The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-16
RED CROSS GROWTH
Societies Formed Since the Gentva
Convention Was Signed.
FORTY NOW IN EXISTENCE
The British Society Inaugurated In
IS7O-How Germany Has Or
ganized Her System of Relief
The American Society.

signed. in 1864 trere have been formed $
40 National Red Cross societies. Each {
OF these associations has an indepeh-
dent national existence; they are quite
distinct from each other but they nave ,
one international object-the amehora-
ton of sick and wounded soldiers IN
time of war. They are all more or less
kept in communication with each other
by the international committee OF the
Red Cross. the eight members OF Whlch
are Swiss gentlemen with an of1ce III
Geneva From this office quarterly
publication is issued under the tue OF
Bulletin International, which helps 10
I keep the different committees informed
| of the work that is being carried on
under the smybol which all recognize
| All the continental societies are more
! or less under official control ana they
work with and to a great extent uhueI
the direction and supervision or the
military authorities. They are support
/ ed by annual subscriptions, IN some
! cases assisted by government subVen-
tions, and the organization is nam
tanned in time of peace as Wen as our
ing war The British National Aid So
ciety was not inaugurated until july /
1870 when France and Germany were .
deeply engaged in their mighty strug-
Gle: IL was organized primarily Tor T
work in that war. with munifcent SUD
scriptions, but without suflclent Tune
for deliberate preparation. In conse-
uuence of this haste the British sec
ton due entirely to private initiative
and lberality, is somewhat spasmodlc
in its action; il is virtually dormant
in time of peace, and II asks lot no
annual subscriptions from those VINO
contribute to it's funds and give per-
sonal help in time of war There are
several other undertakings in Great
Britain animated by the same beneNo-
lent object: and their multiplication,
necessitating numerous committees anu
individuals whose efforts are Tor the
same or kindred objects, have led TO a
wasteful expenditure of time and ener-
CIV that the other national societies
have escaped through being practically
! under governmental control
In Germany, as might be expected
s from a military power, the government
has fully recognized the great adVan-
r tage derived TO the army from volun-
I tary aid to the sick and wounded, pro-
Vided II can, when required, De COM
( pletely militarized. In time OF peace
e every latitute is allowed to the aid So
cieties of the different states compos-
8 ing the empire, but the moment Ger
II many becomes involved in war, the di-
rection of the whole force comes under
1t the MANAGEMENT of the body or dele
DO gates chosen from all the societies oi
those states; and the chief COMMITTEES
- acts under the control of a commissarS
in INSPECTOR on behalf of the government
In each state an influential committee
ry of ladies has been united with that o.
he the men; but to the ladies' association
exclusively is left the relief of THIS
is who suffer from great calamities othe
he than war. one very important brancl
of work has been the formation of de
ng pots of ambulance material, placed II
is charge of commission of delegate
nd 1pHinGf n
les tees.
Ter In Austro-Hungary, Red Cross wor
has developed remarkably under TN
ro- dual control of two central committees
IN one at Vienna, for Austria, and one a
Ruda-Pesth. for Hungary. The Natioi
II al society possesses very extensive SUI
eet niles and large numbers of trained as
sistants, who can be mobiuzed Amos
at a moments notice in case of wa
Two ancient orders of nobility also d
vote their efforts and wealth TO II
ON same object: the Teutonic Order, al
roh | the Order of Malta The first keel
ready for instant use many hoSpit
ne ! columns. containing ambulance ca
riages fourgons and cooking wagon
the military authorities undertake
provide the complement of men an
, horses necessary for transportauo
,et- The order of Malta keeps ready 5
an complete hospital railway trains. of
er carriages each; and in war time
usi- maintains a similar number in roser\
The National society and these ordo
. avoid double work on the same grou
by an agreement defining the spec
work of each in time of war
France was the first state to rat
u the convention at Geneva, and the :
ciete de Secours aux Blesses took
prominent lead among the Red Cr'
societies. During the Franco-Prussi
"a war IL was put TO most severe u
- hut this French society not only
NM complished it's mission. under circu
~ stances of unparalleled difficulty,
MN came out of the war strengthened
s,A misfortune The central committee
a Paris corresponds directly with
vi minister of war and generals comma
~ ing army corps. by means of its pr
dent, or by delegates officially appoi
ed. BY DEGREES in 1873 and 1881,
Societe Rationale received very ext
siye powers in all kinds Of hosp
work and obtained a monopoly of RI
- 10 supplement the military sanit
service and in time OF war. all OF
the similar associations must merge tn
,hys- selves in this The societe has m
n eff large depots Of ambulance material
rts- sustains schools of instruction
IT in nurses and assistants. very &C
MS of ladies committee also exists
dis
ondi- Russia also mas REQ !, 90 $500. 80
80. the cause Of humanity in times Of
M war and peace. During the wars IN
O.,g Ralkan provinces in lktS-aN, at on"
" all ~ ,aiaIr,, 5,,sd railway trains fa
fetal ,,li,,- ~. wounded besides N
S the otbar trains that were utilized as
ernal ss circumstances would permit.
n