Show American Red Cross Answers Pleas From War-Torn War Europe A A FILING cabinet in Ina a n handsome handsome hand- hand V some white office ollice building building build build- ing on Washington's Seventeenth Seventeenth Seventeenth Seven Seven- street holds stories of misery and suffering endured by 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 witness eye 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 the cable the chronological file reflects only too accurately tely the swiftly moving catastrophe of the past year Another file tells a more encouraging encouraging ing story It contains Americas America's answer answer answer an an- to the despairing pleas for aid ald Aid for VI Victims Each country which has felt the crushing blows of lightning attacks h has s been aided by the American Red Cross beginning immediately with the invasion of Poland A commission commission commission com com- 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 the society kept a steady flow of supplies valued at millions of dollars moving from this country first to Poland then Finland and later Norway Belgium Holland t England and France Until the Black Friday of May 10 0 when hostilities entered the total war phase with the invasion of the Lowland Countries the American Red led Cross expended a total of 1 1 in purchasing war-relief war re re- No organized drive was staged but the public voluntarily voluntarily volun- volun contributed The re re- remaining remaining came out of reserve funds of the national Red Cross This money was sufficient to take care of the most urgent relief requirements requirements requirements re re- 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 fled Cross launched a n public appeal for Total War Wai Calls for Total Mercy became the slogan and the American people people peo pea pie responded with traditional promptness and generosity As the campaign moved gear contributions contributions contributions con con- poured in from all sections sections sec sec- sections of the country Support for Work Prominent leaders In every field of American life endorsed the public appeal including leading churchmen churchmen churchmen church church- men jurists journalists mayors mayor s and governors civic leaders and heads of fraternal organizations Even before the dollars of mercy began to roll in the Red Cross speeded speed speed- ed up Its overseas operations to help hel p take care of the Belgian Dutch and French refugees who crowded into the already heavy po populated pop p elated districts of southern France Headquarters were hastily set u uin up p in Paris In charge of Wayne Chat Chat- Taylor field European delegate A number of trained disaster relief experts ex flew new by clipper plane to com con complete complete the staff In to Paris and set u up p sub-headquarters sub in Bordeaux to receive receive receive re re- American relief supplies Purchasing began Immediately for fora fo foa r a million dollar cargo to be shipped d on the S. S S S. S McKeesport a freighter r chartered by the U. U S. S maritime maritim e commission for the job of carrying g I needed supplies to th the e heli ss sufferers I |