The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-11-24
HUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN
ADMINISTERING TO PATIENTS
ON THE BATTLEFIELDS.
HOW AND WHEN THEY WORK

THE Slogan of All Who Join the SOci-
ETY. Is Sacrifice" The Volunteers
Know Not What Flag They Will
Be Placed Under.
The various units composing the
American Red Cross Society have
been assigned to the armies Of the
nations now at war, and some have
seen actual service, writes A. R.
Parkhurst, Jr. The eagerness with
which professional nurses from all
parts of the United States volunteer
ed for this service readily prove their
desire to render aid where aid is
most needed, as we'll as the utter un-
seIfshness of the women. Hundreds
of these volunteers relinquished
good paying positions to enter this
service fully realizing that stern
work and untold hardships and dis
comforts awaited them at the front.
But all who have followed the
work of the Red Cross Society know
that the slogan of those composing
its ranks is Sacrifice" All thought
of creature comforts and self is cast
to the winds when the smoke of bat
tie is scented and the succeeding
shrek of shells and the grOans and
cries of the stricken are heard. Then
is when lead and cold steel give way
to the tender ministrations of gen.
tie women who ar there to render
first aid, or stand at the sides of the
deft fingered surgeons who resort to
every means that skill and science
provides towards prolonging the lives
of the poor unfortunates then hover
ing in the valley of death.
The methods of which these almost
miraculous salvations from death
and suffering are accomplished need
not be dwelt upon here, for the tri-
umphs of modern surgery are too
well known. But when the environ
ment in which this work is done is
considered all must marvel at the
skill Of the surgeons and their assist
ants.
All Enlist Under Cross.
The Red Cross recognizes no one
sect or creed. Every nationality is
represented in it's ranks and every
creed. Humanity is its watchword,
and no more humane Organization eX-
lists. Whether it is war, pestilence,
flood or famine its soldiers are to be
found where the suffering is the
keenest and where it's services are
most needed.
The American Red Cross was in a
splendid state Of preparedness when
the great European war began. Just
prior to this conflict a war between
this nation and Mexico appeared i'm
minent and until the masterful di-
pIomacy and craftsmanship of Pres
ident Wilson triumphed affairs in the
revoIution-rent sister republic were
so black that Miss Boardman. presi-
dent of the American Red Cross So
ciety, marshaled her lieutenants
about her and took steps to send
big corps of surgeons and nurses to
points where it was believed hostili-
ties would begin. All the women who
volunteered for that service were
Just as eager to go to the European
theatres of war when the war cloud
that so long lowered over US rolled
away. But to send an expedition of
this sort to field of conflict in which
our nation had no part was still an
other and far more delicate mat
ter.
Our congress has made the Red
Cross the official volunteer auxiliary
of the army and navy, and details
governing the cooperation of the
Red Cross with the Medical Corps
of the two armies of the service have
been carefully worked out. Those
nurses comprising the first detach-
ment which would have gone to Mex
lean soil had undergone careful
physical examination and were inoc-
ulated with the typhus serum to
guard against illness while at the
front Happily this conflict was
avoided at the eleventh hour. But a
lesson had been taught. America
awoke to the fact that the American