The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-20
THE RED CROSS.
This Society Prepares for the Cam
paign in Cuba.

New York April I9.-Action indicating
that the Administration anticipates i'm
mediate hostilties In Cuba was taken by
the State Department yesterday, which
requested the Central Cuban Relief Com
mittee to send two shiploads of supplies
to Cuba under the Red Cross flag. The
supplies are to be sent to Key West
there to await further orders from the
State Department. The Cuban Relief
Committee took immediate steps to char
ter ship. The committee has about 1,000
tons of supplies at the warehouses. Prep
arations will be made to send out one
ship this week. probably by Thursday.
and another next week.
The significance of the State Depart
ment's action Is made clear by an ex-
PLANTATION of the Red Cross code under the
treaty of Geneva, agreed to in 1864. All
OF the Red Cross representatives left
Cuba at the same time as the United
States consulS. 1t is not likely. there
fore, that the Administration would ask
them to return under the present status
of affairs. In the event of war most
stringent regulations govern the free OPP
Grafton of the Red Cross. The Red Cross
representatives of any one nation are en-
titled 70 proceed into an enemys terri
tory under convoy, naval or military.
Stephen r. Barton, second vice president
of the American National Red Cross, who
work explained the method of procedure
which would be adopted TO place the sup
plies in the hands of the starving Cubans
1.-The Government of the United States
must provide naval Convoy, he said,
for the ship carrying the supplies. The
ship must carry both the United States
and Red Cross flags. The Government
can provide whatever number of naval
vessels it deems a sufficient convoy. The
~ "a
the expedition is vised by the Red Cross
the enemy cannot interfere without af-
fronting all of the nations party to the
Geneva agreement. All of the nations
except China. Mexico and Brazil have
signed the Geneva agreement. There
are two codes-military and naval. Spain
is q party to the military code only. but
| believe they would scarcely dare to Of
fend against the recognized practices of
the Red Cross, notwithstanding this fact.
Arrived at the port where the sup
plies are to land. the United States. at
the request of the Red Cross. must fur
nish military convoy. This of course.
will not be possible until the United
States Army has landed in Cuba"
Then the supplies will not be landed
until the United States Army has invad-
ed Cuba?" was asked.
THAT is not a necessary inference" ="
replied Mr.. Barton, but it is to be pre-
! sumed that in the event of hoStiities q
J United States Army would land in Cuba
| Under this military escort the Red
! Cross would be entitled to carry proviS-
| ions and medicines into any portion of
! Cuba. The naval convoy can pass
! through any fleet and the military es-
| cort through the lines of the enemy 5
| land forces without molestation. The
Red Cross flag, of course, is inviolate in
| times of peace, but the strictest regula-
/ tions surround it in time of war. and
/ it covers neutral ground wherever it
goes. The plain object of the Admins
tration is the humanitarian intention OF
preserving the lives of the starving Gu
/ bans. despite the rigors of war. The dis
| tribution of the supplies - the province
of the Red Cross and neither the United
| States nor Spain can interfere with its
work The suffering of all belligerents
! are relieved without distinction. A Rec
| Cross flag covers all nations