the period from
September 8th to November 9th, 1918, with the severest epidemic America
had experienced in generations. Returning American troops brought the
germs of the malady known as "Spanish influenza" into New York and
Boston. Thence it spread throughout the country. During its brief career
the epidemic claimed a total of 82,306 deaths in forty-six American
cities, having a combined population of 23,000,000. Philadelphia, a
great center of war industry, with the Philadelphia Navy Yard harboring
thousands of sailors and marines, showed the highest mortality in
proportion to population, 7.4 per 1,000; Baltimore with 6.7 per 1,000
showed the next greatest mortality.

The record of the Red Cross in this epidemic was one of instant service.
Hundreds of thousands of masks were made in Red Cross workrooms, and
these were worn by nurses and by members of families in afflicted homes.

On May 1, 1917, just before the appointment of the War Council, the
American Red Cross had 486,194 members working through 562 chapters. On
July 31, 1918, the organization numbered 20,648,103 annual members,
besides 8,000,000 members of the Junior Red Cross--a total enrollment of
over one-fourth the population of the United States. These members
carried on their Red Cross work through 3,854 chapters, which again
divided themselves into some 30,000 branches and auxiliaries.

The total actual collections from the first war fund amounted to more
than $115,000,000. The subscriptions to the second war fund amounted to
upward of $176,000,000. From membership dues the collections
approximated $24,500,000.

The Home Service of the Red Cross with its more than 40,000 workers,
extended its ministrations of sympathy and counsel each month to upward
of 100,000 families left behind by soldiers at the front.

Supplementing, but not duplicating, the work of the American Red Cross,
were the services of the Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., Knights of Columbus,
Jewish Welfare Association, Salvation Army, American Library Association
and other bodies.

These operated under the general supervision of the War and Navy
departments: Commissions on Training Camp Activities. Raymond B. Fosdick
was the chairman of both these bodies. Concerning these commissions,
President Wilson declared:

I do not believe it an exaggeration to say that no army ever before
assembled has had more conscientious and painstaking thought given to
the protection and stimulation of its m