenish the devastated earth
after the Rainbow Division had cele-
brated Armistice No matter! Just let
Mr.. Noah lay his strips of muslin on
the deck so that they would make FIJI
any aviator would understand. Eth
IL feet high would call for layettes and
FIJI III" would announce triplets. Then
would follow "AT'' and "AY"-n1ean-
ing milk and orange Juice. Or. If Noah
had landed his two. by two" animals,
there might be occasion to signal EN-
which calls for feed for cows. Any
body. even in flood times knows that
1t is well to feed the baby on one cows
milk-tuberculin tested, of course.
Next, Noah released a dove. Why, is
not a dove the emblem of the Red
Cross, as the eagle is of the United
States? The dove stayed on the job.
x
Was it not miraculous that the Amer
lean Red Cross had just mailed 1000
copies of the new signal code. on March
l. to that many local Red Cross chap
tiers throughout the land, and that
many thousands of the booklets had
actually reached chapters in the dis
trict of the great flood, coming within
a week thereafter? How many lives
that signal code has saved, how many
cases of desperate sickness due to
medicinelesS exposure, 1t has relieved,
no one will over know.
x X x
The War Department Immediately
loaned the Red Cross II airplanes.
Similar machines had been found use
full for scouting in the Mississippi food,
but this years use has extended to the
carrying of actual supplies to regions
impenetrable by boats on account of
currents, debris and trees or houses
making navigation impossible. Even
amphibian planes would be unable to
rise if landed upon the rushing waters
so burdened with debris and interrupted
by trees and buildings.
While these airplanes are very use
full. their efficiency is limited because
supplies are merely dropped out Of the
skies and either sink into the flood,
where they may be lost. or they en-
danger the lives of the refugees by hit
ting unprotected heads.
Every package dropped might be
eaSed down with small paper or mus
lin parachute and be attached to
f1oater and signal so that it would not
be drowned. Cases have been reported
of refugees having to dive after food
dropped from airplanes and at least
one case of skull-fracture when
package of food hit man.
Blessed be the American Red Gross!
Founded in the Civil War, and charter
ed by Congress 48 years ago, IN the ad-
ministration of President Arthur. In the
course of its half century of organiza-
ton it has come to the relief of many
helpless thousands in 938 domestic dias-
tiers. 1t has served in organized distri-
button of food. medicines, clothing and
shelter valued at S5O.O00,0O0. more than
half of which was given within the last
four years:
1925, Florida hurricane. .$4,477, 170.07
1927. Mississippi Valley
1927, New England flood. 1,299.773.s3
1928, West Indian hurricane 5,913,062.H
Total In four disasters. .S29, 1873, 908,63
The first great relief before the ma
tional charter came from Congress was
that given in 1889. to the victims OF the
Johnstown flood. when 2,209 victims lost
their lives and 10000 survivors were fed,
clothed and sheltered by the Red Cross.
x u =
On April II. 1906, in California, Fed
erai Judge William w. Morrow, one OF
the original incorporators of the Ameri-
can Red Cross, called a meeting in san
Francisco to organize California
State Board of the American Red
Cross" At that time, the local organ
izations we're being formed by States.
After a two-hour conference. the or
ganization was perfected, and. in break
ing up, Judge Morrow remarked 70 his
associates:
We'll, you will probably have nothing
to do except meet here once year and
keep in touch with the national organ
ization in Washington"
Within II hours after that optimistic
remark as gray dawn was beginning TO
light California, there came the terrible
which, with one minute Of
shaking, left the city without light,
heat. water or drainage. and its proud
est buildings masses of ruins. while 80
fires broke out in various quarters: 304
known dead, with some 1914 unidentified
rendered homeless in that fateful min
ute.
Within few hours, even while the
California citizens were hold
ing meetings to attempt to organize
relief, Red Cross men of experience
started westward from Chicago. arriv-
ing April %, to take charge of organ
ICED relief. To relieve the sufferers OF
this disaster came $8,921 Asa from the
public. of which sun, $3,114,496 came
through the American Red Cross.
That was the beginning of general
of the value of the organi-
cation.
In addition to the relief given In
cases of American disasters. the Ameri-
can Red Cross has come to public aid
In 153 disasters in foreign countries,
giving a total of $77,354,000 to the
general cause Of humanity.
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