Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-13
RED CROSS REGULATIONS
Immune From Intentional Harm or
ImDriSOnmCnt

Let us now see what happens when
two or more countries 20 to war.
First, every beligerent must notify
each of its enemies, if. it has not al
ready done So of the names of the
societies that are authorized to render
assistance i'm the official medical ser
vice Of its armies. The Red Cross is
the chief. in some instances the only
one, of these societies.
When this notification has been
given, the personnel (nurses, surgeons,
litter-bearers, etc.) and equipment Of
the Red Cross enter the field subject
to military laws and regulations; that
is, the Red Cross forces take orders
from the military authorities. lnso'
far as the conditions of modern war
fare permit they must be respected
and protected by the enemy. If one
Of their number is accidentally shot in
iong-range fighting, this is looked
upon as a matter that cannot be
helped. But if they fall into the hands
of the enemy, they are not to be re-
garded as prisoners of war; In such a
case, they may be compelled to con-
tinue in the exercise of their functions
under the enemy's direction. While
they remain i'm his power, he must
grant them the same pay and allow
ances granted to persons OF the same
grade in his own army When their
assistance Is no longer Indispensable
he must send them back to their own
army or country in such manner as
military necessity dictates, and he
must permit them to take with them
their private property. The protection
due them from the enemy ceases II
they commit acts injurious to him.
They may however arm themselves
t,l ttla arms N self -lafpngn
For the most part, Of course, the
personnel of Red Cross societies do
not get into actual fighting. They are
stationed i'm hospitals, at fixed medical
bases. or in the rear of the firing line.
In the latter case, they go over the
field after the battle and carry off the
wounded The Treaty of Geneva re
duircs that after every engagement
the belligerent who remains in pos
session of the field of battle shall
search for the wounded and protect
both wounded and dead from i'll treat
mcnt, without distinction OF nation
ality.
The Red Cross society of a neutral
state can lend its services to a bel
Hgerent only with the prior consent
of its own government and the au-
thority of the beiligerent and the bel
Hgerent must then notify his enemies
before making any use OF such serV-
Ices The American National Red
Cross has made this offer to each OF
the countries now at war. and the
offer has been accepted by all. The
nurses and doctors sent from this
country are being used exclusively, SO
| far as is known, in hospitals.
The principles of the revised Treaty
Of Geneva were extended to maritime
| warfare by the Hague convention in
| 907. For tho most part the agree
ment then signed secures the same
protection and immupities TO hospital
| ships that the prior agreement
| secured to official relief forces on
| land. I'm naval warfare the Red Cross
can be of service chiefly by providing
| hospital ships. which aim TO remain
at a convenient distance from the
scene of battle. and by caring for the
| sick and wounded when transferred
hospitals on land.-From The Red
! Cross at Work" by Winthrop ID. Lane,
ln the American Review Of Reviews
| for March.