South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-15
By Mark l.. Duncan.

our country and "a foreign power. we
see the necessity Of an agency TO
alleviate the attending suffering and
misery that war will bring IN Us
path. The one great and big agency
for this work Is the Red Cross soci-
ETY.. So familiar Is the sign OF the
Red Cross to everyone. that nobody
questions the work Of the society
and but few inquire into its history.
The idea OF such an organization
was Conceived ny Henri Dunant.
FrencE-SN . in 1858. At that time
the Sardini s under Victor Eman-
uel and me 'ench under Napoleon
III. were see ing 10 throw off OF
northern taJ the yoke IL Austria
Supremacy Dunant witnessed the
battle Of : iFerino. one OF the worst
in hisear fought at a time when no
treaty r 70 prot-ctiOn 10 the medi-
cal serv ..e Of the srmies. The bat
tie rag ed in the burning midday
heat and column after column OF
men flung themselves upon the other
until the dead we're piled high.
When cavalry dasaed over bodies.
the horses hoofs betting down the
men Darkness Drought the grOans
and cries for help OF the wounded
men
Hospitals were imprOyised hastily,
and most Of the wounded were car
ried into churches, barracks, con-
vents. and private homes. Friend
and foe we're laid side by side on
the floor Men were burning With
fever, writing in agony and shrek
ing dismally. Dunant went among
those wounded and bathed and COM
forted them. He banded together
group of townspeOple into a volun-
teer corps 10 help. They noticed he
made no distinction of nationality.
1t was then he asked the question
that brought into life the spirit Of
the Red Cross. "Wouid il not be
possible TO found and organize in all
civilized countries permanent sOcie-
ties Of volunteers which, ia time Of
war. would render succor TO the
wounded without distinction or ma
tionality2"
Conference i'm GencOa.
lie followed up this question with
numerous pamphlets and gained the
interest OF deep-thinking people of
conference was held in Geneva and
il was known as An international
conference for investigating the
the means 70 supplement the in
adequacy OF medical services of ar
mics in campaigns" Fourteen Euro
pean countries were represented.
Another convention was called in
1864. at which time the Geneva
treaty. sometimes called the Red
Cross treaty, was adopted. Comph-
menLary ~ switzerland, the oWlss
nas wan IJs cOiOrs reversed, a red
cross on = white DacksrOund-wa
4uopteu as the wOrld WIue lnslsnla
.or humanity and neutraIty. AT inns
convention the United States was
only informally represented. This
was explained by Sec'y of State Sc
ward who said that the United
states. while always ready TO for
ward all humanitrian action, had
we'll understood policy of holding
itself aloof from all European con-
gress. To meet for the modification
of international laws OF war had its
apparent difficulties
In 1866 number of men formed
the American Association for the
Relief of Misery on Battlefelds, its
objects being 70 obtain the gov
ernments adherence to the treaty
of Geneva. It's badge was that of
the Red cross. However, il did not
gain the recognizance of the United
states government. and its existence
ceased 1871. Miss Clara Barton,
one of the many women who had
aided in the case of sick and wound
ed Of the Civil war, met at Geneva
with the International Red Cross
committee. and later witnessed the
Red Cross work of the war of
1870. In 1877 she delivered a letter
10 Pres't Hayes, appealing for a
Red cross chapter. The state de-
partment. 10 which the letter was
referred, did not take favorable &C
tion In 1851, through Pres't Car
field. another effort was made. MT.
Blaine gave assurance that, with the
presidents approval. the adoption OF
the treaty would be recommended
to congre This promise was so
encouraging that a Red Cross or
SANITATION was Incorporated in the
District OF Columbia, in 1881. un-
der the name OF the American Asso-
citation of the Red Cross. Clara
Barton was elected president The
adoption OF the treaty was confirmed
uy the senate unanimously in March,
1852. A proclamation was then
issued by the president OF the United
states making public the conven-
ton. To the effect that the same in
every article and clause thereof may
be observed and fulfilled with good
faith by the United States and citi-
Gems thereof
First Work In Michigan.
The first branch of the American
Red cross had hardly come into eX-
istence at Dansvilie. y. N..when a
forest first swept over Michigan.
Houses. live stock and barns were
DESTROYED. and men, women and
children He'd in fury. Money and
clothing were quickly collected by
this little Red Cross and sent into
Michigan. Following this disaster
-ame the floods OF 1SS2 and 1SS3.
the waters OF the Mississippi spread
ing out over cotton and sugar plan