New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-03
UNDER THE RED CROSS FLAG
ORIGIN OF A HUMANE SOCIETY THAT
MINISTER'S TO THE SUFFERING. "
1T WAS STARTED UNDER THE GENEVA TREATY
OF iss4-THE UNITED STATES DID NOT
JOIN UNTIL NEARLY TWENTY
YEARS LATER.


JOIN UNTIL NEARLY TWENTY
YEARS LATER.
Few people know much about the origin OF the
Red Cross Society. and but little is known about
tho work It is doing and the things 1t is yearly ac-
complishing. but It's great work, reaching ana
effective. goes in times OF peace. 10 prepare min
lsterng angels for times OF war and boodshcd.
The Red Cross" is the badge OF all who work
under the Geneva treaty OF 1864 Its purpose was
20 lessen much possible the horrors OF war
There no Systematic aid at that time though
Florence Nightlngales heroic work In tho Crimea
had stirred a kindred sentiment in the heart OF
every woman the two continents. NJ Henri
Durant started the movement which resulted III
the Geneva treaty He had been travelling In Italy
and visited the field Of Soferno Immediately after
tho battle, seeing for himself the awful suffering
OF the sick and wounded. He organized cam
pagn at once. using voice and pen against the IN
humanity of sending men TO be hacked TO pieces
without any aid being provided for their sunerngs
and had his abors rewarded IN 1863. when nearly
every European country sent representatives 10
Geneva TO confer about some measures OF REFORM
The treaty. the chief object of which was TO les
sen the awful carnage OF war by restricting the
Of deadly weapons and murderous explosives
signed in August, 1854 by France belgium
Prussia, Spain. Italy, Holland. Denmark. Sweden
Portugal and Switzerland and the following year
by England Greece Turkey and Austria, and later
by thirty governments In Europe. Asia and South
America. The humane treatment OF prisoners or
part OF the treaty. as one OF the clauses
that the conquering party was 10 take care
OF the enemy's wounded as well OF its own. and
all relief parties protected bv the Red Cross flag,
all places TO which the wounded might be removed
and ali stores used by them were to be considered
absolutely neutral, though. Of course, the brave
and surgeons who try ID rescue the wound
cd during the progress Of q battle risk their lives
NAPOLEON III was a warm supporter OF the move
frou Ne l.O nj FrancO-trcr
man war of 1870 he saw the German and French
Red Cross societies work hand In hand, all enmlty
being sundered by suffering.
During this war the present American Red Cross
president. Miss Clara Barton saw what the new
society was accomplishing From that moment
her desire was that the Red Cross should take the
place Of the Sanitary Commission in America She
had had opportunity in her capacity as n nurse
for the commission during the Civil War TO see
that It's system and workings were lax compared
largely through her efforts. signed the treaty on
Marcel &C. 1852. and two years later an inteIndtioa
Red Cross Convention. at which Miss Barton was
the only woman present repTcsentins Sor rar,
mcnt took place at Geneva nan; new p1I d mi
tary inventions suggested that made the societ* Il
battles were fought and rescue parties were drilled
in speed. deftness and surgical skill. 1,.. +,
There Is order OF the Royal Red cross IN
England Instituted by Queen Victoria, TO be con-
ferrcd upon nurses whose devotion 10 DUTY OF
deserves especial credit and the Empress Of Japan
IS NJ tho hend of the womens work In her own
couatry while the Mikado Is the honored president
OF the society. . &C., -,
Japan so faithfully observed the Red cross prn-
cipGs in the late war with china that II nus Dcen
said that the Chinese soldiers we're never so wei
cared FOR in the Red Cross hospitals inc Sol
ETY. is national one in every country, though nor
supported by the appropriations OF the government
In the United States Miss Barton l. us prcsl,
dent while the President OF the United States ana
tho members Of his Cabinet constitute IT'S executive
Officers and the country at large is us sustaining
membership. AS the Red Cross Society IS in the
United States to-day II only works for the
victims of war but for those suffering from the
effects Of famine. FIRE or food ms mas peer peer
called tho American amendment and has been
adoptcd by many other countries Russian women
coming rapidly 10 the front IN the SERGE d[e OF
where. and there is hardly country that has not
It's coic-ie of women volunteers
rhc Aac Of the order is red cross on @ white
ground the reverse Of The national nag % Of
ground The flag is carried beside the national
banner Of each country. and waves on every RELIEF
hospital and ambulance.