Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-01
Clara Barton Talks ON The situation.

Clara Barton Talks On The situation.
WAsH1NeroN; April 3O.-The headquarters
of the American Red Cross association are
located in Washington, the home Of Miss
Clara Barton, the president Of the American
branch. Miss Barton ever SINCE she repre-
sented this country in the Geneva Red Cross
conference has been in cornmuni cation with
the leaders of this worldwide humane organ
ization abroad and no one in this country has
watched more closely the course of affairs in
Europe Miss Barton does not hesitate to
express her fears that great struggle is inn
pending there between England and Russia
and in an interview with a United Press
representative to-day stated very fully some
of the reasons other than the surface indica-
tions reflected in the daily newspaper
reports which lead her to believe that war is
imminent. Miss Barton said: t'From the
close relations existing between the Red
Cross and the military movements. of the
various nations it is impossible that the for
mer should fail to note with sensitive accu-
racy the warlike pulse beat of the world.
Directly under the patronage of the crowned
heads, its national presidents selected from
active rulers, high staff officers, generals,
surgeon generals and princes of the line, it
is these persons whom it inevitably brings
into confidential and familiar correspondence,
the very genius of which insures its being
handled with great reserve. That there has
existed during the past year greatly increased
activity in the movements of the Red Cross
the world over has been to me
noticeable fact and that this increased
activity has been the result of
quickened apprehensions of impending war
| in Europe is at least a strong presumptiye
fact The Red Cross association is both
humanely and legally geared to the great
| war chariots of SO called civilization; its ma
| chinery must move with theirs and the world
has come to regard it as significant
when its bearings are being inspect
and its axles oiled. It is sig
| nifcant," said Miss Barton, 'fthat
last year has felt it necessary to call con-
ference of its thirty military powers to per-
| sonally advise in regard to the most effec-
| tive methods of war relief. It was significant
that the Empress of Germany president of
the Red Cross association of Germany should
| at that time have offered valuable prize
and gold medal for the best movable field
hospital the world could invent
and that her Philanthropic daughter, the
| Grand Duchess Louise of Baden, should
have been willing to take upon herself the
labo. and responsibility of another confer
ence in three years, sooner if needed, and
to offer her court for its assemblage. From
Rome last month came information that the
King had made new and high APP
pointment to the presidency of the
Red Cross of Italy and from Brussels last
week that Monsignor LIE Pruna LIE Vigne has
willingly accepted the presidency of the Red
| Cross of Belgium"
''For months past, :" said Miss Barton, mot
many days have passed conseeutively with
out bringing to the headquarters of the
American Red Cross fresh evidence of the
approach of war sooner or later to sweep
/ over the old lands. I have mentioned
only shadowy lines as we see them and have
long seen them reflected upon the worlds
broad disc of the magnitude of the real OBJ
| jects lying below and back of them or where
the clouds will gather and the lightning
strike. These are yet problems not only to
us who are watching, but probably equally
SO to those who are willingly unwillingly
| trying their hands at the manufacture of the
| thunder for which we daily listeu."