Show American Red Cross Answers Pleas From War-Torn War Europe A FILING cabinet in a hand- hand handsome handsome JL some white office building build build- building building ing on Washington's Seven Seven- Seventeenth Seventeenth Seventeenth street holds stories of misery and suffering endured by y millions of civilians who since September 1939 have found themselves in the path of mechanized invading armies This file in the American Red Cross national headquarters building contains eye witness reports from Red Cross workers in Europe Although the cries for help from masses of tortured souls are condensed into the terse language of the cable the chronological file reflects only too accurately the swiftly moving catastrophe of the past year ear Another file tells a more encouragIng ing story It contains Americas America's an an- answer saver ver to the despairing pleas for aid Aid for Victims Each country which has felt the crushing blows of lightning attacks has been aided by the American Red Cross beginning Immediately with the invasion of Poland A com com- commission commission commission mission of Red Cross officials was dispatched in October to make a survey of the most urgent wants in every country Using the reports made by this commission and its successors as a basis national officers of of- officers of the society kept a steady flow of supplies valued at millions of of dollars moving from this country first to Poland then Finland and later Norway Belgium Holland England and France Until the Black Friday of May 10 when hostilities entered the total war phase with the invasion of the Lowland Countries the American Red Cross expended a total of 1 10 I in purchasing war relief re re- re- re No organized drive was staged but the public volun volun- voluntarily voluntarily voluntarily contributed The re re- remaining remaining remaining came out of reserve e funds of the thc national Red Cross This money was sufficient to tak take e care of the most urgent relief re re- requirements requirements of the stricken nations supplemented by the half million garments and more than surgical dressings Within 10 hours after headlines screamed the news of Germanys Germany's entrance into Belgium and Holland however the Red Cross launched a public appeal for Total War Calls for Total Mercy became the slogan and the American peo peo- people people pie responded respond cd with traditional promptness and generosity As the campaign moved into high gear con con- contributions contributions poured in from all aU sec sec- sections sections sections of the country Support for Work Prominent leaders in every field of American life endorsed the public appeal including leading church church- churchmen churchmen men jurists Journalists mayors and governors civic leaders and heads of fraternal organizations Even before the dollars of mercy began to roll in the Red Cross speed speed- speeded ed up its overseas operations to help take care of the Belgian Dutch and French refugees who crowded Into the already heavy pop pop- populated populated districts of southern France Headquarters were hastily set up in Paris in charge of Wayne Chat- Chat Taylor field European delegate A number of trained disaster relief ex ex- experts experts penis flew by clipper dipper plane to com com- complete complete the staff stall in Paris and set up sub headquarters in Bordeaux Bordeau to re re- receive receive receive American relief supplies Purchasing began immediately for a million dollar cargo to be shipped on the S. S S. S S McKeesport a freighter chartered by the U. U S. S maritime commission for the job of carrying earring de needed supplies to the helpless ss sufferers r TI l. l c. c |