Evening star., 1898-07-30
THE WHITE CROSS.
Another New Hospital Corps Has
Been Formed.

i
| To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
new hospital corps has been formed,
| known as the White Cross" Tie fact
that these hospital corps-and there are
| several of them-are forming In different
| parts Of the country makes IL a very self
! evident fact that there is need Of womRn's
| nursing, and mems. too. in the army and
navy. Nursing is the complement TO fight
| ing. Therefore a perfectly planned and
| equipped hospital corps is just as neces-
sary to the government as a trained and
equipped artillery, cavalry and infantry
\ corps, armed vessels and skillful officers to
naneuver same. When war has been de-
| ciared and the army takes the field IL is
| too late to organize and bring to the per-
| lection 1T ought to attain a hospital corps
Then IN these volunteer corps the nurses
are required to bring certificate as a
graduate of some training school for
nurses But work in a field hospital and
work In the ordinary hospital for the sick.
lhciuding surgical ward" differ I'm some
very essential points. 1t takes women and
nen of resource to rise to the occasion.
the government should not hesitate to
take the Red Cross organization under its
protecaon. making IL much a part OF
the government as is the army and navy
The remark attributed TO Surgeon General
Sternberg in connection with the Red Cross
society, that he had opposed it from the
nrst: the Red Cross was never needed al
the front; 1t was no place for women. but
they have forced themselves upon U.S." is
much to be regretted, IL Gen. Sternberg
ever made this caustic speech. He. of all
men, as surgeon general OF the army,
| ought TO know and be the first 10 acknowl-
edge the value of women's services in
times of war. II is matter of common
fistory how women have stood TO the
guns. defended the Notifications. acted
as spies, when certain death was their por-
ton If discovered; starved and died where
the safety and honor of their country were
at stake. Women prove every day there
| is no position where courage and self-cac-
rlfce are needed that they are not capable
of filing.
The Red Cross have been in the field for
years. In times of war, of pestilence fire.
famine and flood. 1t is international IN
organization; ii is a common bond, uniting
most of the nations of the earth. IL IN de-
fined by no limitations. no matter what
country or what politics the soldier NAV
claim. 1t is the friend of all, nursing, Civ
Ing comfort to the sick. courage to the
dying, keeping absent friends informed as
to the welfare Of the soldier when other
wise long period Of uncertainty might be
the portion of those who must remain al
Rome Though / am not member OF the
Red Cross. 1 spoke to a certain member
OF congress recently, and expressed a hone
that the Red Cross bill' might pass as
| II was important this great organization
should have the help of the government.
Much to my surprise, he said he should op-
Iose the Dill on general principles" How
II any righteous efforts are defeated on
general principlest" When oVerpowcriug
facts are brought out in stern array then
this mythical general" tprinciple) is made
TO parade before the ignorant" those
who are too lazy TO master the situ4t!on,y
or who are afraid of giving offense to
some one In authority" or who arc indif-
ferent as to who wins. general prin-
ciples' triumphs, without an atom of
right or reason. Too much praise cannot
be spoken of those heroic women and men
v no give their time and strength to this
tfttimes thankless labor. 1t is stated in
the press that in consequence OF Gen.
Slernbergs openly ayoweG prejudice
against the Red Cross, no more nurses
would be sent to the front" VIII the ma
ton who goes to war. to teach the Span
, lard civilization and humanity, treat with
less respect and consideration than any
other nation the most humane of all in
sdtutions? We have Iced of military hos
pitfalls in times Of peace. well as in times
OF var. Let the government establish
these. and put them under the care OF the
Red Cross giving to them every facility
for the conduct of perfectly planned and
equipped hospital service demanding in
return thorough knowledge of their bus
il ess, prompt action, implicit obedience,
and Christian realization of the RESPONSE
hiltty resting upon them. Every one who
has the care of sickness knows the value
of good nurse. All who have the welfare
of the sick and wounded soldiers at heart
snLst deprecate the action of the Red Cross
in taking offense at remark. possibly not
made. by Gen. Sternberg. But, in ary
case, why not keep to the front with the
good work trusting to the apprecia ton OF
those for whose benefit the Red Cross was
formed-the sick and dying the starving
aid misera ble-finding in the gratitude OF
these the necessary stimulant to good
works. denied them by the more fortunate
whose hearts ought to be made more ten
Ger by the knowledge that God in his good
ness has not made them in need of SIS
care. MINNIE F. BALLINGER
July %, 1898