The Advocate and news., 1898-03-23
The work OF tIne Red Cross.

mednluB III the sense LnaL MANY SuppObe.
1t Is broader than Christianity itself, be-
cause 1t has neither prejudice nor bonds;
Christian, Mohammedan and pagan are
the same In the eyes OF the Red Cross
The choice Of the flag was well-merited
compliment to Switzerland, who had
given her kind services In the cause by
officially Issuing the invitation to the
nations Of the world to meet In confer
ence, and by providing the place. Her
national flag Is white Greek cross on a
red ground, and the colors were simply
reversed
In each country that adopted the
treaty, one national organization Is
formed, and that society alone is recog-
nized by It's national government, also
by each other national organization and
an International committee located at
Geneva, Switzerland, the latter being the
medium of communication and assist
ance between nations, In order to pre-
vent any possible complications by rea-
SON Of nationality and jealousy.
The national ladies have the right to
carry on the work of gathering funds and
materials in such manner as they deem
best. In those countries where strict
laws have been passed to prevent the
misuse of the Red Cross (and such Is the
case in most Countries) local auxiliary
societies are formed. In our country no
such laws exist; therefore 1t has not
seemed wise or just to sanction sub
societies, With no power to restrain
them the tendency Of local societies
would be to oVerreach and subVert the
purposes Of the treaty,
/ can make but the briefest reference
to the work performed by the societies.
The first war to bring the treaty into
practical operation was that OF 1866 In
Germany, Austria and Italy. Austria
had not yet joined, but her citizens
raised and applied nearly half million
dollars. Italian societies raised nearly
s50,OOO French and Swiss societies
aided this being the first instance of
neutral aid.
Germanys societies were fully pre-
pared, and more than $3,000,0 900 were ap-
piled, and half thousand volunteers,
men and women were employed. The
results of this war fully proved the in
calculable value of organized, authorized
civil war
Next came the Franco-P -Prussian war
and the Commune, 1870-1871. In Ger
many more than two thousand commit
tees arose at once, with a central COM
mittee at Berlin. More than fourteen
million dollars of money was raised.
Hospitals, hospital trains, and prepara-
tions on the grandest scale were Orga-
nized. France was not so well prepared,
hui ~ aVdo ~ tWn mi i11fDU AOl1o vTou
expended, and more than one hundred
thousand were cared for. Neutral So
cieties also rendered great aid. One
striking instance was that Of $4,000
French soldiers who peacefully invaded
Switzerland In famished condition, 10
per cent. of them being sick. Their every
want was provided for by the Red Cross
OF Switzerland The international COM
mittee asked for and obtained from Ger
many $500 incurable French soldiers,
supplied all their wants on their way
through Switzerland, and returned them
to their homes.
The wars Of 1868, involving Turkey,
Servla, Montenegro, Greece and Russia,
furnished the next scenes Of activity.
The work OF the Russian Red Cross was
the most notable Regarded with jeal-
0nsy first by the military, it was soon
solicited to take control It raised nearly
$17,OOO,O 900, and applied more than $l3,-
100000 Of it, In Turkey the Red Cross
emblem found its first obstruction. The
Turkish soldiers regarded 1t from a re-
llgious point of view, and so strong was
their prejudice that red crescent had to
be substituted by that society.
The latest display Of the Red Cross
work has been in the Japanese army.
How frequently we heard It remarked
that the Japanese displayed such aston
lshlng mercy and civilization, that they
are so quick to adopt the ideas of more
advanced nations, etc! In 1886 Japan
Joined hands with the Red Cross nations.
Her ruler, the Mikado, became a presi-
- l..A ~ IL.