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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



before— that of doing its own work iri 

 our own armed forces and at the same 

 time trying to give the greatest possible 

 help to the nations who are in desperate 

 need of that help and who are really 

 fighting our battle. 



The Red Cross is strong now as it was 

 never strong before for carrying on this 

 work, and we can go before the country 

 with absolute confidence that we can do 

 the work that the country intrusts to us ; 

 that we can handle the money, the volun- 

 tary contributions that they may make, 

 with the best possible efficiency and get 

 the best possible results. 



I know from personal observation what 



the problem is in Europe. It is beyond 

 the power of any group of men or any 

 nation to really meet those needs. But I 

 have at least a vision of seeing through- 

 out this country every individual affiliated 

 in some way with the Red Cross through 

 a Red Cross chapter or auxiliary branch. 

 Every individual that wants to help — 

 and every individual does want to help — 

 can be given a definite and practical bur- 

 den to carry, and thus help to make this 

 American National Red Cross give to our 

 allies and give to this cause one of the 

 greatest contributions toward winning the 

 war than any nation in the world has ever 

 o-iven as a voluntarv offerimj! 



THE RED CROSS SPIRIT SPEAKS 



"I kneel behind the soldier's trench, "I am your pennies and your pounds ; 



I walk 'mid shambles' smear and stench, I am your bodies on their rounds 



The dead I mourn ; Of pain afar ; 



I bear the stretcher and I bend I am you, doing what you would 



O'er Fritz and Pierre and Jack to mend If you were only where you could — 



What shells have torn. Your avatar. 



"I go wherever men may dare, 

 I go wherever woman's care 



And love can live ; 

 Wherever strength and skill can bring 

 Surcease to human suffering, 



Or solace give. 



'The cross which on my arm I wear, 

 The flag which o'er my breast I bear, 



Is but the sign 

 Of what you'd sacrifice for him 

 Who suffers on the hellish rim 



Of war's red line." 



— John II. Finlky 



