Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 211, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1918 — TRACES KIN IN ARMY [ARTICLE]

TRACES KIN IN ARMY

Red Cross Will Keep Relatives Informed. Bureau Will Get Information Regarding Men Wounded, Killed or Missing. Washington.—The American Red Cross, through Its bureau or communication, issued a request to the relatives of soldiers who are In the American expeditionary force, in which It asks these relatives to make inquiries regarding their kin who are in the army through the Red Cross bureau of communication in Washington instead of, as is the case in numerous Instances, of communicating with agencies pr individuals in Europe. The request was Issued in the name of Harvey D. Gibson, the American Red Cross commissioner in France. Mr. Gibson points out the fact that in a majority of cases such inquiries are merely turned over by the individual or agency to the Red Cross, which has charge of such communication with soldiers’ relatives,' and which., has developed special facilities for obtaining information about those reported killed, wounded, or missing, and those from whom letters have not been 1 received. Congestion of cables and a loss of time and energy are also occasioned by making the request other than through the Red Cross. It has been known that as many as four separate requests have been received

about the same men by different institutions. Edward M. Day, acting director of the bureau of communication, said: “The function of this bureau Is to give relatives all possible information which will lessen anxiety. Every inquiry is. handled with full realization that a prompt and full reply is of serious moment to the happiness, peace of mind, and not Infrequently tc the health of the By writing to the bureau, relatives frequently will get immediately information at hand and may be sure that search is started abroad as quickly as the case warrants.”