Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-14

with an eye to business, assumed the
red cross ana went through. OF this;
case Longmore remarks that the badge
had no real value, as it was without
official stamp.
The efforts to obtain immunity from
the riSors of war were so common in
France that the flag of the Geneva
convention was displayed upon many
houses IN every threatened town, even
though no wounded were sheltered
therein; and it was common practice
for the deniZcnS of these towns to wear
the brassard Whenever occasion de-
manded their venturing out Under
such circumstances il is not surprising
mat people. ignorant of the true sig
hiiicanCe OF the red cross. should have
made use of such an apparently easy
means of protection. never realizing, or
perhaps caring, that there must be
some quiI pro quo for such protection.
1t needs no argument to prove that
the military authorities, upon the eve
OF and during active service. cannot
devote the needful attention to the re-
lief societies, While, on the other hand,
these societies only then being organ
~ Nstil nave ~ htloNltt2e OF tnhlr
proper relation to the military body.
AS a result these really humanitarian
organizations have been permitted to
become an excuse for much that would
not bear critical examination. ana
which viii probably never again be
tolerated
Even the Sanitary Commission, re-
Sarding which Evatt says it was
probably the greatest outcome of
national sympathy with suffering the
world has ever seen" and whose OBJ
jects We're identical with those of the
present Red Cross societies, was not
free from defects in organization and
execution which seriously threatened
its usefulness.
General Sherman's memoirs contain
the following significant allusion there
to:
For the more delicate and costly
articles of food for the sick we relied
mostly on the agents of the Sanitary
Commission. | do not wish to doubt
the value of these organizations, when
gained so much applause during our
Civil War. for no one can question the
motives of these charitable and gener-
Gus people; but. TO be honest, l must
record an opinion that the Sanitary
Commission should limit its operations
To the hospitals al the rear and should
never appear a the front.
They We're generally local in feeling,
aimed to furnish their personal friends
and neiShbors with a better class of
food than the Government supplied
and the consequence was that one reg
iment of a brigade would receive po-
tatoes and fruit which would be denied
another regiment close by. Jealousy
would be the inevitable result and in
an army all parts should he equal
there should be no Partially, favor or
Affection
The Government should supply all
essential wants. and in the hospitals to
the rear Will be found abundant oppor-
tunities for the exercise Of all possible
charity and generosity. During the
war | several times gained the ill-Will
of the agents of the Sanitary Commits
sion because l forbade their coming to
the front unless they would consent to
distribute their stores equally among
all, regardless of the parties who had
contributed them
The medical director of the Army of
great deal of presumptuous intermed-
ding With the medical department of
the Army occurred from time to time
Sensational preachers. village doctors
and strong-minded women. suddenly
smitten with a more intricate knoWl-
edge and through perception of the
duties and the administration of the
medical department Of an army than |
had been able to acquire III more than
thirty years experience and study. OBJ
truded their crude suggestions, and
marring where they could not make,
and paralyzing when they attempted
to quicken. succeeded, by their unin-
| formed zeal. innocently enough per-
haps, but not the less unfortunately
on that account, in defeating measures
/ had much a heart. had carefully con-
| templated and intended to carry into
| effect at the proper time"
| From the foregoing. says DR.. IIoff It
may be concluded that if the best re-
| sultssare to be obtained from war aid
| societies, without which societies no
nation can hope successfully to cope
| withsthe epidemic of disease and in
| juries which war entails, there must
| be an immediate education of the pub
/ lie in the plan and scope Of such organ
| izafions, and the true meaning Of "a
badge and a name which have done
! and can continue to do, so much for
humanity"