Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-10

organization Friday night in the il
Preceding the speaker, Mrs. Wa
directors, who were approved by tf
December 18 at a meeting of the
old and new directors.
Opening the program was the ad-
vance of the colors by the Red
Cross Motor Corps, followed by the
invocation by Father Edward Hutch
inson.
A musical program, which had
been planned by Miss Blanche
Charles, chairman of the meeting,
was presented by the high school
and junior college orchestra and
! glee club. The orchestra played
THE Star Spangled Banner" and
Christmas Fantasy" by Bergh, fol-
lowed by two numbers by the glee
club "Serenade" from Romberg's
Student Prince" and "Moonbeams"
! by Victor Herbert. George Burt di-
rected the two groups.
DE CELLES PRESIDES
Leo DeCelles, chapter chairman,
presided at the business meeting
when the names of the directors
were presented. He also gave re-
port of the years activities of the
FL Centre chapter. Mrs. Alta j. Ro-
ben reported for Imperial and Miss
Betty Harris for Holtville.
Mr.. DeCelles then introduced Mr..
Sperry, who spent two years with
the Red Cross and is now coach of
! Glendale Junior college
! Eyn1a ininO hpuy t,,iIpb tho uorly nf
the chapters means overseas. Mr..
Sperry told of the many requests
men make for information about
! their families at home and the rails
ing of their morale when the field
directors could contact the home
chapters and get the information.
AMERICANS EFFICIENT
"The efficiency and ingenuity of
the American army makes it super
ior to the enemv'S," he said, land
this, along with the American
soldier is what will win the war in
the end He cited the moving of
an entire division of more than TO-
900 men by two officers in a few
hours. He explained this was not
unusual, but was a routine occur
| ence in the army.
Mr.. Sperry also paid tribute to
the girls working overseas with the
Red Cross, especially those manning
the clubmobiles which often go close
to the front.
"The Red Cross provides the only
/ recreation for men overseas, except
. !, ,iot, !,
said. When they do get leave TO
go to city, such as Rome, they
! find there is nothing left, in bounds,
except the Red Cross club. The club
in Rome is nine stories high and
offers nearly every type of service
and entertainment"
CAPTURES GERMANS
Describing his entry into Rome,
where he wanted to be the first
to set up a clubmobile, Mr.. Sperry
told how he found himself ahead
of the American lines and four Ger
man officers, mistaking his Red
Cross insignia for that of a high
army officer, surrendered to him.
Mr.. Sperry displayed several pieces
OF German equipment. such as tele-
phone wire, shells and ammunition.
He said the Germans have planned
all their war equipment to last for
a long time and everything they
build is permanent. The Americans
lay telephone wire, pipelines, etc,
temporarily, then move on as tho
front moves going back later to
salvage equipment. He also told of
! the use of wooden bullets by the
Germans, which do not kill as a
rule, but wound man, thus tying
up more doctors and men to care
for the man.
Closing the story of his expert
enccs with the First Armored Divi-
sion in Italy with which he spent
five and a half months in the front
lines, Mr.. Sperry made a plea for
letters to men overseas, even if the
writer sends twelve for every one
he receives.
The new chapter directors arc
Earl Anderson, 0. l.. Banc, Mrs r.
F; w. Barrlgan, Mrs. A. C. BevanS Roy
Brccdlove, Shields Charlton. Mrs.
Earle G.. Davis, Mrs. Norman C.
Dealon, Leo DeCelles, E. A. Fitz-
hugh, Miss Betty Harris, Mrs. Mag
gle Havens, Father Edward Hutch
lnson. F.. H. Mitchell, George Kirk.
w. w. McEuen, John B. McNeece. f.
c. Missildine, Mrs. William Odett.
Mrs. Estelle Reid, Mrs. Alta j. Ro-
ben. w. A. Tondro and Guy Weak
ley.
E'rnZpn for u,nnkc IL, En,ui.I I,al;.,.,,