Evening star., 1943-04-20
Red Cross Aids Government.
Mrs. August Belmont SAYS

The Red Cross is supplementary
arm of the Government, Mrs. Au-
gust Belmont emphasized yesterday
in addressing more than $50 wives
of military officers at the Sulgrave
Club in the opening lecture of a
series arranged by the American
Red Cross to acquaint wives with
the resources available for service
men and their families.
Mrs. Belmont, active in Red Cross
work since 1917, when she went to
England and France to work among
troops, remarked that in public
health and other activities con-
nected with war, the Red Cross is
vitality effective organization. "It
is different today than it was in
the last war, but the whole world
is different" she said.
She explained the various func-
tions of the Red Cross and how it
offers opportunity for constructive
work. Wives of officers should be
among the foremost Red Cross
leaders, she pointed out.
Hits Use of Emblem.
Mrs. Belmont, member of the
Central Committee of the American
Red Cross and a director of the
New York Chapter, said that while
the national organization sets a
pattern of activities, the local chap
ters can and do readjust programs
to fit local conditions. This flex-
ibility, she. added, achieves splendid
results.
She said she was mortified" to
learn that some 200 agencies have
the right to use the Red Cross
symbol as trade mark, including
such diverse items as dynamite,
toilet paper, wines and liquors,
shoes, mattresses and matches. A
bill is now pending in Congress
which would give to the Army, the
Navy and the Red Cross the in
elusive use of the emblem.
She stressed that the individual
chapters are the laboratory testing
ground Of the national organization.
Home service, is difficult to define,
she added. Il like the. simple ex-
preston, when a feller needs a
friend, the Red Cross is there,
equipped and willing to help" Mrs.
Belmont was given an ovation by
a keenly attentive audience.
Moral Work Outlined.
That the presence of Red Cross
women in the war zones is a big
factor in maintaining morale among
American troops, was the theme of
Richard Allen, vice chairman in
charge of insular and foreign opera
tlons, American Red Cross.
Describing his recent visit to Ice
land, North Africa and the Middle
East. Mr.. Allen told how two Red
Cross girls secured ice cream and
clgarets from ships at Casablanca
when these articles were not avail
able to any one else They showed
the old American ingenuity, and
brought great cheer to thousands
of our soldiers, especially the sick
and wounded" Mr.. Allen remarked.
One supply came from a British
oillP' dlloIllel from an american
ship. Another Red Cross girl
bought $4,000 tons of foodstuffs from
a British ship about to sail for
England
Mr.. Allen said that, due to needs
that had to be met in North Africa,
the American Red Cross today is
operating chain of hotels and
theaters there. One hotel alone ac-
commodities 1900 soldiers each
night. A registration book, listing
persons by home States. is another
popular feature enabling friends to
keep in touch with one another.
Meet Friends Through Red Cross.
Because of military secrecy, the
boys don't know where their friends
are" Mr.. Allen remarked. When
they come to Red Cross rest rooms,
recreation centers and hotels, they
run across their friends. And believe
me, there is no sight so welcome in
North Africa as those good looking
Red Cross girls driving and manning
the clubmobiles and canteens. We
operate restaurants where Amer