Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-14
ABUSE OF TIE RED CROSS.
banners That Will Result from il in Actual
Warfare.

In an article entitled What Does the
Red cross Of the Geneva Convention
Signify" Major John Van Rensselaer,
Hoff. Of the United States army, says
in The Albany Medical Annals
Judging from the almost universal
misuse of the red cross i'll our country,
il must be generally believed that any
one can lawfully use it fer any pur-
pose though by common consent it has
come to be considered as more espec-
tally applicable to hospitals and the
personnel thereof. but without regard
10 their military relation.
Under the terms IF the law Ghe ar
ticles IF the Geneva convention being
now incorporated into our laWs.) the
red cross badge has no legitimate sig
nillcance. except as dcnoting the per-
SEEMED and material, both official and
unofficial. of the military hospital and
ambulance service in time of war.
Its use al any other time and by any
other class is therefore not only illegal.
but absolutely harmful to the cause it
subseryes for it robs the insignia of
their only value by taking away from
them the special and clearly defined
object of their existence.
1t is not necessary to the elucidati0n
of our subject to enter upon a detailed
account of the evolution of the red
cross movement, which eliminated in
the Geneva convention; suffice it to say
that the United States, together with
all other civilized nations, has adopted
the provisions of this convention, and
it is our duty as good citizens to see
that they are made Electives.
In no otherWay can this be more sure
" accomplished than by protecting the
red cross from misuse during peace.
and ihus preventing it from becoming
cloak to cover all sorts of military
Irregularities during war.
Fortunately, perhaps, for our coun-
try there has been, no war with
civilized foe since we become a. mem
be of the Geneva convention: hence it
probably is that most of us are ignor-
ant that the red cross badge may be
So abused as to deprive it of any true
significance and render negatory the
good which, under proper regulation, it
might accomplish
80 much a part of commercial life
mas the red cross already become that
tae petition Of the American society to
congress to protect the badge of the
convention has thus far met with no
response, and Clara Barton was forced
To acknowledge before the recent inter-
hftlohal conference, held in Vienna.
mere are Isl persons, corporations and
HflhS VINO are using the nafnes%antl
sign ct the red cross as a trade mark
Tor private gain, and that there are in
Vulnerable bodies of people here who
nave founded Red Cross societies for
"cal purposes, and who are in no way
connected with the general organiza-
non. 1t is sad to confess that rn to
WIS tlmc the American Congress has
passed no law for the protection of the
sacred emblem of humanity, and taken
40 steps to keep it from being degrad-
ed"
~ hon article was written before
'ne rupture with Spain had taken
place. ana some Of its passages are
N'uoiy interesting at this time. He
says:
H. as the foregoing would indicate
'ne misuse of the red cross is today so
seheral with us as practically to rob
Vi any significance, what will hap
peH "hen war comes and we then at
tempt to confne its use to the legiti-
mate object of its creation?
The experiences of other armies are
cure to he repeated in ours. and it may
ven DE with us as at one time during
upe franco-German war it threatened
" De there. that the entire Red Cross
"Sdhlzauon both national and inter-
a@'iohaI, would be paralyzed by it's use
t'i unlawful purposes. The badge has
zen made TO cover the spy and the
1''ei' ana it has been used to cloak
minor military crimes too numerous to
mention.
0iie DAY III August. 1870. company
"pout three hundred persons landed
~ body at Havre. France, and an
oUHced themselves as the Irish ambu-
/ 'nee' When next heard of this so
"''ed ambulance had dolfed the rec
NpSS and joined the comhatant ranks;
Dorlng this same Franco-Ger,nal
I W." commercial traveller. wishing Il
I 'ach the German army Headquarters