El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-16
MEXICAN RED
CROSS HAS
SPLIT
Revolt Occurs in Relief Or
ganization and New One
Starts.
AMERICAN SOCIETY
HELPS WOUNDED

Even the Red Cross of Mexico has
chaotic condition of the Mexican army
organization is duplicated in the Red
Cross organization, 1t is declared. In
stead Of uniting to assuage the suf-
fering of the wounded on the battle
fields, the leaders of the two factions
OF the Mexican National Red Cross
have been fighting each other YER
bally and through the press. The re-
suit has been that the Red Cross has
accomplished practically nothing in
the present insurrection. although
hundreds have been wounded in the
federal and rebel armies.
As a result Of the internal dissen-
sion in the ranks Of the Red Cross,
parent organization revolted and took
with him a number Of the prominent
members OF the organization. forming
what was called "the neutral Red
Cross society" This started the fight
all over again and the two factions
were so busy throwing verbal mud at
each other that there was no time for
carrying out the real work of the or
ganization.
White Cross Is Formed.
Recognizing the inefficiency of the
Red Gross in its warning state,
number of men and women in Mexico
City organized the White Cross So
ciety as an organized protest against
the inactivity of the Red Cross.
Equipment was prepared, a force of
trained nurses and surgeons employed
and enough funds raised within "a
hours to carry on the work of the
new organization indefinitely. A
train of White Cross nurses, doctors
and equipment was at once dispatched
to FL Paso and Juarez to care for the
wounded in the battle OF Juarez This
is thought to have stirred the Red
Cross to action. and one of the
branches, no one has yet been able to
1t arrived Monday and it is now in the
field.
American Society Acts.
In the meantime the American Red
Cross society, which is a separate
and individual organization, having
no Jurisdiction in Mexico under the
Geneva treaty, recognized the condi-
ton as existing in Juarez. The situa-
ton was gone into In detail by the
national officers. with the result that
$1,000 was wired to Col. E. 2. Steever
to be expended in relieving the suf-
fering of the wounded in the battle Of
Juarez Authority was also given Col
Steever to appoint a committee here to
the Red Cross society. and
Mai. B. j. Edger, DR.. H E. Steven
son and DR.. J. B. Brady were APP
pointed. While no effort was made to
establish Red Cross hospital in Jua-
rez, under the supervision OF the
American Red Cross, this society hav-
ing no jurisdiction in that country,
the committee that was appointed
took charge of the wounded and or
ganized the movement of American
surgeons who did the major part Of
the relief work in Juarez after the
battle.
Comes In at Eleventh Hour.
After the wounded had been cared
for in the local and Juarez hospitals
and the situation was we'll in hand
then the Red Cross of Mexico arrived
on the scene with much wearing OF
helmets and display of side arms and
cases. The White Cross
came .day earlier and went quietly
to work relieving the suffering wher-
ever possible.
Ernest P. Bicknel1 national direc-
tor of the American Red Cross So
ciety, is here to study the situation
at first hand and to do anything that
he can to assist In the humanitarian
cause for which the society stands. He
IS in close touch with the local COM
mittee and with Col. E.. 2. Steever.
There is no inclination on the part
of the American organization to usurp
any of the privileges or duties OF the
Mexican organization, but TO CO.
with 1t in performing the
greatest possible service to humanity.