Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-18
The Red Cross in War



IN HE AMERICAN RED CROSS is in receipt Of In
auiries indicating that there is lack Of under
standing in regard TO relief work in time OF war.
There IL international treaty. very explicit 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 II apparently Is
not fully realized that relief work must be &C
compllshed under definite regulations that precise
plan of action long ago adopted. and that
nationwide, officially recognized and chartered RELIEF
organization. with departments designed 20 meet every
phase Of relief work. exists The conduct OF war
r. regulated by certain well established and recognized
rules that are usually designated as the laws OF
war, which comprise the rules. both written ana I'M
written, for carrying on Of war. both land and at
Should there ever time when the United
States would be involved in IL would be Inn
perative TO enforce with the utmost stringency the
law and the executive and departmental orders gov
erning the 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 contingency TO
carry out the obligations of the United States under
the treaty Of Geneva 70 fulfill all requirements Inn
posed by congress- to efficiency under central
tied authority and trained organization IN close ar
faton with the army and navy medical service. and
finally to safeguard the American public against fraud
and abuse
It should be understood that the surgeon generals
OF the United States army and navy appointed by
the president OF the United States represent these
departments in relief work They members OF the
American Red Cross executive committee. and chair
man and vice chairman respectively, Of the War Re-
lief board.
All accounts OF the American Red Cross are re-
quired by law TO be audited by the War department
ana an annual report also required by law, detailing
the activities OF the organization is made to
by the chairman OF the central committee II may be
seen from this that the American Red Cross ma
chnery would be set IN motion at and that its
activities would be definitely coordinated with the
legislative and executive work of the government in
time OF war Merely as an example Of its prepared
ness IN one branch Of It's organization there 5000
enrolled American Red Cross graduate trained
who have been accepted by the War department as
the army nursing corps
The War department and the Navy department
long formulated regulations 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 threatened
war. The sign OF the Red Cross is protected by law
and the fraudulent thereof punishable by fine
OF imprisonment both.
President Taft IN 1911, by proclamation 70 the
army. stated briefly the relations that exist
tween the military departments Of the government
and volunteer relief in the Of war. General
orders No. no. War department 1911 publishes the
proclamation stating in effect that the American Red
Cross Is the only volunteer society authorized by this
government to render aid to its land forces
in time Of and that any other society desiring 70
render similar assistance can do only through the
American National Red Cross that to comply with
the requirements Of article 10 the International Red
Cross convention of 1906 (revison OF the treaty OF
Geneva, that part OF the American National Red
Cross rendering aid the or naval forces will
continue part Of the sanitary service thereof
The law. approved January 5. 1906. as amended,
which chartered the American National Red cross
stlpulates follows:
section That the purposes of this corporation
and shall be-
First To furnish volunteer aid 10 the sick and
wounded OF armies In time OF war In accordance with
the spirit and conditions OF the conference OF Geneva
OF October 1858 and also of the treaty OF the Red
Cross. the treaty OF Geneva August e. 1864 "a
which the United States Of America its adhesion
on March I. 1889. .
Fourth To act In matters OF voluntary relief and
In accord with the military authorities as
medium OF communication between the people ot
the United states of America and their army and
navy. and 20 act in such matters between similar ma
tona societies OF other governments through the
Comite international de Secours. the government
and the people the army and navy OF the United
States OF America