Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-23

forces of the country. 1t could not fail to
attract the sympathy of the Red Cross,
whose mission is to inspire precisely the
same ideal, although exercised in a differ
ent sphere of action. There is reason.
therefore, why the branches of the Red
Cross should not adhere to the work in
question, and, second, the efforts to sup
press the usage of the duel in settling in
dividual quarrels. AS this concerns case
unforeseen in our statutes, your adhesion
should take an absolutely voluntary char
acter, so that the members and committees
are not bound by this adhesion
Red Cross Work in Spain.
The Red Cross of Spain is very active
and is doing a great work. Its efficiency
was illustrated at the time of the royal
marriage. Foreseeing the probability of
accidents among the great crowds that
would assemble, stations of first aid were
established around the palace and along
the route of the procession. At each sta
ton was surgeon. assisted by medical
student, members of the society and litter
bearers. Each possessed complete field
pharmacy, quantities of ice and several lit
ters. Ambulances with assistants We're also
placed at convenient points and at the Red
Cross headquarters was a chief surgeon,
Dr.. Prada, with additional litter bearers. The
inspector of ambulances, DR.. Calatraveno,
was stationed at the Bank of Spain, CEN
trail point.
These precautions were not taken in vain
Before the explosion of the bomb the Red
Cross had rendered aid to a number of
persons injured in accidents. A moment
after the bomb exploded the attendants
on duty at several nearby Red Cross sta
tions promptly arrived upon the scene. Ad-
vised by telephone, DR.. Prada ordered 9TH
ers with a further supply of materials and
with eight stretchers to report at the
place of disaster, that the numerous
wounded were promptly and efficiently
cared for by the Red Cross.
Collies Trained to Rescue Wounded.
The German Red Cross is doing some
novel work. 1t is training collie shepherd
dogs for the duty of searching for wounded
on a battlefield. Each dog wears a band
around its body conspicuously marked with
the Red Cross to secure it's protection, AID
a saddle with pockets containing bandages
stimulants and medicines for immediate
need. Not long ago an interesting test was
made to determine the efficiency of the ami
mails. Two hundred soldiers were scattered
through forest with instructions to hide
themselves as well as possible as wounded
men might do during the progress of
battle. Five hundred litter bearers from
the Red Cross were sent into the forest
later, discovered 10 Of the wounded and
brought them to the hospital station within
two hours, but they could not find the re-
naming thirty When they had given up
the search well-trained dogs were released
and they found every one Of the hidden
war these thirty wounded would prob
ably have died before they could have been
rescued.
Two German Red Cross collies were Sue
cessfully tried by the Russians during the
recent war with Japan and brought in a
number of wounded that had escaped the
attention Of the regular hospital searchers,
but, curiously enough neither dog ever
brought in Japanese. They seemed to lg-
more them entirely, which is explained on
the theory that they were not familiar with
the scent of the japanese.
Red Cross Work in Italy.
Miss Mabel Boardman, who is now at
tending the International Red Cross con-
gress in London, told me an interesting
story before she left Washington about the
work which the Italian Red Cross is doing
to relieve the fever-stricken patients upon
the Campagna di Roma, a wild and half
desolate plain behind Rome, between the
sea and the mountains. Centuries ago it
was densely populated and thoroughly cul-
tivated. but, owing to defective drainage
and the choking up of the streams which
run into the sea, it has become an almost
continuous swamp. The backWater settled
in the low places and became stagnant and
the rottening vegetation has produced a
mia sma that is poison. Castles and farms
and entire towns have been abandoned.
There is scarcely any life except upon
the hilltops and other high places.
There are good many cattle on the plains
in the winter, but in the spring, when the
rainy season begins and the hot weather
comes, the herdsmen drive their stock into
the mountains and everybody who can
leaves the place. Thousands of poor peas
ants who cannot get away and have no
place to go to are stricken with fever, and
the death rate is very high.
To relieve them, Miss Boardman tells me,
the Italian Red Cross has organized parties
of physicians and nurses which have five
headquarters in different districts to treat
the people in their own houses, to furnish
them mosquito netting, and to use the or
binary methods for the determination of
mosquitoes which breed in the stagnant wa
ter and carry the malaria among the peo-
pie. Last year 1924 cases of fever were
treated. Funds to pay the expenses are
raised by subscription.
The Italian Red Cross also came out
very strong at the recent eruption of Vesu-
vus. Within twelve hours after the erup-
ton began relief posts for the care of the
wounded and infirm were established, and
the physicians and nurses worked faith
fully and bravely amidst a rain of ashes
and volcanic matter. They were assisted
by several Sisters Of Charity, who showed
a courage and self-sacrifice in their peril
that were highly commended. Later the
ladies of the Red Cross provided a soup
kitchen, clothing, beds and bedding for
those who had been driven out of their
homes, and after the eruption over
they furnished tools and implements for the
working people and farmers and otherwise
assisted them in re-establishing their de-
vastated homes.