Bradley beam., 1944-06-24

Great Britain, Red Cross overseas services to the American fighting men are constantly expanding.
 In the backwash of war, Red Cross relieves the dragging monot- ony and discomforts of CT life in India, North Africa, the Middle East, Panama, Iceland, Newfound- land, Greenland, Brazil and the islands of the South Pacific and the Caribbean. :.
 Under fire Red Cross field man have landed with units invading North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Corsi- ca, Kiska, New Georgia, Salamaus, Cape Gloucester. When Red Cross hospital worker Esther Richards was killed on the Anzio beachhead, undaunted, six other Red Cross girls immediately volunteered to take her place.
 Clubmobile girls and field men serving forward units in Italy are often under enemy artillery fire. Bombing is old hat to the girls meeting returning missions on air strips in the Pacific, or even those working in clubs in Great Britain.
 Of the 5000 Red Cross men and women overseas in January, 2,020 were working in clubs, 1,345 in hos pitals, and around 1,500 in camp service. Several thousand other persons are employed locally. A surprisingly large number of vol unteers in England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and India serve as waitresses, man informa- tion bureaus, run sewing services, are dance hostesses, and otherwise aid inmadng these clubs a home for servicemen on foreign soil.
 During one week in February, the 172 service clubs in Great Brit ain provided sleeping accommoda- tions for 194,194 service men on leave. During that week the num- Der of meals served reached a new high of 726,990 with field clubs serving an additional million snacks.
 Tremendous growth in Red Cross services in the British Isles during a year and half is indicated by the figures of October, 1922, as compared with those of the past January. The 16 clubs of 1942 have grown to 229, and the first clubmo- piles have grown to 72, including six "Doughnut Dugouts" serving isolated units. There were no field clubs then. Now there are 80, in- cluding aeroclubs, established on air bases. In addition to the 145 off post or leave area clubs, there are four rest homes for war ex- hausted airmen to supplement those maintained by the Army.
 As each division moves into a forward area from staging or rear base, four Red Cross men, equipped with carefully selected supplies go with them. In addition they carry along the regulation cig- arettes, comfort articles, athletic and recreational equipment, and reading and writing material.
 Since the initial invasion of North Africa when Red Cross field men landed early in the operation, Red Cross service in this area has expanded from French Morocco in the West up to and including Tu- nisia in the East, as we'll as Sicily, Corsica, Sardina and Italy.
 There were 865 workers in this theater of war as of January. Of these, 344 Staffed the 56 clubs and 12 rest homes. Hospital workers to- tailed 232. Field directors were at tached to units ranging from para troopers to engineers. The 23 club mobiles operating throughout this area in January have been aug mented by ten additions recently. Thousands of Tanks find havens of good cheer and relaxation in the American Red Cross centers which provide home-like surrounding for the service men when they are off duty or patients in the Army hos