The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-17
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
Gen. Devol Defines the Scope Of Re-
lief Work In the Event Of War.

Gen. Devol Defines the Scope Of Re-
lief Work In the Event Of War.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sr: The
American Red Cross is In receipt OF
inquiries indicating that there 10 a
lack OF understanding In regard to re-
lief work In time of war. There are
an international treaty. q very ex
plicit law. a Presidential proclamation
and duly promulgated orders Of the
War and Navy Departments relating
to the furnishing of volunteer aid to
the sick and wounded Of armies In
time OF war. 1t apparently Is not
fully realized that war relief work
must be accomplished under definite
regulations; that a precise plan OF
action was long age adopted. and that
q nationwide, officially recognized and
chartered relief organization. with de-
partments designed to meet every
phase Of war relief work. exists. The
conduct Of wal is regulated by certain
we'll established and recognized rules
that are usually designated 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 q
time when the United States would
be involved in war II would be I'm
perative to enforce with the utmost
stringency the aw and the exccu-
tive and departmental orders govern
Ing the use Of the Red Cross emblem
and the functions of the Govern
ment's chartered. supervised and
systematized volunteer relief associa-
ton.
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 full
nj all requirements imposed by Con-
sress, to secure efficiency under Gen.
trahzed authority and trained organi-
zation In close afhliation with the
army and navy medical service, and
finally to safeguard tho American
public against fraud and abuse.
1t should be understood that the
Surgeon-Generals Of the United States
army and a v are appointed by the
President of the United States to rep
hVcSiis uNpoA titiVhNs III NfAoA
work. They are members Of the
American Red Cross executive COM
mittee and chairman and vice-chair-
man, respectively. Of the war relief
board.
All accounts of the American Red
Cross are required by law 10 be
audited by the Var Department and
an annual report, also required by
law. detailing the activities Of the
organization. Is made to Congress by
the chairman Of the central COM
mittee. 1t may be seen from this
hat the American Red Cross ma
chinery would be set In motion at
once and that its activities would be
definitely coordinated with tho legis-
latiye and executive work of the Gov
eminent in time OF war. Merely as
an example OF Its preparedness In one
branch Of its organization. there are
5000 enrolled American Red Cross
graduate trained nurses who have
been accepted by the Wal Depart
ment as the Army Nursing Reserve
Corps.
The War Department and the Navy
Department long ago formulated regu-
lations governing completely the
duties and functions Of the American
National 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 aw and the fraudulent
use thereof is punishable by fine or
Imprisonment or both.
President Taft in 1911, by procla-
nation to the army. stated briefly the
relations that must exist between the
military departments OF the Govern
ment and volunteer relief in the event
of war. General Orders. No. 10.
War Department, 1911, publishes the
proclamation. stating In effect hat the
American National Red Cross " the
only volunteer society authorized by
this Government to render aid to its
land and naval forces in time Of war:
and that n other society desiring
\ to render similar assistance can do
so only through the American Ma
tional Red Cross: that 10 comply with
the requirements OF Article 10 OF the
International Red Cross Convention
OF 1906 (revision OF the treaty of
G%eneva) that part OF the American
National Red Cross rendering aid TO
the land or naval forces will continue
a part of the sanitary service thereof.
The law, approved January 8, 1905,
as amended, which chartered the
American National Red Cross. stipu-
lates as follows:
Section 3. That the purposes 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 confer
ence of Geneva OF October, 1863, and
also of the treaty OF the Red Cross
or the treaty of Geneva of August %
1864. 20 which the United States OF
America gave its adhesion on March
l, 1882.
Fourthly: To act in matters Of vol
untary relief and In accord with the
military and naval authorities as a
medium OF communication between
the people OF the United States OF
America and their army and navy,
and to act in such matters between
similar national societies OF other
Governments through the Comlte
International de Secours, and The
Government and the people and the
army and navy NJ tho ITpi,aA S,atn.