Show W H AT LAST YEAR report of war council surely will thrill the hearts of all americans WOMEN GIVEN HIGH TRIBUTE contributions of materials and time aa have ve been practically unending figures lell of work done by the various chapters october 23 the chapters chapter of the red cross held their annual meetings r to elect etc make reports to be read at atall all these meetings throughout the united states the red cross cros war council sent the following annual message covering the work of the red cross for the past year to the chapters Chapter of the american red cross the war council sends greetings to the chapters of the american red cross on the occasion of their annual meetings for 1918 with these greetings go congratulations on the great grea work of the chapters during dui ing the past year and above all things lings ti on the wonderful spirit of sacrifice and pa patriotism which has pervaded that work the strength of the red cross rests apon its chapters they fire are its bone and sinew the they y supply its funds they supply its men and women they supply its enthuse enthusiasm asin let us then r review lew to together kether the red cross story of the year some idea of he the size to which ch your red cross family faintly has grown my miry be gathered from the following facts on may 1 1017 1917 just before the ap of the war council the american red cross had members working through chapters on july 31 1918 the organization numbered annual members besides nf embers of the junior red cross a total enrollment of over one fourth the population of he united states since the beginning of the war you of the chapters have operated cooperated co with the war council in conducting two war fund drives and one membership drive ili li addition to the campaign on behalf I 1 of the junior red cross the total actual collections to date from the first war fund have amounted to more than the sub to the second war fund n r mounted to upwards of from membership dues the collections have amounted to approximately 24 splendid work done by women to the foraging for eging must be added that very ery large contribution of materials and time given by the millions of women throughout the country in surgical dressings in knitted articles in hospital and refugee garments in canteen and the other activities the chapters have been called upon to perform it Is estimated that approximately women are engaged in canteen work and the production of relief supplies through the chapters for the period up to july 1 1918 american red cross chapters through throng their workrooms wor krooms had produced refugee garments hospital supplies hospital garments garment s knitted articles surgical dressings A total of articles of an estimated aggregate value of at least these articles were largely the I 1 product of women ia b hands ands and by the same token infinitely more precious than could have been the output of fac factories or machines these articles going to the operating room of the hospitals to homeless or needy refugees and carrying comfort to our own boys in the field convey a message of love from the women of this country entirely 1 distinct from the great money value atta attaching ching to their handiwork pone money y 8 spent P ent in work by the terms under which the first red cross war fund was raised the rhe chapters yvere entitled to retain 25 1 er cent of the amount collected in order defray local lacal expenses to carry on orf their home serece work to purchase liase materials to be utilized in chapter production and otherwise to domeet meet the numerous calls made upon them the chapters were thus entitled to retain nearly As a matter of fact their actual amounted to td only about out oui of collections from annual mem bt the chapters have retained about from this total sum therefore of retained by the chapters they have met all the oftentimes very heavy local demands upon them and in addition have provided for use by national headquarters products val valued tied 11 as S stated above at upwards of the chap chapters teis have in effect rp returned turned to the war council not alone the sa retained out of the war fund dues but in value alue of actual pro product duct an additional contribution of at least it will thus ibus been seen that during the eighteen months i which ditch have blaas clapso I since the united states entered the war the american people will have either paid tn in or pledged to mhd american red cross for its work of relief throughout the world tn in money or tn in mater hil values a net total of at least this outpouring of genero generosity etty in material things hasteen has been accompanied by a spontaneity tn in the giving by an en and a devotion in the doing which after nil all are greater and bigger than could be anything measured in terms of time or dollars it has been because of this spirit which lias has pervaded nil all american red cross effort inthis in this marthat war that the aged governor govern or of one of the stricken and battered provinces of france fiance stated not long since that though france had long known of americas greatness strength and enterprise it ft remained for the american lied cross in this war to rev reveal ealAm americas lien heart rt in this caun country fra at ai ahta moffiet moment int the workers worker of athe the red ltd cross bross through its chapters are helping to add to the i I 1 comfort binfor t and health of the millions of our soldiers in campi campa and canton ments as well as of those traveling on railroad trains on n ships for duty overseas the home service of the red cross cros with its now more than workers Is extending g ats its ministrations of sympathy and counsel caun sel each month to upwards of left behind b by sold tiers lers at the fiant a number ever growing with theine the increase rease of our man men under arms but of course odthe red cross and andeits its money and ways move toward and focus themselves in euro europe e where the american red across as truly the greatest mother erin in the world Is seeking to draw a ast vast letof net of mercy through an ocean of unspeakable pain red cross worth recognized nothing Is withheld that can be given over oer there tp to supplement the efforts of f our army and navy in caring for our own boys bays the red cross does not pretend to do the work of the ilie medical c corps of the army or the navy its purpose Is to help and to supplement nor does the red cross seek to what it does or those who do it ofir our satisfaction is in the result which we are assured by secretary baker general pershing general ireland and all our leaders Is of inestimable value and of indispensable importance by the first of january yow your red cross will have working in france upwards of americans A a vivid contrast to the little group of eighteen men and women which as the first red cross brohs commission to france sailed about june 1 1917 to initiate our efforts in europe under your commission to france the tha work has been carefully organized facilities have been provided and effective efforts made to so operate cooperate co with the he ormy army its as to carry out the thede determination of the american people and especially of th members of the red cross that our boys boss over there shall lack for notrip which may add to their safety and happiness your red ars now has active operating commissions in france franc e in england in italy in Beig belgium luin in switzerland in palestine and in greece you have sent a shipload shi of relief supplies and a group of devoted workers to northern russia you have dispatched a commission to work behind our armies in eastern siberia you hove sent special representatives to denmark Den Deu nark mark to serbia and to the island of madeira carries message of hope your red cross is thus thug extending relief to the armies and navies of our allies and you are carrying earr yIng a practical message of hope and relief to the friendly peoples of afflicted europe and asia indeed we are told by those best informed in the countries of our allies that the efforts of your red cross to aid the soldiers and to sustain the mora morale leof of the civilian popy populations lations left at home especially in france and italy have constituted a very real factor in winning the war the veil has already begun to lift the defection of Bil bulgaria garla which by the time this message can hi bi read inny have been followed by events still more portentous may point the way to yet greater red cross opportunity and obligation the cry from macedonia to come come and help will probably prove one of the most appealing messages to which the world has ever listened what the red cross may be called upon to do in ili the further course of the th war or with the coming of victor victory peace and reconstruction it would be idle to attempt to prophesy but your great organization in very truth the itlie mobilized heart and spirit of the whole american people has shown itself equal to any call ready to re sp 01 I 1 d to any emergency spirit of all best and highest the american red cross has his become not so touch an an organization as a great movement seeking to embody in organized form the spirit of service the spirit of sacrifice in short all that thai Is best and highest in the ideals and as nii of our country indeed we e cannot but believe that this wonderful spirit which service in and for the red cross crois has evoked in this war Is destined to become in our national life an element of permanent value at af christmas time we shall ask the aole hole amelcar american people io to answer the red cross christmas roll call it will constitute a unique repeal to every roan man woman and child in this great land of ours to become enrolled in our army of mercy jt it Is the hope of the war council that this christmas christinas membership roll call shall constitute a of the whole american people an inspiring reassertion reassert artion lon womankind to mankind that in this hour of world tragedy tr not to conquer but to serve li la americas supreme etim WAR COUNCIL OF THE ICAN RED CROSS henry P davison Dav lson chairman washington D 0 ott i |