The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-20


Henri Dunant, o citizen Of Geneva
Switzerland, was a chance witness OF
the battle of Solferino. TO his horror
and astonishment. he behld Thousands
OF wounded men lying, without any
effort at attention, all over the hard
fought field OF battle. and that ap-
parently neither victor nor vanquished I'd
had any intent or means to care for
the enormous number Of wounded
resulting from an engagement of such
intensity.
The scenes he witnessed were so
wildly portrayed In memorable
book entitled "Un Souvenir de Softer
ino,' that the entire world was agitat-
ed, with the result that societies were
formed in all civilized countries for
the education Of nurses and the col
lection of supplies to be used for fu-
ture wars. The writings and lectures
Of Monsieur Dunant were used as a
propaganda by the Society of Public
Utilities Of Geneva to such excellent
purpose that on october 18, 1864, the
first Red Cross convention was held in
Geneva. All civilized countries, and
many partially civilized, subscribed to
the humane tenets incorporated in
the articles Of the convention. wtich
being signed by the representatives of
all the powers present, were reposed
in the archieves of the Swiss rer ub-
lie. In honor of the originator, Mon
sieur Dunant, and the country of
which he was a citizen the emblem
of red cross upon a white field was
adopted, this being reversal of the
federal colors of Switzerland.
This emblem borne upon the person
In the form of brassard, or upon ma
terial and transportation Of every ma
ture, intended for the use of the sick
and wounded. has always been sacred
ly held by even savage foes until the
present world war. when tho forces OF
the central powers have strangely dis
regarded the solemn principles ann
their oaths, in breaking every article
to which their representatives had
subscribed In the name Of the imperial
government. While Turkey is an
ally Of the central powers. her troops
on the other hand have not broken
faith In this connection. for when her
representatives signed the articles OF
the convention 1t was agreed, that as
the Red Cross was a symbol of Chris
tianity, the Mohammedan powers
could not use 1t as an emblem, but
that II the Red Crescent were recog-
nized and honored as was the Red
Cross, the tenets of the convention
would he strictly adhered to. To this
day the Turk has not failed to carry
out to the best Of his ability the oath
to which he subscribed. leaving che
Teutonic allies shamefully alone in Ghe
most debased form of cruelty the
world has known.
BY the act Of congress. April "a,
1912, the American National Fed
Cross became the medium Of commu-
nication between the people of the
United States and their forces, and
under this law. no matter how patrio-
tic or generous individuals and So
cicties may be. their services and Of
ferings can only be accepted through
the central committee of the Fed
Cross. The government of the Unit
ed States has attempted to supply it's
military and naval forces with suni-
cient medical personnel and supplies
to care for the ordinary number OF
casualties in war without seeking out
side aid, but In this war, whose cas-
ualties exceed those of all the wars OF
history, no government can provide
adequately for It's forces without the
assistance Of the whole people. The
care Of tho sick and wounded does not
consist merely in providing dressings
for wounds, light literature and lux
uries. but an enormous mass OF ma
terial that Is astonishing in it's variety
Ambulance columns, field hospitals
base hospitals. hospital trains and
ships. supply columns. information
bureau sections, must be formed foi
duty in connection with the force
both oversea and at home, and while
these Red Cross institutions are no,
intended for service in the zone of the
advance. they must cover the enor-
nous space between the firing lin,
and the bases. and to do this q grea
amount Of personnel. transportation
and supplies arc necessary. In it.
II