Evening star., 1943-03-01

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Red Cross Drive
Nimitz and Eisenhower
Also Speak; Districts
Campaign Storts Thursday
MARINES FROM GUADALCANA1.
match Red Cross stories in hos
pital here Page B-1
The American Red Cross today
began a months campaign to
raise 100000, spurred by
President Roosevelt's proclama-
ton that I'VE will not fail"
Joining the President in a radio
appeal yesterday were Admiral
Chester w. Nimitz and Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower. The District drive
to raise $1,555, 400 begins officially
Thursday.
I'm the Axis nations" President
Roosevelt's statement said, mercy
and decency are regarded as syno-
nyms for weakness and decadence.
In our land it is from our great ira
dition OF mercy that we take part of
our strength.
'AIolo!A o. sIqvstrads!puI NLoM
Each one OF you who has friend
or relative in uniform will measure
the significance of this crusade in
your own heart. You know better
than any one else what it means to
be sure that the Red Cross stands
at the side of our soldiers or sailors
or marines wherever they may be.
All of us-l30 OO0, ,0OO-know how in
dispensable to victory is the work of
this great agency which goes on
every minute of every day-every-
where on earth where 1t is needed.
AT home we have grown ac-
customed to the role of the Red
Cross In every national emergency
in every local catastrophe-a gen.
erous friend to those overtaken bv
tragedy. Even our enemies know
about the American Red Cross, be-
cause it has never let international
boundaries act as the limits of its
mercy.
we undertake this greatest of all
Red Cross crusades in the name of
mercy-noW that we are engaged in
a war to decide whether all our
concepts of mercy and human de-
cency are strong enough to survive"
Emphasizing that the Red Cross
needs s125 100000 to keep pace with
war demands, the President con-
Guided his appeal by saying, That
is all we need to know-we will not
fail"
Norman H. Davis. Red Cross
chairman, read the Presidents
statement.
Admiral Nimitz Speaks.
Pointing out that I'VE have turned
back the enemy in the South Pa
cific from now on the going
will be tougher" Admiral Nimitz
termed the Red Cross the morale
bulwark of the Pacific fighting
forces
Admiral Nimitz from his Pacific
zone station reminded the American
people that the foresight of the Red
Cross in building up blood plasma
supply at Pearl Harbor in prewar
days was instrumental in saving
the lives of hundreds of wounded on
December 7" when the japanese
bombs fell on that naval base.
Speaking from North Africa Gen.
Eisenhower urged those on the home
front to help with their dollars and
their energy.
Each of YOU" Gen. Eisenhower
said, has brother, son, husband
or very dear friend serving some
where in the armed forces. The
American Red Cross is the single
organized agency that brings to that
man those things that have no place
in official equipment tables, but do
so much for his we'll being and
morale"
Emphasizing that most of North
Africa is undeveloped country, "sys-
tematically stripped of all those
things you are used to buying daily
at the corner drug store" Gen.
Eisenhower said the Red Cross
takes your subscription. transforms
it into useful and practical aid, and
brings it to the soldier freely, cheer
fully and efficiently"
Conditions Unprecedented.
The appeals by the commander
in chief and the leaders of our
fighting forces ashore and afloat
emphasized that the unprecedented
fund sought is due to unprecedented
conditions.
Engaged in the crusade are 3,OOO.-
600 men and women. including 5000
from the District. They will carry
the message of Red Cross accom-
plishment to every home, factory,
farm, Office and work bench.
The District campaign will get
under way officially Thursday at a
rally to be addressed by Admiral
Ernest j. King and Harry Hopkins,
special assistant to the President.
The actual fund raising in this area
begins tonight, however, at a bene-
fit performance of the Information
Please broadcast in Constitution
Hall. More than 5000 tickets, rang
ing from 81 to $40, have been sold.
John Kieran, Franklin P. Adams
and Oscar Levant will appear, with
Representative Will Rogers, ir.,
Democrat, of California as guest
expert. Clifton Fadiman will act as
master of ceremonies.
There will be a half hour of
entertaining by Mr. Kieran, Mr..
Adams and Mr.. Levant before the
radio broadcast begins at 1915 pm
Diplomats to Attend.
Members of the diplomatic set
will be onnnnu tho olocAe Dax,