Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-17
RUSSIAN RED CROSS
COL. HoFF IMPRESSED BY MAGNI-
tube OF IT'S WORK.
Society Has Been in Existence in That
Country for More Than
a Generation.

Col John Van r. Hoff medical depart
ment, United States army, recently on duty
as military observer with the Russian
armies in the far east, was particularly in
terested in what was done by the Russian
Red Cross. which he characterizes as "a
beautiful work of stupendous magnitude
of which little or nothing seems to have
been heard In this country"
In conversation with a Star reporter Col.
Hoff related few of the Incidents and OBJ
servations of his trip.
Russia early became signatory of the
Geneva convention" he said, land for more
than a generation a Red Cross society has
existed in that country, the ramifications Of
which reach into the states, districts, cities
and even to the smaller towns, and the
revenues. for the support Of which come
from special taxes levied by the govern
ment and by contributions from the people,
even the poorest of whom drop their mite
Into the Red Cross chests, which are found
In almost every church. Briefly, the great
divisions of the organization are: 1Frst,
the general society; second, the zemstvo;
third, the gentry. and, fourth, individual
contributors
1.-THE activities of the Red Cross Of Russia
are widespread In the chancery of the
central committee at ST. Petersburg l saw
a huge map of the empire, covered with
scores of tags. indicating the location of the
local organizations. Red Cross hospitals
exist in many towns, to care for the SEX of
the community, and at the same time serve
as training schools for the nursing per-
sonnet. which are available for use with
the army in case of hostilities.
THUS the society has an ever-present
direction for its activities, and at the same
time is making efficient preparation for its
true function, the succor of the sick and
wounded in war
War in Far East
when the conflict in the far east began,
I think 1 may safely say that Russia
neither expected nor was prepared for war.
1t Is no secret that she had scarcely 10000
soldiers in Manchuria, and the enormous
task then thrust upon her of modifying and
bringing a million soldiers with all that
implies, 5000 miles over a single-track and
uncompleted railroad, and al the same time
defending herself against overwhelming
forces, taxed her resources to degree lit
tie appreciated by the world.
1.-The Russian Red Cross, too, was UMPIRE
pared for war, but the machinery was
there, and ~soon a field organization was
perfected which may be outlined as follows:
For purposes of administration the Rus
sian Red Cross in the far east was divided
into two principal districts, each with a
chief director. All that region of country
along the Transsiberian railroad from
Tschiliabinsk to Irkutsk, thence eastward
beyond Lake Bakol to Stretensk on the
Amur river and Manchuria station on the
railroad a distance more than equal to the
breadth Of our country, placed under
the control of Senator Won kaufman This
district had Red Cross hospital capacity
of approximately 10000 beds.
''rhe district of the far east under Prince
Wasiltsehikov included the actual theater
of war and extended from the front of the
army eastward TO the Pacific ocean and
also included Vladivostok. There were in
Cross hos
pitfalls, with 2, COO beds; 40 mobile field hos
pitfalls, with capacity for $500 patients, be-
sides rest stations, supply depots, etc-ln
fact, everything necessary, including 70
railroad hospital trains.
Sanitary Personnel.
'~The sanitary personnel in this district
numbered 500 physicians. 1900 nursing sis
tiers, 80 pharmacists, so medical students.
600 orderlies, servants, etc. and in the
lake district about half this number. The
physicians were paid s175 monthly the
nurses $15 the pharmacist 500
From the beginning of the war the to-
tai number treated in the Red Cross hos
pitfalls was more than one hundred thou
sand and from October, 1904, to May, 1905,
242 sick officers and Al $50 men were trans
ported in Red Cross railroad trains. This is
but an outline of the stupendous work done
by the Russian Red Cross.
at is not possible to go into detailed
descript on or the excellent hospitals both
fixed and field, perfectly equipped with the
very latest appliances, 10 describe the lux
urious hospital trains nor to mention the
numberles schemes carried out for the
comfort of the sick, absolutely regardless
OF cost. AS description of these would fill
a book. But 1 am very glad to be able to
assure the National Red Cross Society Of
our country that her sister society of Rus
STA has done her full duty to the sick nd
wounded in Manchuria and that the results
nn9QlIaled those
previous war