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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 1918)
mcm red gross canteen*: :* ♦ SERVICE FOR NEGRO TROOPS ft '.WHEN THIS HAPPENS EN ROUTE TO CAMP OR POINT HE KNOWS THAT SOMEBODY CARES. T®' _ a. /\ * OVER 65,000 women are now actively enrolled ns workers In the 700 American Red Cross canteens extending from the most northern point in Cana da to the most southern In the United Btates and from the Pacific to the At lantic. Together with the canteen kitchens, medical supplies and small transfer hospitals, they comprise the equipment of the Canteen service, primarily organized to stimulate the morale of the soldiers and to let them know that the country is with them and appreciates the sacrifice they are making. It was also organized for the purpose of meeting emergencies which may nrlse with troops In transit—un avoidable delays, accidents, supplies exhausted, sudden Illness or accidents to the men en route. The American Red Cross Canteen Service Is .one branch of the service which, owing to Its nature, requires a certain amount of secrecy. The United States Is a tremendous coun try, with miles of track, and Its troops are spread over tremendous areas. Men are sent from their home towns to camps, troops nre moved from one camp to another, and they are shipped from camps to embarkation points and sent overseas, but wherever they are they find the American Red Cross has already blazed the trail and is there * "on the Job." This service, like all efforts In behalf of the soldiers, sailors and marines on duty In the armed serv ice of the United States, both of this country and in Europe, Is rendered to white and colored officers nnd enlisted men alike, without distinction. Blx hundred negro sold rs were aerved recently by an American Red Cross canteen at n point In Arkansas. In a press rejiort of the work It was stated: “It will be a long time before the activities of that great organiza tion, the American Red Cross, will perform a better service, or one that gives the good women, both white nnd colored, more pleasure. They were en listed colored men coming direct from their farms nnd homes In Louisiana, going to a strange city and surround ings. They were a timid set when they stepped off the train here like a drove of lost sheep, hut there was a far different feeling when they left. The Interest shown in them here made new nnd fighting men out of them. \ They will take their places In the trenches Just like the white soldier, nnd every time one of them does It he takes the place of your boy or my boy. He's an American soldier, and all hon or Is due the splendid work of our Canteen women and their colored wo men helpers." Negro Auxiliaries. Mnny cities of the South are irgnn izlng colored auxiliary canteen com mittees. The colored canteen In New Orleans Is In charge of a very fine col ored woman of education and a gradu ate nurse. The canteen lias headquar ters on the ground floor of the Pythian Temple, owned entirely by negro capi tal. It has five large rooms, well equip ped for rest and recreation, and to date has entertained every batch of negro selects leaving for cantonments. It Is maintained by New Orleans Chap ter funds. At some points, notably In Texas, Canteen service Is maintained to give refreshments to the aviators nt their Wilding fields. In some of the lurge -oud yurils model canteen buildings AMERICAN RED CROSS CANTEEN WORKERS - GIVE THE SAME SERVICE TO NEGRO TROOPS. AS TO WHITE MEN. have been erected, and all troop trains are switched on either side of them that the men may he served quickly and efficiently. Upon the return recently of the na tional field secretary to the national headquarters of the American lied Cross, after n three months’ transcon tinental tour of the canteen stations, she presented a list of delightfully varied cooling refreshments served the troops—lists registering Ingenuity and thrift In utilizing local resources to make an appetizing and attractive menu for the hoys. The prime re quisite, of course, In the summer months was something cool, refreshing and perfectly harmless—Inexpensive and easy to prepare and serve In targe quantities on short notice. Soap and water and towels, while not on the menu exactly, were Immensely appre ciated, and flowers were a real refresh ment. All were enthusiastically re ceived by the men after a hot and dirty trip. Interesting “sidelights" on the Can teen activities the length and breadth of the country find their way Into the national headquarters of the American Red Cross and give one a very human Insight Into the work. In one city where It wns known that nineteen nurses were to pass through on the train, en route overseas, twelve canteen workers In uniform boarded the train on Its arrival and presented each nurse with a beautiful red rose. They were quite overcome and declar ed the courtesy wns one of the nicest things that had ever happened to them. He Got Ninety! At another canteen station a lone negro was served. He had been in France, had been wounded and wns sent home on a furlough to get well. “Yessum,” he said, "I wus hit In the arm and the knee. And I got so mud when I was hit I grabbed my gun and I sure let her go. Yessum, I’se satis fied—got ninety of them Germans 1” En route to Waynesvllle hospital, a sergeant with six Invalid soldiers ap plied to the American Red Cross Can teen at a station for a more suitable lunch for the men than could be found In the regular lunch room. Service was given Immediately and eggs, fruit, milk, etc., supplied to the men. This Is hut one of many Instances that demonstrate the efficiency of the Can teen service In emergencies. A soldier who had not seen his moth er for years found he was to pnss through his “home town" nnd wrote her to that effect, asking that she meet him at the train. The message did not reach her. Naturally, eery much disappointed not to tinil iter at tile station, the boy's woe-begotie ex pression attracted the attention of a canteen worker. When site heard Ids story she immediately started out in her car, found the mother, motored her to the station and had the pleasure of witnessing a very happy reunion of mother and son before duty called him overseas. Canteen workers often supply the messages for the “folks hack home" that are written on the post cards dis tributed by the American Red Cross throughout Its Canteen service. This Is done In cases where the men are unable to write themselves. Recently a distribution of the cards was made to a number of colored troops, and many of the Canteen workers were cnlled upon to do the writing. In com menting upon the Incident one of the workers said: "The giving was not all on otir part, for when they returned from their exercises through the city the colored men were formed In a hol low square by their Commandant and the ‘talent’ of the regiment ordered out. The singing was beautiful and the clog dancing entertaining." The colored men were so pleased with their treatment that several of them made speeches, and one spokesman stated that he was going to have the Ameri can Red Cross Canteen “writ up" when he got to where he was going. "It wns the supper hour, but my com mittee was at ibe station at work on ham sandwiches nnd preparing coffee within twenty minutes after notifica tion of the time of arrival of the troops,” says a Canteen captain In a recent report. “When the train arriv ed my five ladles served nice fresh country ham sandwiches from large trays garnished with lettuce. I had to call in the husbands, as we bad only twenty minutes to serve eleven coaches. After serving the sandwiches and coffee we made the second trip around, and each boy aboard received a Red Cross chocolate bar nnd ciga rettes. Kvory single hoy was courteous and orderly, nnd tlielr appreciation was the sweetest tiling I ever saw.' O “This is swell and helps a fellow a lot,” said a big ollve-drabbed boy after partaking of canteen refreshments at 1 MANY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS CHAPTERS HAVE WELL-ORGANIZED NEGRO CANTEEN'AUXILIARIES. a point in the west. “And If It weren’t for one thing I and my chum could come mighty near being happy now.” “Tell us about that one thing that makes you unhappy. Maybe we can fix it.” smilingly encouraged n charm ing Canteen worker. “Well, we're broke, and no one can fix that but uur dads, and they nre 'way up In Washington. We haven’t time to wire for extra money—and there you are,” said the lad with a wistful smile. < “That’s easy," said the Canteen girl. “We’ll send the wires for you and have the money sent to your next stop.” “Hurrah for you!” cried the boys. And ns they hoarded the out-going train they wore quite a different look ing expression from that which they registered Just a few minutes before. Prom the foregoing, which is in re ality hut a “flash" of tlie great Can .teeti service in operation, one receives but tlie barest outline of tlie far-reach ing effect of Mils branch of the Ameri can Red Cross activities In tills coun try. Workers Take Oath. | The American Red Cross furnishes nil commanders of troop trains, con ductors and railway officials with a S Canteen directory, embracing the I mimes of tlie chapters which have or ganized Canteen units. Upon being | given tlie briefest possible telegraphic notice these chapters are prepared to render assistance of all kinds to troops i n route. Troop train commanders, hav ing government funds for the purpose, pay tlie government rate for rations or dered. In cases of accident or sickness occurlng cn route medical assistance land ambulance service are arranged I for if requested in advance. Some of i lie Canteens, designated ns “transfer stations," have Immediate ambulance service for transferring sick and wounded service men to hospitals, as well as specially prepared food for sick soldiers In transit. All official American Red Cross Can teen Workers nre carefully Investigat ed and enrolled under oath of al legiance, and the woven shield of the Canteen worker, bearing the Ked Cross Insignia, is worn conspicuously when on active duty. The officers of a Canteen unit Includes a captain, first and second lieutenants, a supply clerk and a mail clerk. The size of the Can teen unit depends largely on the fre quency of the troop movements through its location. It is estimated that n unit of fifteen women can serve five hundred men. At first both Army officers and rail way men felt that the Canteen service was not a necessity, In that it duplicat ed the provisions of the Government and the railroads. Hut observers in both Army and railroad service have come to acknowledge that the Canteen is a unique addition to troop transpor tation. At a time when the whole ma chinery of travel Is geared to an un heard-of speed, It Is Inevitable that ac cident and weather should result in unforeseeable delay and discomfort— the prolongation of Journeys far be yond their expected time often de pletes the troop stores, nnd the enor mous travel on the railroads often lim its the available railway supplies. The American Ited Cross canteen service assists the officer conducting trans portation by giving him an Immediate depot of supplies and helps the rail road by feeding the troops in the rail road yard, thus preventing congestion at the station. In one city the president of the rail road ordered a freight car given the American Ited Cross. It was equipped with light and gas and placed on a side-track near the railway station. The canteen unit is thus able to keep the coffee hot and have refreshments on hand for the Incoming troop trains, and it also serves as a protection to the workers against cold while waiting for the trains. The equipment of nn American Ited Cross canteen is Just exactly what a community decides to make it. Some canteens in the larger centers nre high ly developed, while others embrace the minimum equipment. All ure do ing a wonderful work in which It Is o pleasure to have u bhare. POLITICAL PALAVER Be sure you are registered so you can vote. You must state what your party is, republican, democrat, socialist, prohi bition; but at the regular election you don’t have to vote any straight ticket. You may vote for whatever candidate or candidates you wish. You may vote straight or split your ticket. /Charles Unitt should receive your vote for county commissioner. He is all right. Harry Pearce, register of deeds, gave employment to two competent Colored clerks, Guy Singleton, who resigned to resume his position with the government, and Rufus Jxrng, who was called to the colors in August and is now on the way overseas. Pearce deserves re-election. Vote for him. We want positions and jobs, no paltry donations and men W'ho give our people employment should receive our support. Don’t forget Julius S. Cooley, can didate foi municipal judge. In season and out of season, he has done what ever he could to find employment and help our people in any way he could. Now stand by him. Edwin Huntley, editor of the Med iator, is a candidate for the legis lature on the democratic ticket. He frankly states that he wants votes. He’s going to get our vote, because we like him. We hope some of our friends who value our opinion will also vote for him. Those who think that Albert W. Jef feris is going to have a walk-away with Charles O. Lobeek have got an other think coming. Congressman Lobeek has made many staunch and fast friends by his cheerful willing ness to serve his constituents, irre spective of party, race, religion or color. This is a strong political asset for any man. The probability is that Jefferis will be elected, but it is going to take work to do it. He will need every vote he can get. Mullen, common, woolly weed of a dull green color. Found in meadows and pastures and in out of the way places. Absorbs a good deal of mois ture, but neither pigs nor cows will eat it. WHITES OBJECT TO NATIVES HAVING ALL UNSKILLED LABOR Transvaal, S. A., Oct. 16.—The Transvaal is now discussing whether unskilled labor shall be the exclusive property of Kaffir natives or whether white men shall be employed for such work. There is considerable differ ! ence of opinion in the matter, and al ! though certain interests oppose the j employment of white men at com paratively high wages, several news papeis and organizations are strongly in favor of educating white men to perform all important work of the country. One objection to the employment of white men for unskilled work is that it may bar blacks from employment of any kind. White labor now has a mo nopoly of the skilled trades and there is a possibility that the high wages for white unskilled labor may cause employers to hire white men exclu sively, as they refuse to pay the same money to blacks. NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND SOLDIERS Washington, D. C., Oct. 25.—Con servative estimates place the number of Colored soldiers now in the United States army establishment on both sides of the ocean at little less than 400,000. Painless Extraction Have those old teeth removed and j protect your health. 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