The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-27
SOLDIERS OF
THE RED CROSS
By III. CARTER SCHOOLFJEID

The army Of the Red Cross was or.
I ganized at Geneva, Switzerland. in the
year 1863, All the leading nations ir
I the world took part in the organiza
! tion except the United States. The
! United states was engaged in the wal
/ between the states at that time anc
/ did not extend its official recognition
and protection to the soldiers of the
Red Cross until the year 1884 But
since that time such a large NUM- Der
of Americans have volunteered "a
serve in the ranks of the Red Cross
that the United States has taken the
leadership Of the world in recruitins
and supplying that vast host of sol
diers that marshal under the banner
of the Red Cross
The Red Cross banner had its ori-
gin in the flag of Switzerland II is
the flag of Switzerland--a white cross
on y. red field. reversed. The Red
Cross on a white fed was unani-
mously adopted by the Geneva con-
Vention as the distinctive emblem of
the soldiers of the Red cross.
The armies of the Red Cross are
recruited from both man and woma n
but they are largely dependent on the
efforts and services of woman to sus-
tain them. 1t is largely womans work
and most generously have the women
Of the nation responded. Virtually
the entire womanhood of America has
Henlisted in the supply and ordnance
department. and hundreds OF thou
sands of American girls are in Red
Cross service everywhere. The chief
, and most important service of the
Red Cross had it's origin in the brave
sacrifices and heroic example OF Flor
ence Nightin gale--one of the nohlest
of her seX-who during the Crimea
war, went forth the first of those min
istering angels, to suffering mankind.
the trained war nurse. which since has
developed into the great army of Red
Cross war nurses.
But as the forces of the Red Cross
have grown from the small army of
its carries OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES only
purpose was to relieve the wounded
and dying on The field of battle-as its
ranks have swelled, and its armies
have increased, its campaigns have
extended until the ba tile cry was be-
come. Forward everywhere, against
the ravages of fire. food and famine,
and no quarter to disease pestilence
or DEATH
Red Cross are worldwide. Its wars
are for the human race, IT unites
in a nation in sacrifices and service
the militarist and pacifists, the social
list and plutocrat. the liberal and roy
alist. the heather and Christian, the
Catholic and Protestant. Gentle and
Jew. 1t unites In the world in its
purpose and principle. all races and
tongues, all religions and people. the
Slav and Teuton. the Turk and Latin.
the Anglo Saxon and Ethiopian, Greek
and Hindoo, Jap and Jew. The army
of the Red Cross Is the great redeem
ing force and power that makes the
whole worl6 kin.
The heroic soldiers of the Red Cross
go forth in singleness of heart and
| soul to brave the terrors of war, the
dangers of battle. the horrors of dis
ease--to minister to the wounded and
dyingthe cheat death OF its victory
on every bloody field of carnage. in
every camp of the plagued and strick-
en-. in all hospitals of the dead and
dying, and they save from watery
graves thousands upon sinking ships
at sea.
The soldiers Of this army never
cease their fight for mercy They
| never sound taps or reveille, No drum
beats their charge Or rally. BUT true