hy he Red Qross
mm
LEADER OF MINORITY IN HOUSE
America is going to save thousands of French
and Belgian women and children from death
by starvation or freezing this winter, but every
American must lend a hand to the work 5
BOM "Everywhere Jn France" tlicro
arc being brought to.the United States
with tlio arrival of nearly every pas
senger ship tales of devastation and
misery which ure even more tingle
than tho cabled dispatches which wo
are accustomed to read under tho
vaguo date line, "Somewhere In
France."
Many of these narratives havo been
brought by men und women who, under tho aus
pices of tho American Itcd Cross, havo been Inves
tigating conditions created by tho Invasion of tho
bun. The range of vision of these Investigators
extends from tho battle front to tho cottage hun
dreds of miles away where war's misery more In
sidious than bombs on tho fighting front has pene
trated. Woven together these nccotints make a composite
story of devastation and suffering on tho part of
aoncombntunts comparablo with tho torture en
dured by tho soldiers In tho trenches ; of refugees
Btarlng blankly at cratcrcd ureas where vtllugcs
once nourished; of thousands of children, too
foung to understand, crying for mothers who can
hot hear their cries; cf children poisoned by gas
bombs thrown from German mortars ; of emaciated
Children sent by hundreds from behind tho Germnn
lino; of crippled soldiers to re-cducnto nnd of
Civilian men and women to comfort und provide
with tho necessaries of life n story of battling
against disease nnd of the heroism of mercy.
Sometimes tho cablo supplements tales told by
returned travelers. A day or two ago, tho war
Council of tho American lied Cross received a cable
jcram from the Paris headquarters of that orgnnlza-
ton containing a slmplo statement of overy-day
ccurrcnco on tho French frontier, yet graphic In
ts portrayal of ono phaso of war's frlghtfulnoss.
t read :
The Red Cross at Evlan.
"There arrived last week at Kvlan, where tho
rcpatrles from Franco nnd Belgium are received
nclc Into France, a train loaded with Belgian chil
dren. There were G80 of them, thin, sickly, alone,
fell between ages of four nnd twelve, children of
men who refused to work for tho Germans and of
tnothcrs who let their children go rather than let
hem starve. They poured off tho train, little ones
slinging to the oldest ones, girls nil crying, boys
xylng to cheer. They had como all tho long way
ilone. On the platform were-tho Itcd Cross work
rs to meet them, doctors and nurses with nmbu
nnccs for tho llttlo sick ones were waiting out
ildo tho stntlon. The children poured out of tho
itatlou, inarched along tho street shouting. "Meat,
neat; wo are going to havo meat," to tho Casino,
where they wore given n square meal, the ilrst In
nany months. Again and again, while they ate,
hey broke spontaneously Into songs In French
t gainst tho German songs which they had evidently
earned In secret Tho Red Cross doctor examined
them. Their llttlo clawllko hands were significant
it their undernourished bodies, but tho doctor Bald:
"Wo havo them In tlmo. A few weeks of proper
feeding nnd they will pull up."
Evlan Is a French resort on Lake Geneva, nnd
Every day ono thousand homeless pcoplo arrive
hero, 00 per cent of whom are children. Thirty
per cent of tho older pcoplo dlo tho first month
from exhaustion. They were once tho occupants
of happy homes In northern Franco. Tho Iluna
Envndod their country, swept on past their homes
nd left them behind the enemy's lino. Tho Invaders,
bow their masters, impressed them Into labor and
transported thousundn of them to work In German
(lohls nnd factories. Those who are returned by
tho thousand dally bj train through Switzerland
are all that ure left of theso men nnd women nnd
children manhood and womanhood sapped until
tho vital spark is almost out nnd, no longer of uso
as German captives, sent bnck to dlo or to be
pared for in their helpless condition by their own
bcoplo from whom they had been ruthlessly taken
kway in their health nnd strength.
' Hope for Kaiser's Victims,
i Thanks to tho American Red oross, coming to
tho assistance of tho ovcrburdenod French ngen
tics for mercy, there is hope for these unfortuu
ites. Besides n hospital and convalescent homo
tor children at Bvlnn, tho Bed Cross is opcrntlng
in uuibuluuco service for tho returning rcpatrles.
Con automobiles are in commission for handling
lck nnd infirm persons, nnd n tuberculosis hos
ltal near by is planned. When tho returning re
entries' reach tho railroad station nnd hnvo been
dieerlngly greeted by crowds of compatriots, they
iro taken In chnrgo by Bed Cross workers. Nour
ishment is provided und medical attention be
itowcd. Baths are made nvallatilo and fresh cloth
ng is Huppllcd. According to American eyo wit
lesses of scenes at the railway station at Bvlnn,
ihere nro men in tho ranks who hnvo suffered
jrolcen arms, tho bones of which hnvo been set by
in Germans so that tho hnnd is turned the wrong
sny. They present n horrlblo deformity, denoting
)l form of cruelty which excuses itself on tho
ground that the man, should he ever regain his
former strength, will bo unlit for military duty.
.a tunny of theso cases American Bed Cross doc
ton havo been put to tho doubly pnlntul task of
agttta breaking the arm nnd resetting It, so as
to remove tho terrible deformity purposely In
flicted. William Allen Whlto of Knnsus and Henry J. Ai
der), who Is prominent in the public life of tho
sairto state, lire among tho Bed Cross workers
Win recently hnvo returned from tours of Inspec
tion in France. According to their statements it Is
scarcely possible to exuggerato tho suffering
brought upon tho civilian population of the coun
try a suffering, however, thut is being alleviated
to the greatest possible extent by tho American
Red Cross, which is Bending Its experts, its urmy
bf volunteers and Its trensuro without stint, Ac
feording to Mr. White, the real work of tho war, so
tor as America is coaccrned, will bo corded on by
ffce Bed Cross la France this winter. Not only
1,1 K.&r 3&&$
is it planned to deal with all the acute suffering,
such as Is summarized above, and to reconstruct
mnny villages In tho devastated war zone so as
to give tho refugees a fresh start In life nnd pre
pare the way for again cultivating the soli, but it
Is tho purpose to apply tho American system of
"Homo Service" on a scalo so grand that It Is
bound to have a heartening effect on tho whole
French military organization, for the French sol
diers fight better when they know their loved
ones nro being cared for.
In furtherance of this great scheme, designed to
bring comfort nnd cheer In tho family of every
French Boldlcr thnt Is needy, General Pershing,
General Pctaln, commander In chief of the French '
forces, nnd MnJ. Gen. M. P. Murphy, American Bed
Cross commissioner, have formed themselves Into
n committee of co-operation. Company officers will
go through their ranks nnd nscertuln from each
soldier whether ho has any worry on his mind
concerning sickness or wunt at home. Boports
will be made to headquarters weekly and not a
slnglo enso will bo overlooked In tho relief work
that Is to bo guided by tho nddresses of families
listed. Special attention will bo given to tho treat
ment and prevention of tuberculosis, which has as
sumed proportions almost ub deadly us tho Infernal
machinery of war Itself. Food and clothing will
bo supplied when necessary and tho spirit und
courage of tho previously depressed soldier In tho
trenches will bo enlivened by tho news thut his
fumlly Is having Its wants attended to.
"Tho grpat struggle of tho winter will bo tho
economic struggle," said Mr. White. "Tho Bed
Cross practically will fight tho American fight un
til our boyB tuko their places on tho firing lino
next spring. It should bo kept In mind thut every
French soldier who is suved this winter means tho
A Bomb Raid by Shell-Light
The picture of n night attack executed by tho
English on a German trench In Franco Is drawn
in tho Cornhlll Magazine by Boyd Cublo:
"Tho hour chosen for tho raid was Just about
dusk. There was no extra-special preparation
Immediately boforo it. Tho guns continued to
pour In their fire, speeding it up a llttlo, perhnps,
but no more than they hud dono a score of times
In the Inst 24 hours. Tho Infantry clambered out
of their trench nnd filed out through tho narrow
openings In their own wire entanglements.
"Out iu front a faint whlstlo cut across tho roar
of Are. 'They're off said tho forward officer Into
Ills 'phono, and a moment later n distinct chnngo
In tho noto of sound of the overhead shells told
that tho Are hud lifted, that tho shells wore pass
ing higher nbove ids head, to fall farther back in
tho enemy trenches nnd leavo cleur the stretch
into which tho infantry would soon bo pushing.
"For n minute or two there wns no change in
tho sound of battle. Tho thunder of the wins
continued steadily, a burst of rlllo or muchlne
gun lire crackled as spasmodically.
"Men gulped In their throats or drew long
breaths of apprehension thnt this was the begin
ning of discovery of their presence in the open,
the first of tho storm they knew would quickly
follow. But there wcro no more shells for the
moment, nnd tho rnttlo of machine gun flro di
minished and tho bullets piped thinner nnd more
distant ub the gun muzzle swept around. Tho in
fantry hurried on, thankful for ovory yard made
in safety.
"But nt tho nttacklng point tho infantry wore
almost across when the storm burst, nnd the
shells for the most part struck down harmlessly
behind them. Tho men were Into the fragments
of broken wire, and tho shuttered parapet loomed
up under their hands a mlnuto after tho first uticll
burst. Up to this they hnd advanced in silence,
but now they gnvo tongue nnd with wild yells
leaped at the low parapet, scrambled over and
down into tho trench. Behind them a few form
twisted nnd sprawled on tho broken ground, but
they were no sooner down than running stretcher
bearers pounced on them, lifted nnd bore them
buck to tho shelter of their own Hues.
"In tho Germnn trench tho raiders worked and
fought at desperato speed, but smoothly nnd on
whut was clearly n settled and rehearsed plan.
There were few Germans to be seen, and most of
these crouched dazed and helpless, with hands
over their heads. Tlicy were promptly seized,
bundled over tho parapet, nnd told by word or
gesture to ho off. They waited for no second bid
t dlug, but rau with heads stooped nnd hands nbovo
their heads straight to the British line, ouo or
two men doubling after them as guards. Soma
of the prisoner were struck down by their owu
guns' shellilre, nfcd theso wcro Just ub promptly
grabbed by tho stretcher hearers and hurried In
under cover.
A 7VQE&CIJLOSS VSCTJfif 7S
saving of an American boy
when tho big drlvo begins a
few months hence."
L. D. Wlshard of California,
a schoolmate of President
Wilson, well known for his
Interest In Y. M. C. A. work
as well as that of tho Ameri
can Bed Cross, Is another re
cently returned observer from
France. He brought n doubly
Interesting story. First, the
nwfulness of muny conditions
existing; and, secondly, the
great work the Bed Cross Is
doing and tho much greater
work it is preparing to do to
meet all tho conditions sclen-
tlDcally and energetically.
Mr. Wlshard expressed the
samo view as William Allen Whlto regnrdlng
tho Importnnco of giving primary attention to the
economic side of tho equation dur.lng the winter
months. He quoted General Pershing nB saying
that the greatest thing that tho Bed Cross can do
at present to insure victory Is to stund by tho fam
ilies of French soldiers.
Gas Bombs Poison Soil.
An interesting fact dwelt upon by Mr. Wlshard
during u visit to Washington was that of the pois
oning of the soil In agricultural regions by the
gases spread over the country by tho Germans. It
is stated that this gas bus worked Its Insidious way
deep Into tho ground, so thnt unless heroic means
are discovered nnd applied It will be years and
yenrs before the land is fit for cultivation of nny
sort. Tho devastation, ho says, Is beyond anything
In the history of tho world, with shell craters so
thick that plowing of onco fertile fields is abso
lutely Impossible. Yet in this hopelessly devasta
ted region tho Bed Cross has set to work to repair
some villages and to restore certain agricultural
communities, not nlono for tho humanity directly
Involved with respect to tho peoplo who will thus
hnvo shelter and menus to go to work, but as an
exnmplo to tho thousands of otliers nnd an inspi
ration to them to start In nnd begin life anew. The
hopelessness of it all might seem complete from a
single lnstunco cited by Mr. Wishurd that of a
man who hud owned a mill In u village nenr Ver
dun, who told him that when ho went to look for
tho spot on Which It stood ho hud to take a survey
or along to locate it
It Is Into tho hopelessness of hundreds of situa
tions akin to this that tho American Bed Cross Is
advancing with its banner of mercy nnd Its bugle
blast of inspiration.
So help tho Bod Cross I
"Up nnd down tho selected nrcn of front line
trench tho raiders spread rapidly. There were
several dugouts under tho pnrapet, and from some
of them gray-coated figures crawled with their
hnnds up on tho first summons to surrender.
lhese, too, were bundled over tho parapet. If a
shot came from tho black mouth of tho dugout
In answer to tho call to surrender, it. was prompt
ly bombed. At either end of the nrcn of front
lino marked out ob the limits of tho raid strong
pnrtlcs made n block and beat off the feeblo at
tacks thnt wcro modo on them."
NEW WRITING IMPLEMENT.
A writing Implement composed of n mixture
of wax and finely ground pumlco stono contnln
ing particles of ink has been invented by Wllllnm
0. Geor of Akron, O., to tuko tho placo of ordlnury
ana fountain pens, pencils, crayons and all other
writing implements, snys the Popular Science
Monthly. As the body of tho now writing device
Is composed of a mixture of wnx and pumice
stone, which Is easily worn nwny when rubbed
against n paper surface, tho inventor claims that
the cells of ink Intermixed with tho wnx and pum
ice stone will also bo liberated, giving a uniform
supply of ink.
The device is made by mixing tho wax, pumice
stone nnd Ink together. When it is heated to the
proper temperature it is suddenly Immersed in
cold water. This chills and solidifies tho wnx
mixture, producing n body having n cellular struc
ture, each cell being filled with Ink.
SOLDIER 8CRAPBOOK8.
Have you begun saving Jokes and pictures for
"Snmmle's" scrnpbook? Kipling stnrted these
scnipboolcs in England for tho wounded "Tom
my," eo of courso It's n good idea.
A SAD CAGE OF SUICIDE.
There Is n very pompous artist in New York
who used to have a senso of humor. Ills quips
were kndwn everywhere. Now, however, since
be has gained considerable vogue, ho Is taking
himself and his work very seriously.
Owen Johnson, tho novelist, Baw him in n res
tnurnnt tho other night, sitting solemnly alone.
"Too hnd," ho said, real pity and tenderness
In his voice. "Poor Arthur I He hns severed his
Jocular vein."
HIS POINT OF VIEW.
"Mike, didn't you tell mo once yon hnvo n
brother who Is a bishop?" usked tho contractor.
"Yes, sor. I did that."
"And hero you are a hod carrier. Well, things
of this life nro not equnlly divided, are they,
AllKor'
"No, Bor," replied the Irishman, nhouldering bis
hod and starting up tho ladder; "Indnde they is
not. Poor felly 1 Ho couldn't do this to save his
lolfe, Borl"
At this session of congress the
country Is to become better acqunlnted
with Mr. Glllett of Massachusetts, Ke-
publlcan house leader In the absence
of Mr. Mann. Ho Is by no means n
stranger. Ho has been u member of
every house since, nnd Including, the
Fifty-third. He is a veteran therefore
In point of service, and his present po
sition testifies to how well ho hns
served. An ndvlscr all along, and a
valued one, of other leaders, he has
had a good schooling, nnd his own
chnnco nt leadership now has come. Ho
could not havo asked for a better time
or a larger opportunity for the display
of his powers. The house is going to
bo very much In evidence for months.
In some things it must take the Initia
tive, and in all things Us part will be
prominent.
Mr. Glllett is a Republican without
limitations. Ho stands for the best
traditions of tho party, and in his long
service as a legislator has helped shape many Important measures on the
party's lines. His Is the Springfield district, whero the people tako their
politics seriously.
Mr. Glllett faces a period of hard work hard enough to tax the capacity
and the patience of even nn old congressional hand. War measures and other
measures carrying new propositions nnd enormous amounts of money are on
the card and will soon bo in hand ; and once the grind begins there will be no
let up until the work is done.
1 '
IS BUILDING NATION'S AIR FLEET
An automobile engineer with n vi
sion came out of tho West and crys
tallzed the thought of the United States
along n new line that of tho depend
ence of a rfiUIon at war upon Industry.
Now this same engineer is giving the
best illustration of the war of the ap
plication of his theory, for he Is build
ing tho nation's air fleet, which, h
holds, will win tho war for tho allies
next summer.
Tho man in question is Howard E
Cofilu, chairman of "tho aircraft pro
ductlon board. His Job Is to get air
planes ready at the earliest posslbU
moment. H(, has 040,000,000 given
him by congress for tho purpose. H
is working fast, but there are manj
difficulties. He is one of those "lt-can't-be-done-but-here-lt-ls"
men. His Job
Is to build three times as many air
planes In six months as all tho rest oi
tho world can build in a year. Ho in
tends to do it. Howard B. Coffin used
to bo a letter carrier. For four years after he graduated from the Unlvcrsltj
of iilchlgan he was in the federal civil service. It was not until 1000 that he got
his start in the automobllo game. Soon he became tho Idea man for a large
automobile company, then chief engineer. In ten yenrs ho had evolved threo
automobile engines in succession that were revolutionary In tho Industry. Tha
one-time letter carrier hnd become tho recognized genius of that Industry that
had blossomed in a decade as had no other.
GRATEFUL FOR AID GIVEN FRANCE
Cnpt. Andre Tardleu, French high
commissioner to the United States, in
reviewing his work in America, after
his return to France, made this state
ment: "It reranlns for us to create, In
conformity with tho desire of the Unit
ed States and in the common interest,
real unity In tho direction of military
und economic affairs. That will be tho
work of tho coming weeks."
Captain Tardleu said that, in or
der to gain time in the delivery of cer
tain armament, the United States had
placed orders In France amounting to
more than $200,000,000.
The commissioner expressed him
self as pleased with tho special and
easy terms on which nil transactions
with the United States were effected,
referring particularly to tho fact that
the United States undertook tho trans
portation of mnterials ordered for
Franco with the understanding thnt
the flnnnclnl settlement Involved would bo put over until after the war. One
particular manner In which tho United States had greatly aided France, Cap
tain Tardleu said, was In shipping 2,000 agricultural Implements for the agri
cultural department In five months.
"France knew she could count on tho United States," Captain Tardleu
added, "but all our hopes have been surpassed."
"to
TO BUILD AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE
In nn organization which Is being
reofllcered with men whose slogan is
"Speed" and whose exclusive duty Is
to turn out n new American merchnnl
marine of 0,000,000 tons or so with all
tho dispatch possible, Rear Admiral
Frederjc R. Harris Just naturally fits,
When Admiral Harris was appoint
ed on November 24 to tnko the office ol
general manager of tho Kraergencj
Fleet corporation some of Washing
ton remarked tho uninformed part ol
Washington thnt It wns too bad that
a man of such attainments should
havo this hoodoo Job wished on him
by ills superiors. But his associates
are of a different opinion. He 1ms
tackled hoodoo Jobs before, not n few
of them, in fact, and by his energy, his
practical sense nnd his determination
he has charmed away whatever evil
Influence may have hedged them abouL
Tho fact that Chairman E. N. Hur
ley of tho flipping board has been put
ting tho machinery of tho Emergency Fleet corporation Into high gear for tho
first time since its organization and has been tearing away tho red tapo that
bound its operations will crcnto a scene of activity at tho corporation ofllcea
quite In keeping with the temperament of Admiral Harris. He is accustomed
to act with swiftness.