The Portland daily press., 1898-06-08
ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS.
Sufferings of the Wounded at Solferino
Led to the Establishment of This HUI
name Society-Some Information Con-
corning its Methods.
(From the Chnrohman.l


| The history of the Red Cross Society is
| but little known in the United States.
Our peace-loving people have been for so
many years free from the terror of war
which has continually confronted Euro
pean nations that we became supremsly
indifferent to the emergency that at some
time might arise when we should be
called upon to take care of the soldiers
and sailors wounded in the defence of our
country
1t is nearly forty years since M. Henri
Dunant, a native of the republic of
Switzerland, witnessed the battle of Sol
ferino, and was Mortified observer OF
the unnecessary suffering of the wounded
from lack of care. Being greatly i'm
pressed by the sight. he published little
book called Souvenir de Solferino, !" and
pointed out the urgent necessity of form
could work in the cause Of humanity re-
CARELESS of nationality, and who might
be protected by flag of neutrality, and
be permitted to serve on the field of battle
and aid the wounded. This little volume
appealed to all who read it, and the out
come was a convention held at Geneva,
Switzerland, in August. 1864, by repre-
sentatives from sixteen of the great
nations of the world, who then signed a
compact Of strict nutrality that assured,
under certain specified regulations,
complete protection to the members OF
the association when caring for the
wounded on the field of battle. The flag
of Switzerland is heraldically described
as ION a field gu1es, cross argent and
the society adopted it out of compliment
to its birthplace. only reversing the
colors. To-day the insignia of the Inter
national Committee is the red GROSS on a
white field, and is the only military hos
pital flag in the civilized world which
protects all persons from molestation who
work under it or rightfully wear the
The insignia is jealousy guarded, and
the brassards and armlets, that are sewed
on the sleeves when issued in time of
war, are marked with private devices. SO
that both armies may be protected from
spies, and that none but those engaged IN
the work of helping the wounded shall be
immune
hi. Gustav Moynier, President of the
Society of Public Utility, was elected and
still remains President of the Interna-
ttonal Committee OF the Red Gross. the
headquarters of which are at Geneva
Sixty two nations have signed the COM
pact. In 1889 Miss Clara Barton, who
had already distinguished herself by her
services as nurse during the civil war,
was delegated by the President OF the
United States to represent her country at
a congress of the Red Gross Committee,
and she was made member of the Inter
national Board of Managers when thu
United States Government signed the
International treaty. 1t was at Miss
Barton's suggestion that a line of work
was adopted by the International Com
mlttee, SO that each nation might
pursue an occupation in time Of peace
that would qualify it to be of service in
an emergency, thereby keepi ng its
national Red Gross Association in an
active state OF organization Il was de-
termined that the study of diseases,
methods OF treatment, more particularly
without the use of alcoholic stimulants,
and the education of doctors and nurses
should be pursued In the formation of
the constitution of the American
National Red Cross Association a still
wider range of activities was adopted.
1t was hoped that we should have no
wars, but calamities and diseases were
always to be apprehended, and the organ