Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-01

war where innocent women and chill
dren did not to go down to death and
woe and suffering. This will be tue.
also, until wars are ended-and We are
not yet in sight of that day.
"A fact also to be considered is that
each belligerent nation is crippled in
its own resources for relief. From
what we can learn from the theater
of action, 1t Is evident that military
medical organizations and the Red Cross
in the field are hope1essly inadequate
to meet the extraordinary demands
When the war broke out the Ameri-
can National Red Cross. through the
Department of State, rendered its aid
to the belligerent nations As becomes
a neutral nation, it was imperative
that our help be given Impair tially.
The nations responded, and we began
to organize for the work.
THE public Is familiar with the dis
patch of our first ship, the services OF
which were given without charter
price. with the several hospital units.
to the various countries, total force
comprising 172 surgeons and nurses.
A hospital unit consists of three sur
geons and twelve nurses. or a force
sufficient to conduct what would cor
respond to a ward of from thirty TO
nifty beds in a hospital. Double units
have been supplied to Russia. Ger
many, Austria. England and France.
To Servia single unit WAS sent Bel
GUM asked for hospital supplies only.
..Also we have sent to foreign Red
Cross societies the $4,000 have men
toned, have spent $4,000 for surgical
equipment and hospital supplies. and
have sent to the Dutch RED Cross
$1,000 for the relief of wounded and
refugees.
1--WE pay the salaries and expenses.
except food. OF all Of Our nurses and
surgeons. The cost OF maintaining the
present force in the field is all borne
by the American National Red Cross
For six months operations this will
entail a cost of s19S.043. Thus We have
expended and obligated ourselves to
expend close on to 100000.
What has been done is but small
part Of what we could, and this rich
nation should, do. There would be no
difficulty in obtaining the personnel
for many more hospital units. For ex-
ample. we have in reserve 5000 quail
hed registered nurses, all examined
mentally. physically and professional
ly and subject to instant call.
The President of the United States,
who is president Of the National Red
Cross. has appealed to the country for
the funds necessary for us to do the
work that lies waiting. but. as I have
told you. the response has not been
81 VIC dto SSHoihS OuL tabdh
and campaigning in many ways for
more funds-an active propaganda.
Humanity. as regarded by a nation
at war. is merely war resource. 1t Is
poured out as money and munitions are
poured out. When crippled or broken
the stern demands of war require that
it be thrust aside as Of no further i'm
mediate use. A nation in war times
concentrates it's efforts on beating the
enemy. Relieving the suffering Of its
outworn military instruments is some
thing by the way. 1t does what 1t can
SO long as its actions in that regard do
not interfere with the predominating
purpose Of winning victory.
"In such a time. then. there is a great
opportunity for the disinterested, the
neutral and the humanitarianly inclin-
ed to perform an inestimable service
to suffering humanity
ASHMUN BROWN.