The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1915-09-03
WORK OF. RED CROSS
Organized to Give Relief in Time
of War.
international Treaty, a Very Explicit
Law, a Presidential Proclamation
and Army and Navy Orders
Regulate Aid to Wounded.
BY Rrigadier General C. A. DevoI, U.
S. A., Acting Chairman.


eating that there is a lack of under
standing in regard to relief work in
time of war. There is an information
al treaty, very explicit law, a presi-
Dental proclamation, and duly pro-
mulgated orders Of the war and navy
departments relating to the furnishing
of volunteer aid to the sick and wound
ed of armies in time of war. 1t appar.
emily is not fully realized that war
relief work must be accomplished, un-
der definite regulations; that pre-
else plan of action was long ago adopt
ed, and that a nationwide, officially
recognized and chartered relief organ
1zation, with departments designed to
meet every phase of war relief work,
exists. The conduct of war is regu-
lated by certain well-established and
recognized rules that are usually des-
ignated as the laws of war" which
comprise the rules, both written and
unwritten, for carrying on of war, both
on land and at sea. Should there ever
come a time when the United States
would be involved in war it would
be imperative to enforce with the ut
most stringency the law, and the exec
utive and departmental orders govern
ing the use of the Red Cross emblem
and the functions of the governments
chartered, supervised and systematized
volunteer relief association.
All volunteer aid must come under
the direction of the American Red
Cross in such a contingency to carry
out the obligation of the United States
under the treaty of Geneva, to fulfill
all requirements imposed by congress,
to secure efficiency under centralized
authority and trained organization in
close utilization with the army and
navy medical service, and finally to
safeguard the American public against
fraud and abuse
1t should be understood that the sur
geon generals Of the United States
army and navy are appointed by the
president of the United States to rep
resent these departments in relief
work. They are members of the Amer
lean Red Cross executive committee,
and chairman and vice-chairman, re-
spectively, of the war relief board.
All accounts of the American Red
Cross are required by law to be audit,
ed by the war department and an an
nual report, also required by law, de-
failing the activities Of the organiza-
ton, is made to congress by the chair
man of the central committee 1t may
be seen from this that the American
Red Cross machinery would be set in
motion at once and that it's activities
would be definitely co-ordinated with
the legislative and executive work of
the government in time of war Mere
ly as an example Of its preparedness
in one branch of its organization, there
are 5000 enrolled American Red Cross
graduate nurses who have been ac-
cepted by the war department as the
army nursing reserve corps.
The war department and the navy
department long ago formulated reg
ulations governing completely the du-
ties and functions of the American Ma
tional Red Cross with reference to
rendering aid to the land and naval
forces in time of actual or threatened
war. The sign of the Red Cross is
protected by law and the fraudulent
use thereof is punishable by fine or
imprisonment or both.
President Taft in 1911, by proclama-
ton to the army, stated briefly the re-
lations that must exist between the
military departments of the govern
ment and volunteer relief in the event
of war. General Orders, No. ITO, war
department, 1911, publishes the proc
lamation, stating in effect that the
American National Red Cross is the
only volunteer society authorized by
this government to render aid to its
land and naval forces In time of war;
and that any other society desiring to
fender similar assistance can do so
only through the American National
Red Cross; that to comply with the
requirements Of Article 10 of the In
ternational Red Cross Convention of
1906 (revision Of the Treaty Of Ge-
neva) that part of the American Ma
ttonal Red Cross rendering aid to the
naval forces will continue a part of
the sanitary service Thereof.
The law, approved January s, 1905.
as amended, which chartered the
American National Red Cross, stipu-
lates as follows:
Sec. 3. That the purpose of this
corporation are and shall be:
First. To furnish volunteer aid to
the sick and wounded of armies in
time Of war, in accordance with the
spirit and conditions of the conference
OF Geneva of October, 1863, and also
OF the treaty of the Red Cross or the
treaty Of Geneva of August %, 1864,
to which the United States of Amer
lea gave its adhesion on March /, 1882.
Fourth. To act in matters of vol.
untary relief and in accord with the
military ard naval authorities as a me-
dunn of communication between the