The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-23
CLARA BARToNS RED CROSS.
SHE STARTS FOR TURKEY ON HER
MISSION OF MERCY.

The Emblem of the Society Floating
From the Steamer as She Sails
From New YOrk-A Crowd on the
Dock Gives Her a Cheer-lIiss Bar
ton Talks of Her Plans and Denies
That She is "A Heroine.
New York, Jan. 22.-NIiss Clara Barton,
president of the American Red Cross So
ciety sailed this morning on the steam
ship New York for Southampton, en- route
to COnstantinople. where she will seek
permission to enter Armenia TO admins
ter assistance to the needy and afflicted
of that country.
Accompanying Miss Barton are Miss
Lucy Graves, stenographer; Earnest Ma
son, linguist. George II. Pullman, private
secretary to Miss Barton. and DR.. J. b.
Hubbell! general field agent of the So
ciety in America.
The party will go directly to South
ampton, thence to London, Paris. Genoa,
Baden Baden, Vienna and Constantine
pie, the trip occupying in all about three
weeks. In England, France and Ger
many Miss Barton will confer with the
heads of all the Red Cross societies there,
as well as with the members Of the in
ternational branch in Genoa, with a view
of securing intelligent cooperation.
Should the situation Justify it, she will es-
tablish Red Cross hospitals at AleXan-
dretta on the Mediterranean and at Trebi-
zond and Sassoun, on the Black sea.
on her arrival in Constantinople. Miss
Barton will call upon United States Min
lister Terrell, and endeavor TO secure his
good offices in the effort to induce the sui
tan to give the Red Cross Society the
right to enter Armenia
Miss Barton said she did not start on
her journey in any spirit of bravado. She
would use all diplomatic efforts to ac-
complish her mission, failing IN which, she
could do nothing but sincerely regret that
such a humane object should be repealed.
u go to feed the hungry" she said TO a
United Press reporter, "and should | gain
Christian or Mohammedans, all shall be
assisted.
"Aly plans are not now matured." she
continued, but we viii lose no time when
We reach Constantinople. OF course /
shall call upon our minister, Mr.. Terrell,
TO enlist his sympathy, with a view of
treating with the Turkish government.
My plan of action cannot be developed
until we find out the strength, If any, of
the opposition to the Red Cross Society
| entering Armenia. 1 really do not think
that the Turkish government has for
| bidden the distribution of our fund"
NOW, let me say this to the press of
n. L
not bold woman, simply one Of many
! who try to help the suffering. / was ask
| ed to do this work because no one else
could be induced to take it up. / am the
| one particular tool. ! go to feed the hum
! CRY, no matter what their religious be-
| lief may be, for that is one
/ of the great principals of our
| society. want to say to you
| newspaper men that you have done us
/ a great service. But, while the body OF
your articles are very kind and just, you
| misrepresent in your headlines. l am not
| a bravado. / am not plucky or a great
| heroine. L am a simple, plain woman
| bent on a humane, but difficult mission.
| Speak kindly of me, but do not say any
| thing misleading. We want the good will
| of all, the antagonism of none"
| When the steamer New York drew out
| of her dock the large crowd present
| loudly cheered Miss Barton. who stood
| on the steamers deck and smilingly ac-
| knowledged the compliment. From the
masthead of the steamer fioated the en-
blem of the Red Cross Society.