Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-01
RED CROSS WORK
It il Explained by the Chairman of the
Local Committee.
How the Organization Came About
and Something of It's Inter-
estfng Career.

| Mr.. B. H Warner, who is chairman Of
the local committee of the American Ma
| tional Red Cross. was questioned today by a
Star reporter as to the extent of the work
| which the Washington committee would
undertake. He said the work would be
| confined to the sick at Camp Alger and
Fort Myer, and that no supplies would be
furnished nor work done that was not con-
sidered necessary by the surgeons in
charge.
Headquarters have been established at
| 1910 G street and supplies which would be
! useful in case of sickness are to be sent
| there Mr.. Charles ]. Bell is treasurer of
| the committee and money contributions are
| sent to him at the American Security and
| Trust Company.
In answer to a question as to what the
| Red Cross stands for, Mr.. Warner said
| that during the past few days information
on this point had been frequently called
| for. He gave the following general descrip-
| ton of the work and purposes of the or
! ganization;
Work of the Organization.
1t does not indicate any religious creed.
Briefly stated, the Red Cross stands for re-
| lief, and the work of the American Nation
al Red Cross now is to relieve the recon-
| centrados in Cuba, as well as our own SOL
| diers and sailors who may be sick or
wounded. Its RELIEF VIII be carried to every
sufferer from war with whom any Of Its
agents come in contact.
The Red Cross had its origin at or about
| the time of the battle of Solferino in the
Italian war of 1859. The formation Of the
| society was suggested by NJ. Dunant, who
witnessed the large amount of suffering
incident to that terrible struggle, in which
more than a quarter of million of men
were engaged. A committee was formed in
1868 to consider the question of ameliorat-
| ing the suffering of the sick and wounded
| in the time of war. AS a result of the de-
| alterations Of this committee and other con-
ferences, a plan was adopted at confer
ence in Geneva in October, 1868, at which
| fourteen different governments were repre-
| scented. Important measures were dis
| cussed at this conference.
A red cross with white ground was
adopted the insignia of the aid societies.
Resolutions were adopted as to the charac-
| ter of aid to be furnished and calling upon
the different governments Tor cooperation.
Since that time there have been wide dis
| cussions as to the purpose of the society.
Perhaps one of the most important accom-
plishments of the society was the inter-
national treaty, signed at a conference held
| in Geneva, in August, 1854, by the repre-
sentatives of twelve powers. This treaty
was called the Geneva convention. Among
| its most important provisions is the fol-
lowing:
The Geneva Convention.
1.-THE bellgerents must take care of the
sick or wounded soldiers whom they may
| find, without distinction of nationality.
Men who may be cured, but are incapable OF
serving again, must, If they belong to the
enemy be sent back to their own country
instead of being kept prisoners of war.
Hostile acts must not be committed against
ambulances and hospitals, nor can they be
appropriated if there are sick or wounded
I'm them and they are not guarded by
military force. Ambulances cannot be de-
priyed of their material in any case; and
patients discharged from them are to be re-
4 oil nr1n
administrative well medical and re-
ligious. is declared to be neutral, and Its
members cannot be interrupted in the per-
Torrance of their duties, nor kept in cap
tivity. Inducements held out to the
inhabitants of those places where battles
are fought, in order that they may be en-
couraged to assist in the sanitary service
of armies. Finally, for the personnel and
material on which the convention conferS
certain immunities. as a sign by which the!
may be recognized, use should be made of
a white ground which the military au-
thorites of the belligerents alone have the
right to grant.
Attracting General Attention.
The Red Cross movement is now attract
Ing general after tion throughout the CIV
ilized world During the early days of the
Franco-German var Miss Clara Barton. SO
widely known in this country for her rela-
tions with charitable work, was invited to
go to the field and see the work of the
German Red Cross. She accepted the in
vitation, and since that date has devoted
large portion of her time to the advocacy
of Red Cross principles and methods. In
this country the Red Cross has been most
prominent in the relief afforded the suf-
ferers from the Johnstown mood, the Mis-
sissippi floods ar the raising of supplies
for the famine stricken peasants of Rus
sia For nearly six months 1t afforded re-
lief for nearly 5000 negroes off the coast
of South Carolina. The work of Miss Bar
ton in conn ,ction with the massacres in
Asia Minor is also of recent date and IL
we'll known.
The War and Navy Departments of the
United States accepted the tender Of the
services of the American National Red
Cross on the Sth of June. and representa-
tives have now gone into various camps
and also into Cuba under the supervision
of Miss Barton, who has already effected
a landing The Red Cross steamer Texas
was loaded months ago with food and hos
pital supplies, originally intended for the
relief of the reccncentrados. The mission
of this stea ,ner. however owing to COM
plications of wac could not be carried ous,
and Miss Barton now intends to personally
srperintend the relief of the sufferers for
whom these supplies were intended and
also sick and wounded soldiers and sailors.