The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-09-27
BY WILLIAM c. UTLEY

~ haps even less eXcusable than,
~ deaths on the field of war are
the some 10000 deaths which
result from automobile accidents in the
United States every year. If quick aid
could be given to the injured along our
highways, this staggering annual total
could be lessened materially.
In wartime it is the job Of the Red
Cross societies to see that men hurt
so severely that they may die are Civ
en- quick medical and surgical aid.
Now the American Red Cross is going
to bring it's noble and efficient esrvice
along the highway fronts in the war
against automobile deaths.
Within a few months, according to
the officials of the society, trained
members of the Red Cross will be sta
toned at every possible point along
the busy highways, ready to lend a
hand to save life. Just how the cam
paign will be conducted was not avail
able at the time of this writing, for
plans were not yet complete, but it is
more than likely that agreements will
be reached between the Red Cross and
the oil companies which operate gaso-
line filling stations, to effect some sort
of cooperation.
Will the Red Cross be successful
in cutting down this wholesale annual
massacre of Americans? Here is a
piece from the records which may
throw some light on the answer:
Twenty-one years ago, before the
Red Cross began its drive to teach
swimming and life-saving methods to
all Americans who like to swim or
battle, the national drowning rate was
ten in every 100000. During the last
81 years there has been $50 per cent
increase in the swimming public. Red
Cross instructors have trained 100000
persons as life savers. The drowning
rate today is only five in every 100000
Busy in Peace Times.
The Red Cross, you know, is ia
from idle when there is no war going
on. Rather, there is always war
going on for the Red Cross-a war
against the ravages of floods, dust
storms, hurricanes, earthquakes and
other national disasters; war against
the terrors of eternal darkness for the
blind, against demons of discourage
ment for the disabled veteran, war
against countless things that bar the
road to happiness and health for whole
communities unless organized battle is
conducted against them.
This year more than ever before the
battle has been a terrible one. In the
average year there are 81 national dis
asters, one every four days. During
the last II months there have been
1859! That is an all-time record. And
the battle of the American Red Cross
has been nobly fought.
With all this impressive record the
American is one of the younger Red
Gross societies. There are 81 of them
in as manyGdifferent countries. Their
methods of operation differ surprising
ly little for the many kinds of popula
lions which they serve.
In one thing they are completely uni
form. Almost no matter where you
go on this old globe you will find that
the insignia which identifies the angel
who relieves the soldiers suffering, is
the Red Cross on the field of white.
Rapidly since the World war, the
activities of all of these 81 societies
have grown to be more uniform. They
have proved themselves to be as i'm
portant in the relief of human suffer
ing during peace time as they ever
were at the peak of wartime activity
Americans Spread the Light.
What has been responsible for such
developments? 1t Is good to be able to
say that, In large measure. Americans
have. For 1t is Americans who, In less
than twenty years, have been the lead
ers In the work of international cor
relation which has been conducted by
the League of Red Cross Societies
whose modest headquarters stand
about 100 yards from the Place de
rEtoile In Paris.
1t was dynamic personality Of the