Show red cr cross os s F faces aces greatest ta task SK I 1 in fourth washington D C facing facine the greatest task in its history in serving american fighting men on advancing war fronts overseas their families at home their buddies returning to the united states atter after discharge and the american people in emergencies on the home front the american red cross will launch its third war fund campaign march 1 that the american people will respond with overwhelming generosity to the appeal for to carry on this worldwide world wide program is already indicated in the nationwide nation wide determination to meet all its war needs and to bring the five year struggle to an early and successful conclusion in every invasion during the past year chairman basil oconnor of the american red cross said red cross workers have either gone with the troops or have followed within a very short abort time red cross field directors were with general Elsen Eisen howers men in the great amphibious invasion of france and with general macarthurs Mac Arthurs forces when they returned to the ten thousand men and women wear the red cross uniform overseas serving in every theatre ot of war and with every command they work in leave clubs club mobiles rest houses hospitals red cross men attached to fighting units are with those outfits even in actual combat red cross girls dispense snacks at air fields along trucking supply routes behind front areas and in liberated cities many both men and women are on duty at scores ot of isolated outposts throughout the world and give aid to wounded men in hospitals and on hospital ships planes and trains away from the battle areas thousands morg more serve at military and naval installations within the tha united states elates red cross service on the home trout front has expanded with the ever increasing demand upon it mr oconnor connor 01 said in addition to collecting moro more than ten million pints ot of blood tor for plasma sines since the beginning ot of the war the red cross has met requests ot of the army and navy for or whole ahola blood shipments to european and pacific battle areas ten centers on the east and west coasts already participate in the collection oti of typo type 0 whole blood while others sta stand n d ready to join in that program as military needs warrant at four packaging centers manned by volunteer workers more than food parcels have been burz turned d out in a steady stream tor for shipment to prisoners 0 of war and civilian internees Inter nees in germany and the far east surgical dressings 7 ot of them were prepared in the pap pert year alone tor for front line and hospital use production workers in hundreds ot of communities have hava continued the never ceasing program ot of making warm garments tor for destitute civilians in war torn countries overseas and in those countries the red cross has assisted the in caring aring for or refugees and homeless people nor has Us its service to the armed forces on a global scale caused any relaxation on the part of the red cross to carry out its traditional service to the american people in time of disaster more than domestic disasters floods high winds and fires have bave found red cross workers on the job to relieve stricken families and to aid in the rebuilding ot of communities the need lor for red cross services in the coming year will be greater than ever before sir mr oconnor said in fulfilling the red cross appeal tor for the american people will indicate its wholehearted backing of men in the front lines |