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330
ISSUES AND EVENTS v
I The Ger‘maniRed Cross inthe World War
By GEN. VON PFUEL. ‘ '
(Chairman of the Central Committee of the German Societies of the Red Cross.)
HE capacity to organize is one of the foremost fac-
ulties of the German people, and it is just that ca-
pacity which has enabled Germany to fight Victoriously
against more than one-half the world. The fine hero-
ism of the German soldier and all the sacrifices of the
German people would have been of little avail if the
resources could not have been employed just when and
where they were needed. The German army is one of
the most wonderful organizations imaginable, but the
German relief work does not stand behind. “German
Relief Work” is a phrase which has a peculiar sound
in the ears of every German.‘ It is a sacred phrase
which ties the German people closer together and which
makes brothers of people who did not know or recog-
nize one another before the war. ‘
The organization of the relief work in Germany has
made it possible for the gifts which come from America,
the distant country across the ocean, to be utilized to
the greatest advantage immediately they arrive. Sim-
ilar to the German army, the German Red Cross has
prepared in times of peace for the emergencies of war.
On the day when the mobilization orders for the army
were issued, the Red Cross mobilized as well and it
can plainly be seen now that the extensive preparations
have not been made in vain. The‘Army and Red Cross
are working hand in hand, and in the first days of the
war the women and men of the Red Cross commenced
their work. It was a whole army of people which was
distributed in accordance with the orders of the mili-
tary commanders, whilst another army of members of
the Red Cross was working at home. We have to be
very thankful to the many thousands of faithful breth-
ren and sisters who accepted the heavy duties as some-
thing natural, more so as none of them would have
been compelled to do service of any kind. They might
have stayed at home, but instead they gave up domestic
comfort in order to devote their services to those who
have been wounded for the Fatherland. Decades had
been spent in training the members of the Red Cross
and the result exceeded the most exaggerated expec-
tations.
The women of the Red Cross stand in no way behind
the men. Most of them have not left their posts from
the hour the mobilization order was made public. Their
activities are of a varied character. Not only in hos-
pitals, refreshment halls, depots, etc., are their services
urgently needed, but they are also caring for the poor
in almshouses, nurseries and numerous other places
where sound advice and medical assistance are needed.
It is generally believed that the main field of activi-
ties of the Red Cross consists in taking care of wounded
soldiers. But the nursing of the wounded is only part
of the tremendous program of the Red Cross. which
gives every kind of assistance and covers all needs
caused by the war. A glance at the war organization
of the central committee of the Red Cross Society
shows you how varied are the activities of the Red
Cross. The various branches of the society work inde-
pendently, but the central committee regulates their
work. The many departments of the central commit-
tee give a clear outline of the varied duties the Red
Cross has to fulfill. As already mentioned, the Red
Cross has prepared for many years, and therefore the
departments had been organized in times of peace and
were ready when the war broke out. The first duty
of the departments was to mobilize the Red Cross.
The male members form a department by themselves
and another department is called “Voluntary Female
Workers.” The many kinds of material are looked
after by a special department and there is another most
important branch which collects foods and recruits new
members.
‘D-uring’ war the organization is very strict, almost
military. After the outbreak of the war seven new
departments were formed in addition to the aforemen-
tioned five.
‘ The necessity for large sums of money soon made
gsilf felt and therefore a second collection department
“:1 to le established. The work was very hard, but
the aesu ts were encouraging and proved how ready
e erman nation was to make sacrifices. The Ger-
‘Tans abmadi and especially the German-Americans,
ave not. stood behind their brethren at home.- Of
COIIFSC this department will have to continue its work
:1; tgigias the war lastsnbecause the demands made on
e e Cross are steadily increasing and absorb more
and more money.
. Another departmentwhich was only established dur-
mg the War is the Prisoners’ VVar Relief Committee,
t)l;encl?Sr1stii;1al coipdmittee for establishing the ivhereabouts
the trans gbrSto‘t'lerS fand the‘-commlttge dealmg .w1th
ers Thep Gez: ion 0 packages to soldiers and prison-
Russia are beiiimn pnlS'oners' m France’ E‘.1gla.nd a.nd
of almost unsung Suptpblled with ‘an necessx-tlesllq Spite
steady work seerfimf ab 6 objections. Ail "On Wm’ and
mm. one of th s o e able ‘to cope with any situa-
Red Cross was the greatest triumphs of the‘ German
sisters who t e Jom-ne'y of the Gemimn Red Cross
wen to Russia under Danish protection.
(“V cW’'‘9W 0] the German Red Cross )
EQUALLY KIND TO FRIEND AND FOE.