Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-24
MISS BARTON INDIGNANT
EXPLAINS RELATIONS WITH CHI
CAG0 AMBULANCE CORPS.
Declares That the Members Have
Pledges in Taking Up Arms.

II the reports be true these men have
practiced gross deception; broken pledge
ard violated confidence which they
sought The humane world will not hold
them guilt1ess." Such was the declaration
Of Miss Clara Barton respecting the report
Ell action of the ambulance corps from Chi
cago in casting away their Red Cross en-
blems as soon as they arrived on the field
of war in South Africa and taking up arms
IL the Boer cause.
Miss Barton called upon the Secretary Of
State at the department this morning and
explained her connection with this ambu-
lance corps. She was accompanied by DR..
Hubbell, who was familiar with all of the
circumstances of the case. 1t appears that
Miss Barton as president Of the Ameri-
can Red Cross, was waited upon some
time aeo by a Mr.. Judd of Holyoke. Mass,
VINO told Of the intention of the Irish socie
ties of Chicago to send out an ambulance
corps to the Transvaal. 1t was pointed out
to her that the British side in the war had
received all of the outside help. was
shown by the sending of the hospital ship
Maine to South Africa by the American
contingent in London, and by the large
fund collected for the British sick soldiers
in New York and the east. She was asked
to give the outgoing expedition credentials
and the Red Cross flag. After mature con-
sderation, not seeing how she could refuse
to assist in such a cause as this was repre-
scented to be. Miss Barton did give Mr.
Judd letter of q general character, asking
right of way and good treatment for the
expedition for the men, as long as the
members lived up to the rules of the Geneva
convention.
Care was taken to include this important
Limitation in the letter. Previously, Miss
Barton had learned that each Individual
composing the party had made oath sep
arately before a notary that he was going
out to South Africa to work under the Red
Cross and in the ambulance service. To
confirm that impression. Miss Barton was
consulted, as was DR.. Hubbell, respecting
the character of the supplies to be taken
out to Africa, the quantities of medicines
and the number of stretchers necessary for
the party.
There were ffty-eight men in the expedi-
ton when it lsft New York, a proper num-
Der for an ambulance corps. But when this
party was swelled by about 100 men, who
States and were in waiting at Lisbon, sus-
picion was aroused to the true char
acter Of the men.
There was still an indiSposition on the
part of the Red Cross people in this coun-
try to believe the first reports of the breach
Of faith on the part of this expedition, but
doubt on that point has been removed by
the receipt of Consul Hays cablegram con-
ffrning the news dispatches. 1t Is not felt
that the Red Cross of America has been to
blame in this matter or that 1t can be held
responsible for the actions OF a party or
ganized was this entirely outside OF the
socfetys own material: nor yet could the
request to aid what appeared to be a lauda-
Bile enterprise be declined, though it is i'm
probable that any more expeditions of the
KIND Will receive countenance.