The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-01-31
THE RED CROSS HOSPITAL, CHEMULPO.


the Red Cross treaty of Geneva, and that
her soldiers have shown disposition to
inflict horrible fortunes on the Japanese
prisoners, wounded or unwounded, that
fall into their hands. With the single ex-
ception of the capture of Port Arthur tho
japanese seem to have conducted them
selves with humanity In all their engage
ments with the Chinese.
Soon after the beginning of hostilities
between China and Japan Chinese officials
offered large bounties for the heads of Jap
anese soldiers, ranging from 81. so for an
officers head to 1925 for the head of a
common soldier. In the face OF such
barbarous offer Count Oyama, the Japa-
nese minister of war and the man who cap
tured Port Arthur, issued the following
humane instructions to the japanese
troops:
"Belligerent operations being properly
confined to the military and naval forcee
actually engaged, and there being no rea
son whatever for enmity between individ
uals because their countries are at war,
the common principles of humanity die
tate that succor and rescue should be ex-
tended even to those enemies who are dis
abled by wounds or disease.
The japanese troops must never forget
that, however cruel and vindictive the fee
may show itself, he must nevertheless be
treated in accordance with the acknowl-
edged rules of civilization, his disabled
succored, his captured kindly and consid
erately protected. Even the body of dead
enemy should be treated with respect.
Japanese soldiers should always bear in
mind the gracious benevolence of their au
gust sovereign and should not be more
anxious to display courage than charity"
Despite these Instructions Oyama's
troops apparently lost their heads and
their newly acquired civilization at Port
Arthur and committed barbarities of
which the japanese government has ear
nestly protested that it is heartily
ashamed.
The Red Cross society, which has been
recognized by all the civilized nations of
the world, was the creation of M. Henri
Dunant, member of the Society Of Pub
lie Utility in Switzerland. On June "a,
1859, he saw the great battle of Solferino,
when the allied French and Italian troops
routed the Austrians He was horror
stricken by the needless suffering of the
wounded, many of whom lay upon the
field for days without medical assistance.
The idea suggested itself that the great
nations of the earth should be united in a
compact that would respect civil aid to
the wounded, whether wearing their uni
form or the uniform of the enemy NJ.
Dunant was SO impressed with the idea
that he began agitating 1t, and with the
aid of the Swiss federal council confer
ence of nations was held in Geneva in o.
-
1864 followed, and there what is known as
the Red Cross treaty of Geneva was rati-
fed by 16 of the leading nations of the
world. The number has since been in
creased to 49, and the United States be-
came a party to the agreement in June,
1889.
At first the field of labor chosen for the
Red Cross was limited to war, but when
the American Red Cross society was Or
ganized Miss Clara Barton, its president,
proposed that the society extend it's field
to cover sufferers by fire, food, pestilence
and cyclone, and the international COM
mittee approved Miss Barton's plan. THE
American amendment" as it was called,
was subsequently adopted by all the ma
lions represented The good work of the
Red Cross at the Johnstown food and dur
Ing OCnor Sr6aG CalaDllL1oS mas since proved
the wisdom of Miss Barton's innovation
in Red Cross work. The foundation prin-
ciple Of the Geneva treaty is that the mo-
ment soldier is wounded or disabled by
sickness he is no longer belligerent, but
becomes a neutral, who should receive the
merciful care that is prompted by common
humanity.
Japan fell into line with the Geneva
treaty in 1886, and three years later the
emperor became president of the japanese
Red Cross association. He promptly issued
a decree forbidding the use Of the Red
Cross emblem except by the army and the
association and is an ardent champion of
the work the Red Cross endeavors to do
That he honestly believes in the principles
of the society there can be no doubt, and
through his minister of foreign affairs he
has promised to strictly investigate the
inhuman affair at Port Arthur and pun
ish the Japanese who entered upon fiend-
ish butchery of the people of the captured
town.