Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-07-28
THE RED CROSS.
The Orgahization's Aim and Scope
The Society in America.
washIngton Coz New York Herald,

Brief reference was made several
days since in the dispatches of the As
ISOLATED Press to the organization in
this city of an American association of
the Red Cross. To the public gener-
ally the name probably suggested little.
1t might be taken for the distinctive
title of some great secret society like
the Sons of Malta, or some religious or
military order like the Knights of st.
Patrick. In either case the average
reader would probably dismiss it from
his mind as something with which he
was not personally concerned. In al
most any other part of the world, how
ever, except America, the words ''red
cross" and the emblems for which
they stand would be as familiar as are
to us the words "internal revenue" or
national board of health" Every
country in Europe has society Of the
Red Cross, with auxiliary branches and
local committee, and every govern
ment in Europe recognizes its own and
other Red Cross societies rs entitled to
peculiar privileges and exemptions.
Even the semi-barbarous states of Tur-
| hCI SlIlhc VIII 1luRldnup
many, and France in an agreement to
respect and support the societies of the
Red Cross, wherever the latter may set
up their flag. The widely extended
organization which carries on its work
under the name and the sign of the
Red Cross is a confederation of relief
societies in different countries, organ
lied under the provisions of an inter-
national treaty. On the 26th of Octo-
Der, 1868, an international conference
called by committee of the Society o.
Public Utility, Of Switzerland, met az
Geneva to consider proposition rela-
tive to the formation of permanent
societies for the relief of wounded SOL
diers. At this conference, which
brought together representatives of a
number of European states, a treaty
was drawn up and offered to the pow
ers for signature, providing, first, for
the organization of soldiers relief So
cieties in the various participating
countries under distinctive name
and with distinctive flag and badge
common to all; second, for the protec-
ton in time of war of hospitals, ambu-
lances, hospital stores, and supplies for
the sick and wounded, belonging to any
of these societies; and third, for rec
ognition by belligerent powers of the
neutrality of these societies, and of an
international obligation to give safe
conduct to their surgeons, nurses and
attendants. This treaty, which was
afterward remOdeled and improved,
has received the signatures of twenty
seven governments, and under its pro-
visions relief societies, bearing gener-
ally the name Of "Red Cross" have
been organized in every country in
Europe. The sign of the red cross,
which is the national banner Of Swift
zerland with the colors reversed, was
selected as the distinguishing mark of
the treaty societies out of compliment
to the republic where the first conven-
ton was held and where the interna-
tional Red Cross committee had its
headquarters.
The aim of all the Red Cross socie-
ties is, primarily, to lessen the horrors
and miseries of war. by caring for and
supplying the wants of sick and wound
ed soldiers. Each of these societies
adopts, in its own discretion, such
methods as seem bsst suited to accom-
plish the humane purposes contemplat-
ed by the Geneva treaty. They gather
and store gifts of money and supplies
arrange hospitals, ambulances, methods
of transportation of wounded men, bu.
reaus of information, correspondence
etc. All that the most ingenious and
earnest philanthrophy could suggest
has been tried in these directions. In
the Franco-PrusSian war of 1901
the value and efficiency of the Red
Cross organization were thoroughly
tested and proved. No sooner had wal
been declared than at a signal from
Berlin German Red Cross committees
and relief squads, numbering in the az.
gregate more than two thousand per.
Sons, were sent to and distributed al
along the threatened frontier. Con
slant communication was kept up be
tween these first committees and the
central bureau, and the most perfect
order and discipline were maintained
The state afforded free transportation
and the voluntary contributions of the
people kept up the supplies of sanitary
material, so that there was never any
lack or danger of failure. With The
government transports, whether by lane
or water, went the agents of the Rec
Cross, protected by their badges anG
flag. to watch the invoices of relief sup
plies, to hasten their progress, and t.
see they were kept in good order anC
properly delivered at their destination
Depots of supplies weIe established o.
moved from place to place as exigencie:
demanded. The greatest care was TAX
en- to prevent disorder or confusion
and the best military circumspectior
and regularity everywhere prevailed
Almost fabulous sums of money wer,
received by the central Red Cross com
mittee at Berlin in the course of thi!
war and disbursed by its agents, under
its direction, in the relief of the sicl
and wounded soldiers of both armies
German and French. 1t was about III,
time of the outbreak of the Franco
German war that the first successful
step was taken by the internationa
committee of the Red Cross in Genevs
to call the attention of the people Of
the United States to the suject. TIL,
government of this country had already
been invited to sign the treaty under
which the Red Cross societies were or
ganized, but owing TO the facts that thu
conditions at the time were not favora
BILE and that nobody in this country
knew anything about the aims, objects
or workings of the Red Cross societies
the invitation was simply laid aside
without action.
In 1860 Miss Clara Barton, whose
war record has made her known il
Europe as well as in America, visited
Switzerland for the purpose of recover
ing her health. While there she was
waited upon, just at the outbreak Of
the Franco-Pussian war, by a com
mistee from the Central Society of the