The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-21
THE RED CROSS RETURNED TO
CUBA.

Now Purposes to DO in the Island for
American Civilians and Soldiers, as
Well as for Sick and INDECENT Cubans
Auxiliary Societies in Every Town
and City Of the United States Called
Upon to Cooperate.
Especial Correspondence Of the Journal
and Courier)
Havana, March 10.-Everybody inter-
ested in philanthropic work-and that
means large proportion Of the seventy
million population Of the United States
will rejoice to learn that the Red
Cross has resumed operation in Cuba.
1t will be remembered that when Pres-
dent Mckinley first sent the benefcient
society to the island lin January, '9s), it
was for the sole purpose of distributing
who had by General Weyler's order been
concentrated in the cities, where they
were dying of starvation at the rate of
thousands day. Scarcely was the
Soo'Na
results beginning to show when friendly
relations between the United States and
Spain were severed, and the president,
through Consul General Lee, notified all
Americans to return. While every
member of the Red Cross staff earnestly
desired to remain, a consultation held
with Captain-General Blanco nlada
plain the fact that it was decidedly best
to retire, which they did at the last mo-
ment, after doing all that was possible
to ensure the care and distribution of
the supplies then in store.
In those troublous times the fairest
promises counted for little. The world
knows how most of the food and med-
cines were diverted from the use intend
ed to sustain the Spanish army, and the
reconcentrado orphanage, which we had
been to so much pains and expense to
establish in the Cerro, suburb of Ha-
vana, and left in charge of prominent
Cubans under Blanco's especial charge,
was finally abandoned altogether and
what became of the one hundred tempo
rarily rescued children the good Lord
only knows.
Shortly after Clara Barton returned to
Washington she was again notified by
the state department that it was desired
to have the Red Cross proceed to Key
West and take charge of the steamship
Estate of Texas" loaded with general
provisions, clothing, medicine and hos
pital supplies, the generous gift of
American people to the sufferers in
Cuba. OF course that noble woman in
stantly responded but upon joining the
estate of Texas it was found that
blockade of the coast of Cuba had been
declared and communication prohibited.
Early in May Miss Barton wrote to Ad-
miral Sampson. commanding the North
Atlantic squadron informing him that
the Red Cross was ready and anxious to
attempt an entry at any point on tn
coast, under a flag of truce. if he would
allow it. In his reply the admiral ex-
planned that this could not be permitted,
his instructions being to keep all sup
plies out of Cuba lest they should fall
into the hands of the Spanish army.
Then for some time the estate of Tex
as" with the baf1ed band of Red Cross
workers on board and the supplies for i,
which thousands We're dying, became a
regular Wandering Jew of vessel-a
DCTlI6SS FtfdIUD Oh LIE OCbdll llS INV dy-
Finally, without invitation, it followed
the transports conveying the army of in
vasion, and thus was enabled to reach
Cuba, where the cargo intended for re-
concentrates was given to the sick and
wounded Of the American army.
The story of the service rendered by
the Red Cross in the Spanish-American
war need not be repeated. The world
knows how somebody bundered and
while so few were killed in battle, an ap-
pallng number Of our brave boys died
most pitifully of needless hunger, hard
ship and exposure Surgeon General
Sternberg was opposed to the employ
ment of female nurses, and his action
virtually bebarred the Red Cross from
its legitimate work. However, June |
26 found the estate of Texas" anchored (.
in the little indenture of the south coast /
called by courtesy the "harbor" of ST. |
honey its men and women caring for |
the fifty wounded men on board the !
TRANSPORT "Solace." Meanwhile, a few |
miles inland. fighting was going on. and !
no adequate means was at hand for re-
1ievine the sufferiugs of the victims of
war. The Red Cross officers, DIR. Egan.
George KEENAN, and Mr.. Elwell, tramped (
to the front. and presently word came
- ,,.aaaou~o,, tJ,o+ co,o,o1