New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS.
HOW THE UNITED STATES AGREED TO
SIGN THE GENEVA TREATY
THE AMERICAN AMENDMENT PROVIDES FoR
HELP ~ TINES OF NATIONAL CALAMITY
CAUSED by FLOOD OR THE LIKE.

HELP ~ TINES OF NATIONAL CALAMITY
CAUSED by FLOOD OR THE LIKE
A council composed Of delegates from every Gov
eminent in the civilized world desiring TO enter into
compact whereby much Of the seemingly unneces-
saTy horrors OF war and Us attendant suffering
might be alleviated II not wholly averied WAS held
In the city Of Geneva Switzerland In tho year g.
At that time a paper called the Treaty OF Geneva
WAS drawn up its express purpose being 10 afford
relief 10 the wounded and sick In any army. the
treaty stating that the meaning Of the order was
"ihc peoples help for suffering through military
necessity" and all those who undertook the good
work were TO designate their purpose and denote
their whereab bouts the world by displaying spe-
clal nag 20 be adopted by the society. which flag
was red white field. or the flag OF
Switzerland reversed The BED Cross derived It's
name from this symbol OF flag.
As the convention which formed this first treaty
consisted Of representatives from nearly all the
Governments. IL became from it's conception an IN
ternational affair and stands to-day the result
OF enlightened ard compassionate sentiment to
avert suffering.
This first convention formed code for the better
regulation Of the work Of relief and IL was accept
ed by all the Governments. This code provides for
the naturalization Of all field hospitals. ambulances
and military hospitals and II declares perfect neu-
tralty for all persons employed in such places and
also makes the property OF persons maintaining
sick and wounded TO be respected as neutral, the
wounded acting a protection 10 the nouS's' NO
attention whatever is paid by the order In its work
10 the nationality Of the sufferer, the mere iact OF
succor being needed being cause enough for the
best available help being freely given The nag as
prescribed by the rules il a red cross on a white
field. those in attendance TO wear nm arm badge
which shall be ar a red cross on white ground.
and on all occasions this uniform hospital flag Ia
to be- accompanied by the Gag OF the nation main
tanning the hospital. Under this universal banner
every wounded sick suffering man IL safe no
prisoner suffers for food. hospital lacks attend
ance and no injured soldier Hes unattended on the
battlefield, and under the wise provision OF TINS
treaty no one serving under this has can be capt
ured
The articles Of regulation expressly state. fur
thermoro that no distinction is TO be made while
caring for the sick and wounded: all factions and
nationalltes are to be considered neutral, md all
a!ik. mus receive tho best care available. A. IN
all such work many emergencies arise which only
thos, ON hln1 can deal with. much OF the de-
,al is left 10 the commander in-chef OF each war
ring army. who however, Is expected TO act uh"'i
Instructions from his home Government AZ d"
times he must keep his actions WITHIN SU''' CON-
formitv with tho various rules OF the society 10
which HIS Government has asscn;ed The great
work Is under the guidance OF committee com
,,osod Of representatives OF each government th"t
has adopted the treaty whlrh body Is c"Hed Inc
International Committee Of Geneva. ana IN" "'S'
thing 10 be done by any government 'h"' "'S"''
d adout j. TO appoint Il H"A''''' '''''0
rnittee 10 communicate with This international! che
r. 81. <,tto,al COMMITTEE the work OF carrying
am, tho rules OF IN, general body belongs. through
II orders are given to the officers IN inc h''" q"
field attendants are provided. proper eln'p'h'h.
given out and detail not alone oil 'he r'n''
work during actual war. hut for an conferences ~
tvoe, nations. and such reports ~ from time 10
,,, ave r.ccssorv for exchange hctw~cr counirrF
.-. MANNED and directed 10y thi- national com
mttce
TN. nrst country to adopt the treaty Was france
ON September - 1854 followed tn the same ''"'
hv Belgium. Italy. Switzerland ana one "' W.
ofb,rs Tho following year Great Britain. RUSSIA
and many others ratified g., ard - rs great "'i"-
Gre vcr. allied the nations came 20 adopt Us pro
,.lsior. 90 that to-day nearly forty countries ~
about AL the governments Of N" c'N'hz'' ""'"'
belong 20 ne order
The United states owes it, Rcd cross almost en-
,irely + the enrnes, and persistent cnorr OF
s,,gIc woman II was while resting Ia Europe
after her hard and difficult ~ork m me .i.n ~
that clara Barton earnrl oi tn' -, rSendinc on
prartical application IN tn" wars th"h I'il"''e u'
III. Continent and came nom" moi 'us'', " 49,,
,rtn.1 =" have such an organization r4tned by hef
i' 9.o,,crr,nrnt After many years Of weary walt
lag and hard work the treaty va "aa' ~ 81
hv tho United states Seratr In Al. ana VA, r'~I
dcncy ~ the National Commiit'r ana F.r.Iaii
eu!dan,c o. the "2rh ~ ,os the Gnr6cld and
ratified by president; Arthur wao TOOK " me ' wGon
aftrr mo untimciy death N Gatuold MY. h"i,ohn
arcrnfcd the task and has ever since he'd thr heh
AMI .ractinr position. owing 10 the fact that me
try
ostro,.s fleets Of great caamiiies other 'h,l M
which needed tho Systematic ala gwen ny ln'
o-ier Nss Bar;on on behalf o. the country pc
,itiorod The international Commute" Tor p''HS-
slo, 10 Civ. such ruccor. This was granted ana 20
do, ,ha oul. country IN the whole wofd hINtHs
e,,C move IL tn. United States. ana 10 as flI-H
II from the others u was named D. IN -.
tional Committee "Ihe HHeii'"" E''i''' 80 ~
the Red Cross a. -, ,,,o- ,n.
.lrid ana IN. commanding officer who knowingly
S,ract. rvcn one stray shot at "A camp win the
RrG cross floating over violates an international