Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08
61- 1. THE DEPARTMENT
OF MILITARY RELIEF

accordance with the spirit and copdition.
of the Conference of Geneva of Oo.ob.,
1863, and also of the Treaty OF Geneva a,
August %. 1864. to which the United Stn..
of America gave its adhesion Mich
1882
ITO perform all the duties deyolysd IN.
on national society by each mats,
which has acceded to said Treaty.
ITO act in matters of voluntary rei.,
and in accord with the military and naya
authorities as n medium of communica.
ton between the people of the Cnitsl
states of America and their army and
navy and to act In such matters betwe.,
similar national societies of other Roy.-,
ments through the 'Comite lnternational
de Secours. and the Government and N.
people and the Army and Navy OF N.
United States Of America" (Act of Cor.
gress of Jan. >. 1869
These duties include the equipment anl
MANAGEMENT of hospitals. hospital shin,
hospital trains. transportation Of the sIc.
and wounded, the manufacture, collection
storage and distribution Of hospital an
other war relief supplies. and the organ.
cation of information bureaus To- serys
as a means of communication between N.
people of the United States and thsr
army and navy.
The Department is responsible for IN.
organization. enrolment, and cquipmer'
OF the units required by the Regulation,
Governing the Management Of the Amer.
can Red Cross in Time Of War, pub.
lished by the War and Navy nepar.
ments. These include the enrolment
physicians surgeons, nurses. aud other
personnel In the event OF hostilities m
which the United States is not involved
such assistance as may he given 10 n.
sick and wounded of the bellirerent coun.
tries is the function Of this Department
When a civH disaster occurs. the Depari.
nena of Military Relief furnishes suca
radical and nursing personnel as may No
needed by the Department Of civilian Re.
lief
Sc. Presidents Proclamation. II.
relation OF the American Red cross ~
the armed forces OF the United states II
given i'm a proclamation Of the rresiien;
OF the United states, dated August =.
1911. which states
81 That the American National Rel
Cross is the only voluntary society ncv
authorized by this Government to rend.-
aid to its land and naval forces I'm TIM
Of war.
"2. That any other society desiring u
render assistance can do so only througi
the American National Red Cross
80 That to comply with the require
ments Of Article 10 of the Internationa
Red Cross Convention Of 1905 ,revis'on o.
the Treaty OF Geneva, that part " th'
American National Red Cross rendering
aid to the land and naval forces viii con
stitute a part OF the sanitary services
thereof.
-. That when any member ~ IRE
American National Red Cross reports for
duty with the land or naval forces " he
United States pursuant 10 proper cal
he will thereafter be subject 10 military
laws and regulations as prov ided W. n
ticle 10 of the international Red GRO"
Convention of 1906. and VIII lie pIoNdr'
with the necessary brassaru anu Nord"'
cate of identity.
.'5 That except in cases of great einfi'
gency the personnel Of the Amer an Na
tonal Red cross will not he ASSIGNED %
duty at the front. hut will he confined 10
hospitals in the home country. at the h"
of operatious on hospital ships and alons
lines of communication uf the muiaf'
and naval forces of the United states
e3. war and Navy Aegulations-
Following this proclamation the war an
NAVY Departments published regulation
stating specifically the character or
sistance that they expect TO receive iroh
the Red Cross.
The personnel defined in these reguh-
tions includes specially trained indivtd
uals, such as surgeons. physicians def
lists pharmacists. nurses, nurse mdA
stenogra phers, typewtiters, ana uhfaN'
members of the Red Cross who may desIf'
to undertake special duties. inc ner 'i.a'
Is subdivided into three groups or classes
Class "A" Those OF the trained PEI
sonnet willing 10 serve wherever needed
Glass b" Those willing TO serve "
the home country only.
Class &C" Those willing 10 serve
their place of residence only.
From the personnel In Class "A, ame1'
lance companies. base hospitals. h'sp,a
units. etc, will he organized. hut nnde'
certain conditions may also he i'r"'.
from those in Class b.
The Naval and Military Services nnn'
the Regulations already referred - "
Quire the Red Cross to organic 10Y
vice with the Armed Forces of the me-
States. ambulance companies, haHe h'sl"
tails. hospital units. surgical sc,lur
emergency nurse detachment, saAilH'
training detachments, Information ser'ol
refresbment units and detachmcniS suP
ply depots. general hospitals and COW
yalescent homes.
ca. Ambulance Companies viii b
used to supplement and assist oraanb'
lions of the Regular Army engasen
the transportation of SICK ana "ruh"'H
base hospitals. and from base hospNH
to other hospitals in tn" home 'ounr
The personnel may he used TO man avn
lance trains. hospital trains ,'SIn
ships and other agencies for Sion va,
sport by land and water. or for the 's'H-
lishment of emergency hospitals the OF
sanization consists Of 1--WE officers 'N
ciShty-siX men. and such other rerN'f'
AS may he approved by the Secie,arN
War. Persons who enroll IN Ike" W..
Ambulance Company agree to serve WI,
the Red Cross for two years. and 10 W.
should occur during their term Of scr, ~
TO enlist In the Medical Department 81 Wv
ARMY. For further information sec "'
Cross Circular lac.
65. Dass hospitals are usr'll nl.
ganized In important cities where N'"
large hospital exists which can at - ,'
nucleus. so that IL the unit II called Wy"
for active service. the parent hospital VIZ
be able to continue tn operate efhrlsnu.
when the Red Cross personnel IS WV
drawn. Those who enroll in base n"N
tails agree to serve the Red Cross for
period ~ two years and promise We
should war occur during that time W,
will enter the Medical Service oi U"
Army and Navy, according to the seiN'
to which their unit has been nsslgnci
base hospital comprises within It's per
sonnet twenty-siN officers. including
Chaplain and two dental surgeons, w,
nurses. twenty-five volunteer nurses H'us
one hundred and fifty male administrdNN'
personnel and fifteen civil employee
Those who desire further information ..
the subject Of base hospitals are refef'e'
TO Red Cross Circular la5.
66. Sanitary Training pstachmenv
are organized primarily to instruct M.
to perform the duties pertaining 10 M
enlisted medical service of the front an.
lire of combinations with the Regus
Army or with Red Cross units In time ~
war. They are usually organized in smsh
colleges. or in industrial plants which en-
ploy considerable number Of men
When chapters exist in the eniRhborhooa
OF such colleges or plants. the organize
ton of sanitary training detachment
should he a chapter activity. These ne-
tachments offer a means OF teaching men
First Aid and OF continuing their nteres'
in that subject over period OF two yeafs.
with the hope that in the event Of wa
the members will enlist individually "