The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-22
SEMI-CENTENARY OF
 RED CROSS, GREATEST
 HUMANITARIAN AGENCY.

Just half century ago to-day the of twelve great na- tions. assembled in Geneva. switzer- land. signed a convention which brought into existence one of the greatest humanttarian agencies the world has ever known-the Red Gross Society. This international as- sociation for the relief of the wounded and sick in time of war was inspired by a book, ssUn Souvenir de selferino," written by a Swiss gentleman, Henri Dunant. He had witnessed the hor- TOTS of the battlefield of Solferino in 1859, and his book made such a pro- found impression that in ls63 there was meeting of delegates from four teen nations to consider a plan for the formation of a relief society. Great Britain. France. Russia, Prussia, It ally and Austria were represented, and it was agreed that another meeting
 
 the organization. The congress was convened in Geneva early in August, and on the twenty of that mouth an internationaI code received the signatures of twelve delegates. The soldiers of mercy enlisted under the Red Cross received their baptism of fire in the war between France and Germany in 1870. when the flag of the society was recognized as neutral.
 For many years the United States held aloof from the movement. but in 1882. through the efforts of Clara Bar ton. the Washington government be- cafne a party to the treaty. The American Red Cross has performed wonders in the ameioration of .suf- fering. mot only in war, but in pesti- lence, famine. hood and fire. Tn 1905 it was reorganized on a broader basis, with William H. Taft. then secretary of war. as it's president.
 The insignia of the society. red crdss on a white background. was chosen as a compliment to the Swiss government. whose flag is a. white cross on a red ground. The treaty is given the privilege of neutrals, and all patients under it's care are treated alike. The original treaty of half a. cen tury ago insured to the Red Cross the protection of all conflicting forces in time of war. and covered all suffering caused by war The treaty provided that the hospital flag of every nation be that of the society, although Tur key was permitted to adopt the red crescent as it's emblem. By the ar ticles of the treaty, g sick or wound ed soldier is 8 neutral case" Tn a recent Red Cross bulletin the duties Of the Red Cross in war were thus set forth:
 The duties of the Red Cross would have to do with the sick and wounded and the prisoners of war. Each unit or army would have it's separate head quarters established at some conven- tent point far in the rear of the actual fighting. The soldiers having been 1 wounded in battle or taken sick in camp far from headquarters would receive first attention in portable hos pitaIs. which would be moved about as the armies themselves moved, and which would be set up as near as practicable to the actual scene of fighting.
 When the sick and wounded sol diers had been given first attention and preliminary care in the field hos pitfalls they would be transported by rail or in ambulance trains back to the large base hospitals at the army headquarters. The Red Cross would be expected to have men, necessary ambulances, mule teams, &c., for the transportation of the sick and wound ed soldiers from the field hospitals to the base hospitals. The Red Cross would also be expected to provide such surgeons, nurses. clerical force, and domestic help at the base hospitals as might be called for by the army au- thortties.''