The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-09-20
The Red Gross to Aid India.

| now IN course OF reorganization under
the new powers conferred by the last
Congress, has taken up as its first act.
i've work the relief of suffering in the
famine districts of India. Although
the work of reorganization has barely
begun, yet Miss Clara Barton, Presi-
dent of the Red Cross, believes that
famine relief should be undertaken at
once, not only because the need OF
reliei grows more urgent as time passes
but also because this is the kind OF
work that Congress and the President
have committed to the hands of the
Red Cross.
To avoid delays and to prevent
complications with the reorganization
work, which will be carried on at Ma
tional headquarters at Washington,
Miss Barton has placed the India
famine work in the hands of a com
mitiee with heaquar,ers in the Pres
byterlan building, I56 Fifth Avenue,
New York City.
The committee has already received
a large number of volunteer offers
from persons desiring to aid in the
Red Cross work in India. The offers
came from physicians, trained nurses
and persons who had already seen
service in India.
The committee has selected as its
depository of funds the North
American Trust Company, 1s5
Broadway, New York City, to which
all contributions should be sent direct.
Checks should be drawn to the order
OF the North American Trust Com
pany and marked ''for the Red Cross
India Famine Fund 1t is hoped
that funks will be forthcoming lmmed-
lately, as the suffering in India is
Widespread and acute.
BY act of the last Congress the
American National Red Cross was
designated as a permanent agency for
the relief of suffering by war, famine,
pestIlence; food, fire, and all other
calamities of sufficient magnitude to
be of National importance. The
organization acts under the Geneva
Treaty, the provisions for which were
made IN international convention at
Geneva, Switzerland, on August 22,
1904, and since signed by nearly all
civilized nations. The United States
gave its adhesion by act of Congress
on March I, 1882. This was ratified
by the Congress of Berne, on July 9,
1882.
Under It's new powers conferred by
Congress, the American National Red
Cross has full protection for its insig-
MIA. Unauthorized persons or soci-
cites using the name or the emblem
OF the Red Cross for the purpose of
procuring money are liable to punish
ment under the law.
In lis new form the Red Cross will
establish permanent auxiliaries in all
parts Of the United States, with
branches in Cuba, Puerto Rico and
the Philippines. 1t will be ready at
moments notice 10 send trained and
experienced relief agents to any part
OF the world where the relief OF sui
terlng may be needed. 1t will be
ready also TO receive and forward
money and supplies in cases where
trustworthy agents, such as mission
aries and consuls, are on the ground
in sufficient force to undertake relief
administration.
1t is believed that with the Red
Cross always at hand as a permanent
official agency for emergency relief,
religious organizations and voluntary
committees OF citizens will be spared
much of the labor that has fallen upon
them in recent years. That this cen
trallzation Of relief work will be vel
coined by the public at large there is
abundant reason 10 believe.
The committee having in charge
the Red Cross India Famine Fund in
vltes the cooperation Of all lovers Of
humanity in this work. A special in
vltatlon is given to persons who were
members of the old Red Cross auxil-
iaries during the Spanish-American
war.