Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-23
RED CROSS SOCIETIES
WORK, pFsTHosE IN RUSSIA AND
JAPAN
The Former the Richest in the World,
the Latter Has Ample Means
mo Aid Needed.

In the current number of the Journal of
the American Medical Association, DR.. N.
| Sem of Chicago contributes an article on
1.-THE Red Cross Society of Japan, which
| is of especial interest at this time. DR..
Sem says:
When the writer made the trip around
the world in 1901 1t was not difficult to
foretelI that war between Russia and
Japan was only a question of few years.
All through Russia and Siberia active prep
arations were being made for the inevi-
table conflict. Japan was ready at that
time to meet it's formidable foe. The
strained relations between the two coun-
tries continued longer than 1 had reason
to anticipate from what saw and heard
on both Sides The desperate struggle for
supremacy in the far east has commenced,
and from present cations 1t threatens
! to develop into what historians Of the flu
ture will describe as the great war of the
twentieth century.
We physicians are less Interested in the
political aspects of this war than in the
treatment of the sick and wounded on both
Sides Russia has always been the stanch
friend of the United States, and our nearer
neighbor, Japan. which has SO recently
taken its place among the International
powers, has earned our respect and friend
ship by it's progressiveness and dignified
conduct in peace and war 1t is source
of comfort to know that the present war,
regardless of the proportions 1t may reach
or the length of time it will last, will be
conducted on the most humane principles,
compatible with active warfare. 1t Will be
stripped of all barbarities that have until
within a few years disgraced the battle
fields of the past. Both armies are sup
piled with the small caliber weapon, and
both armies are in care OF well-educated
and efficient medical officers, and are fol-
NV l.
trained members of the Red Cross Society
to care for the sick and wounded.
The Red Cross Society OF Russia is the
richest in the world, having SS5o0O00 in
the treasury at the present time; it is well
organized. and will do efficient service from
the very beginning. The Red Cross So
ciety Of Japan has membership of $780,
Geo with ample means to extend it's work
to the seat of conflict, at any rate for
number of months.
Offered His Services.
The writer has the honor to be life
member of the Red Cross Society of Japan,
and as such offered his gratuitous services
when war was declared. The daily press.
unfortunately. has circulated distorted re-
ports which have caused no end of confu-
sion in the minds of professional men and
nurses. I have been for a number of days
fairly deluged with letters from doctors.
students and nurses from all parts OF the
country, Offering their services Neither
Russia nor Japan need any outside hep
in the care of their sick and wounded for
the present. and 1t is.only, in case the war
should be prolonged for six months or
more that the Red Cross societies OF other
countries would extend a friendly hand
In such an event Germany viii assist its
neighbor Russia, and we in the United
States would naturally extend the work OF
our national Red Cross Society to Japan
Miss Clara Barton. the president of our
American Red Cross Society, who Is vet
eran ie>this kind of work. is undoubtedly
making all necessary preparations at TINS
time to step in at moments notice should
occasion arise. The profession looks to her
to take the necessary steps when The proper
time arrives.
The public and the profession have. on
the whole. wrong idea of what Japan can
do for the sick and wounded of her army
row in deadly combat with the most for
midable military power in the world. 1t Is
for this reason l am DESTROYS to inform the
readers of the Journal of the American
Medical Association of the present status
of the Red Cross Society of Japan.
The noblest of the many charitable in
stitutions that have sprung up in
doors to the outer world is the Jap
anese Red Cross Society. Since the Or
ganization of the Geneva convention by
Henri Dumont in 1864. most Of the civil
lied nations of the world have established
Red Cross societies for the purpose of mill
imizing the horrors of war. and to render
aid to the victims of great catastrophles
In no other country have these humane
as in Japan. This is certainly a startling
statement when we remember, that modern
civilization was introduced into this coun-
try less than fifty years ago.
Founded in 1877.
The Red Cross Society of Japan was
founded in 1877, during the insurreetion in
the southwest provinces 1t had for IT'S OBJ
ject the relieving of the wounded and sick
on the fields of battle and the taking care
of them, for this it adopted the name of
Hakuaisha (Society of Benevolence) At
ter the rebellion was crushed the society
made itself Il peri anent organization and
decided to make ample prepare tons for
similar emergencies. When the imperial
government recognized the articles of the
Geneva convention, the society decided to
strengthen its bases and to extend Its OPP
erations, to place itself in connection with
the international committee of the Red
Cross at Geneva, and to enter into fra
ternal relations with similar societies in
friendly countries This resolution, having
been adopted at general meeting, the So
ciety with the approval of the ministers
of the imperial household, of war and OF
the navy changed its name to- The Red
Cross Society of Japan and adopted rules
and regulations for its government.
The growth of the society has been phe-
nomenal. 1t has at present S0o000 MEM
bers, which simply means that nearly every
family is represented. estimating the pop
ulation of the country at 45,G0oG00. What
has achieved this unparalleled success? By
what means has Japan outstripped every
other country in making provisions for the
! disasters of war and other great national
calamities? These questions are not diff
cult to solve for anyone who has seen the
workings of the Japanese Red Cross So
eiety The imperial family takes deep
interest in this organization, and contrib
utes literally to its funds. An imperial
prince is its honorary president, and a
| princess the president of the ladies' COM
| mittee. The empress is frequent visitor
to the headquarters of the society and to
| the Red Cross Hospital. This noble ex-
| ample is a potent factor in arousing popu-
| lar interest in this national institution so
/ dear to every Japanese. Then, again, the
! imperial family has the utmost respect for
| the leading medical men Baron Ishiguro
and Baron Hashimoto. the most influential
medical men of the Japanese medical pro-
fession, have been the guiding spirits in
promoting the growth and efllness of
the society. and their efforts have been
supported by united loyal profession.
The japanese are easily reached and led
by such powerful influences, and have re-
/ sponded promptly and literally to such
4 .l@e.