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Show RED CROSS AID T0 VETSJOUNTING Heavier Demands for War Service Ser-vice Laid to New Legislation Granting Wide Benefits. ACTIVE FORCES AIDED ALSO Duty to Ex-Service and Service Men First Responsibility of the Red Cross. A marked Increase in the lervfca given by the American Red Cross to ex-service men, through Chapter, hospitals, hos-pitals, Government and Red Cross offices during the past year, and whtcl volume is expected to be maintained during most of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926. la shown In the reports re-ports of the war service activities of the organization. Just completed. Service to the disabled and to men now In active service continued to be one of the primary obligations of the Red Cross. The Increased activities ac-tivities in this regard were attributed largely to the legislation giving new benefits to ex-service men. The keystone of the Red Cross service ser-vice lies in the Home Service work f the chapters to veterans and men still In service. At the close of the fiscal year June SO, 1925, 2,591 Chapters Chap-ters were active In this work and had expended approximately $2,237,000. Included In their work was assistance assist-ance to ex-service men In making out adjusted compensation papers, in the handling of ola-ims reopened, or made possible under liberalized terms of the World War Veterans' Act of 1924; and In many other ways. An unusual amount of legislation passed by Congress and State bodies has necessitated the Issue of much new material In the past year. Legislation Leg-islation was passed during the year liberalizing conditions applying to hospitalization, compensation and other benefits under the Veterans' Bureau; this In turn has entailed reopening re-opening of many claims formerly disallowed, dis-allowed, filing of many new ones, and many applications for hospltaliaa-tion. The Claims Service at National Headquarters Head-quarters this year handled 17,500 In oomparisoq with 1J,019 Pftaej the previous pre-vious year. Increased servloe to men In hosnl tals was noted, as well la the number of hospitals in which service was maintained by the organisation. Due to new legislation an increase of over 6,000 patients were admitted for hospitalization, hos-pitalization, a new peak approximating that of March 1922. Since a large number of this group Includes patients pa-tients not eligible for compensation, the solution of their personal and family fam-ily problems has Involved careful study by the National Organisation. There are JO.000 disabled ex-servlo men In Government hospitals ever day of the year, and their need has directly led to a revival of the best-known best-known and perhaps moat popular activity ac-tivity the Red Cross sponsored in war a new campaign for knitted "Red Cross sweaters." These articles are among the few not furnished by the Government. For the men still on active duty In be Army, Navy and Marines, the Red Cross, during the year maintained Field Directors at all Important stations, sta-tions, camps, and hospitals pf U armed forces of the country. A monthly average of 96,911 service and ex-service men were aided by the Red Cross during the year. The man la servloe, and the ma who baa served his country are among the primary responsibilities (or which the American Red Crass Is ohartered by Congress. Nevertheless It has many other obligations and H la on this basis that an appeal will be made tor a larger enrollment than ever dur- ' ng the Annual Roll Call, Armistice ' Dayi Nevember 11, to November 26. I |