The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-04-19
ORGANIZED RED
CROSS CHAPTER
OUTLINE OF WORK TO BE DONE
BY LOCAL MEMBERS OF
SOCIETY
MRS. MATs0n GAVE HISTORY Of SOCIETY
Now Recognized All over Civilized
Worid-Work Carried Beyond
Relief In War

AL tue INVITATION OF the CIVIC Leai-
of Bookings. all persons ~interested-
the formation of a Red Cross Char 9
in Brookings were asked to meet g |;
library hall last Friday afterno
About seventy persons were pres 8
and many others not able to att. 2
sent word Of their support. Mrs.
liam Smith, President of the Civic
League, introduced Mrs. Joseph Mat
son a member of the American Red
Cross Society, who e~ndeavored to ex-
plain the history and aims of the Red
Cross Society and the steps necessary
in the formation of a local chapter.
Mrs. Matson recounted the history of
the Battle of Solferino in 1859 when
the Italians and French won a bloody
victory over the Austrians under their
Emperor Francis Joseph. UP to this
time the ambulance flag of an army
was respected only by it's own side
and vas fired upon by the enemy the
same as any other part Of the battle
field. Observing this battle was a
civilian gentleman by the name of
Henri Dunant, whose heart was wruhg
with pity for the poor, neglected and
wounded soldiers that covered the bat
tie field and were trampled upon by
the advancing cavalry and heavy artil-
lery. He was struck with a great idea
and never ceased his efforts to bring
about a change until the Geneva con
vention became a reality. His first
care, however, after this battle was to
care for the wounded left on the field.
He organized a band of volunteer
nurses among the peasant wo.
men and contributed from his
own means for the comfort
and care of the wounded sol
diers of both armies. He became known
to the soldiers as the Good Samaritan
of Solferino. Dunant's grand idea was
that the ambulance corps were to
possess safety from attack on the
field of battle and that a new special
flag consisting of a Red Cross on a
white ground was to be the emblem
that would insure that safety. His
earnest appeal to humanity itself came
home to the hearts Of people and rul-
ers of all nationalities. An interna-
tional conference was held in Geneva
in 1863 at which fourteen governments
were represented. At the present day
all civilized states have agreed to the
Geneva convention and SO much has
Dunant's idea entered into the con-
seriousness of us all that nothing more
dishonorable can be told of any army
than that it failed to observe the
Geneva convention by firing on those
under the shelter of the Red Cross.
The American Red Cross is intended
to aid in the prevention and allevia-
ton of human suffering in times of
peace as well as war. 1t is to furnish
volunteer aid to the sick and wounded
or armies in time Of war, and to con-
tinue and carry on a system Of national
and international relief in time of
peace and apply the same in mitigat-
ing the sufferings caused by pestilence,
famine. fire. floods and other great ma.
tional calamities. Since its re-organ-
ization in 1905 1t has conducted over
80 relief operations in various parts
of the world and has received and dis
bursed over $40, OO0, 900 in cash and
donated supplies to the value of S.
O00, 600.
The first President Of the American
Red Cross Society was Clara Barton.
who held diplomas and decorations
from many foreign countries. 1t now
has the good fortune to have for its
president the highest officer of the
nation itself. President Wilson is
president Of the society and Ex-Presi-
dent Taft is chairman of the central
committee. Having been made the
oficial volunteer aid organization of
the United States the American Red
Cross comes under the protection of
the treaty of Geneva and has received
due recognition from all foreign gov
ernments. The Surgeons General of
the Army and Navy are members of
the Executive Committee and by Act
of Congress medical officers of the
Army and Navy are detailed for ser.
vice with 1t. The civilian relief Is un-
der a trained and experienced person
mel. especially fitted to care for sol.
diers' families and other non-com-