New-York tribune., 1906-06-12
HUMANITIES IN WAR.
The Red Cross Conferemce-Ame,i-
cans Vel Equipped for Work.

physician. Dunant, living in Geneva, witnessed
the sufferings OF the soldiers wounded IN that
oatte' and returned to his home with infiex-
ioie determination to do everything IN his power
TO reduce the horrors Of war. His first convert
was Moynier medical associate IN Geneva, and
IN the course OF five years they succeeded In In
ducing the Swiss government to identify itself
with the humane policy of neutralizng arnbu-
lances and hospitals in time OF war and OF pro-
tecting everybody under the red cross The first
convention was held in 1864 when the American
Union was distracted with the horrors of civil
war ana unable TO take part in the proceedings.
Inc second convention assembled in 1868 with
out American representation. and applied the
principle of humane treatment of the wounded to
maritime warfare The American government
accepted In 1882 the obligations Of the first con-
vention. and adopted during the war with Spain
two Of the most important provisions OF the sec
ond convention; and at the Peace Congress of
1899 the American delegates cordially supported
declaration in favor of the revision Of the
original agreement to adapt II to the al
tered conditions of warfare and to include mari
trne operations The Red Cross movement
has the heartiest support from America. and
strong and influential delegation has been sent
TO Geneva for the approaching international con-
vention
The American commission. which has arrived
by Mr.. William Cary Sanger, who was Assistant
Secretary of War under Secretary Root. Mr..
Sanger came to Europe while the Boer War was
In progress and conducted investigation Of
the auxiliary forces with which the fighting line
of the British army was stiTened and strength
ened He was welcomed by the War Office and
received assistance from Mr. George wyndham.
Sir Charles Dixie. Mr. Spencer Wilkinson and
many other experts. that he was enabled 10
er1si1a md
on this subject. He subsequently went TO
switzerland and made an exhaustive study of
the military organization there. In returning to
switzerland as delegate to the Geneva Conven-
tton he will be keenly interested in the hu-
rnanities as he has previously been in organized
preparations for war; and he is sanguine that
an agreement can be reached which will receive
the sanction of all civilized governments Cen
eral O'Reilly, surgeon general Of the American
army is his travelling cOmpanion-an alert and
experienced officer. whose practical knowledge
VIII be Of great value in the discussions at the
conference. Rear Admiral Sperry, president OF
the Naval War College has also arrived IN Eng
land on his way TO Geneva and he is an expert
on all questions of the fighting services. Cen
eral George B. Davis, judge advocate general OF
/ the American army, will join his colleagues in
/ Switzerland.
The original Red Cross charter provided for
| the neutrality of arnbulances and hospitals the
/ protection OF members OF the staff and their
withdrawal from the field; the return of wound
/ ed men to their own country and the conditions
/ under which the flag could be displayed. It
! in accord with the ideas of warfare and hospital
| practice prevailing forty years ago but has be-
come antiquated and as impracticabe as the
old fashioned three-nIle limit in relation 10
/ coast defence. With the increased range of ar
tillery the zone of military operations has been
emil for hat Tho
open field. that the Red Cross flag cannot be
brought into effectively under the old time
! rules. Expedients for the exchange of wounded
at outposts are no longer practicable; and the
utility of many arrangements for the protection
| of the disabled soldiers has been seriously I'M
paired. The Geneva Convention was designed
for wars Ike the Crimea, when the distances
( between firing lines were comparatively short
and artillery and small arms We're Of limited
range. and not for campaigns like that in Man
churia, where the battlefelds were immense and
encountered with intrenchments and wire en-
tanglements. What is urgently needed is re-
vision of the charter of humane activities for
the relief and protection of the wounded so as
TO adapt II TO existing methods OF warfare and
surgical practice. Even a minimum advantage
is only possible when modern commanders ex-
ercise their discretion and try TO secure respect
for the red cross on the white ground; and
charges of abuse of privileges and wanton dis
regard of the usages Of war. The maximum ad-
vantage can be restored when a new agreement
is based the actual range of artillery, the
extent of the theatre Of operations and the mod
ern practice of rapid deliveries OF wounded and
disabled. stage by stage. from the fighting line
TO field hospitals in the rear.
General Davis has formulated the views of the
American delegates on this important matter in
judicious memorandum, and Mr.. Sanger Gen
eral O'Reilly and their colleagues agree that the
main work of the international conference will
be accomplished If it succeeds in adapting the
! primary convention to modern conditions. There
is also the application Of humane principles OF
warfare TO naval operations, especially the neu-
tralization Of boats employed for rescue Meas
! ures have been tentatively proposed but so many
! objections have been raised that the conference
will have TO begin at the bottom and make a
code that will be generally accepted. AS the
Peace Congress of 1899 opened the way for re-
consideration of the whole subject OF the humani-
ties by land and sea in time of war. so also the
revised Red Cross conventions when the Geneva
| Conference has finished its work. will be re-
, viewed and probably sanctioned by the next
Congress at The Hague. Altogether a most i'm
portant work for civilization is TO be undertaken
at the conference in Switzerland, and the Ameri-
can delegates are well equipped by professional
training and practical experience for exertine
commanding influence in the debates and delib-
srations. l. ~ r.
RED CROSS CONVENTION OPENS.
Delegates from Thirty-seven Nations Present