Evening star., 1914-08-22

Today is the fiftieth anniversary Of the
adoption of the treaty Of Geneva, COM
monty known as the Red Cross treaty.
And it happens that today the greatest
demand on the resources Of this world
wide humanitarian institution in the half
century it has existed is being made as a
result of the terrific clash of arms in
Europe.
1t had been hoped that some kind OF
celebration might be held this summer in
commemoration of the fiftieth birthday
Of the Red Cross but far more impor-
tant and more serious problems confront
the organization. Instead Of making today
a holiday the Red Cross is everywhere
devoting it's best energies to ameliorating,
as far as possible, the sufferings of thou
sands of wounded left in the wakes Of
European armies.
Fifty years have rolled by since the
holding of the first International conven-
ton in Geneva, Switzerland. when the
Red Cross treaty was adopted. That was
August %, 1864 Since then the humani-
tartan arms of the civilized nations OF
the world have been marching to the re-
lief of distressed peoples under the ban
ner of the Red Cross on a white ground.
Almost everywhere human beings exist
today the Red Cross is recognized as the
insignia of mercy, succor and neutrality.
Inception Of Organization.
Partly due to the work of the United
States sanitary commission in safeguard
ing the health and alleviating the suf-
fering of the sick and wounded during
the civil war, conferences were held in
Geneva in 1868 and 1864. at which first
fourteen, then twenty-five. countries were
represented; out Of which grew the Or
ganization and recognition of permanent
Red Cross societies throughout the world.
Field agents of the United States sanl-
tary commission subsequent to the con-
vention of 1864 were the first relief work
ers to use the Red Cross sign and flag
in actual service.
In this second conference the actions OF
the convention Of 1865 were reviewed and
the Red Cross treaty, proposing a new
rule of international law, was entered
into. The United States was represented
by her minister. George c. Fogg, and by
Charles s. p Bowles, the European agent
of the sanitary commission. According
to these gentlemen the documents and
statistics telling of the practical effects
of the work of the sanitary commission
in preventing and relieving suffering dur
ing the civil war proved of the utmost
value to the second Geneva congress, and
Mr. Bowles goes SO far as to say that
but for 'these visible demonstrations of
the benefits of organized relief work this
congress probably would have been q
failure.
A committee from the Retail Mer-
chants Association has been desig
mated to represent that organization at
the joint meeting with similar commit
tees from the Board of Trade and
Chamber of Commerce, which has been
called by Commissioner Newman, as
chairman. of the District board of the
Red Cross, for 10 o'clock Monday morn
ing for the furtherance by these three
bodies of the campaign to raise the
necessary funds for the Red Cross ex-
petition. 1t is as follows:
o. J. De Moll. chairman: Arthur Burt.
E. H. Snyder, George Harris. o. r.
Evans. w. H. Fisher. F: c. Edmonds.
Isidor Grosner. George H. Judd, F. w.
Plugge. w. w. Georges, w. w. Grif-
nth and S. NJ. Avery.
The committee appointed from the
Chamber of Commerce consists OF:
William F. GUIDE. chairman; Col. Rob-
ert n. Harper. James F. Oyster, d. J.
Callahan, H. B. F. Macfarland, William
e. Shannon. A. Lisner. d. S. Porter, w.
T. Galliher. Harry King, P. T. Moran,
Albert Schulteis. Oliver Metzerott, c.
/. Corby and Thomas Grant.
The women of the diocese of Wash
ington are to hold a meeting at St
Johns Parish Hall. 10th and Fl streets
at 1890 O'Clock Monday
to perfect plans for aiding the
work of the American National
Red Cross in the European war;. A full
is-greatly- desired.