San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-08-16
THE RED CROSS IN JAPAN.


seems to have noticed in the recent
war between Japan and China, and
that is, one country has Red Cross
service, very extensive and complete,
and the other has none at all; in fact,
not even a medical department..
Strangely enough, the Chinese, despite
their knowledge and thoughtfulness In
other matters, pursue war almost ex-
actly as they did long ago. They al
low for SO many men being killed and
wounded, captured and missing, and
even for large number to be de-
stroyed by disease, privation and the
neglect of wounds and injuries, with
out making any exertion to prevent
them. They take the old-fashioned
view that these are part Of the loss
Of the war and are not worth bother
ing about. The result may be easily
imagined. Thus far they have lost
three or four times as many soldiers
from preventable causes as they have
by battle. The Japanese, on the
other side, formed Red Cross society
long ago; in fact, l believe, several
years before the Americans did.
In Japan the head of the society is the
empress, and she has around her a large
number of assistants who have charge
Of smaller societies These in turn
have special committees, Of which each
member is the head of Q still smaller
local club. They contribute gener-
ously to the Red Cross, and besides that
there is a provision whereby the gov
eminent gives a small amount in times
of peace and large one during war.
The societies make up bandages, lint
and other medical and surgical appii-
ances, and from the first whisper Of
war make these things in vast quanti-
ties and send them promptly to the
front. Many Of the members have
taken lessons from physicians and I'M
derstand how to treat the wounded and
in many cases to perform slight opera
tions. When the army was ready for
movement the Red Cross army was also
ready to accompany it. 1t was organ
lied in military fashion, drilled and
disciplined.
Every person had place and knew
what to do. From the opening of the
war until to-day they have made a
good record for themselves. In Corea
they treated the Chinese and Coreans
with the same care and tenderness as
their own people. 1t was a novelty
and surprise to these soldiers which
won their hearts. They expected the
same treatment which they would
have bestowed upon their captives-
| IL, II, 81
service we have both men and women
and also servants or laborers. These
are to do such heavy work as trans
porting their supplies and carrying the
wounded off the battlefield, and where
there are accommodations ready to the
hospital. Among the male members
of the Red Cross army there are many
physicians, especially young men, who
have just begun their profession. Most
of these have come from the university
l at Toxic. The women members in
4 clude few trained nurses of ability
e who in their leisure hours have acted
' as instructors to the rest. There arr
4 over thousand in the service, and tn,
9 number will be increased just as rap
d idly as the armies in the field are in
creased. The organization is yer,
$ popular among both the people a
d home and the soldiers far away. From
r the former it receives steady stream
e of money, goods and supplies, and iron
: the latter it receives compliments
G courtesies and favors of all sorts. o.
n many occasions the soldiers have pu
Q up the Red Cross tents and arrange
:, everything ready for the occupants be
s fore they began work upon their OWE
9 We feel very proud of the organizatio
, and think that it will be admired by a,
u other peoples when they come to knoV
s how much work they have accom-
"a plished, and how well 1t has all bee
done.-N. Y. Mail and Express.