The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-15

have been divided Will undoubtedly
have delegates at Geneva.
The future of the relief organiza.
tons known as the Turkish Society
Of the Red Crescent" which was es.
tablished in 1864, is. problematical.
Little is known of the preSent con.
dtion Of the Bulgarian Red Cross.
AS Belgium has commanded the
sympathy and admiration of the
whole world for its heroic part Ia
the terrible struggle, SO it's Red Cross
society has won the confidence and
respect of all those familiar with tie
problems 1t was called upon TO meet.
With the greater part of the little
Kingdom under German domination,
the Belgium Red Cross workers. syp.
ported at every turn by King Albert
and Queen Elizabeth, labored day a';l
night among soldiers and civilians
The Belgian Red Cross was foundcj
in 1891.
| Switzerland, the birthplace of tha
man who conceived the merciful itieA
embodied In the Red Cross, has n fine
! VI 81 'iiHsitspii- at tSN 1913 IASd SipSS
! was organized In 1866, the govern.
ment of that country being the first
TO recognize the treaty of Geneva. 1t
is pretty generally known that the red
flag on white background--the emf
| htem of the Red Cross-is the Swiss
flag reversed. the emblem being adopt.
ed by the Red Cross of all countries rs
trth 30 10
country which did so much to stimu-
late interest in relief work throughout
the world. With the country hemmed
In by the armies OF the helligerents,
the Swiss Red Cross occupied a deli
cate position for more than four years,
and the acceptable manner in which 1t
dispc ed of the many problems that
arose will always stand as tribute~to
its efficiency. The organization has
about $4,000 members.
The Spanish Red Cross has men,-
hership OF more than 10000. Head
quarters is In Madrid. Portugal's Red
Cross society was not founded until
1908. Holland. Denmark, Norway and
Sweden have Red Cross societies oper-
ating. ms general rule, along the lines
of the other Red Cross organizations.
Balkans Know Value OF Red Cross.
In the Balkans, as may be readily
surmised, Red Cross work in the va
rous states has been brought to the
highest development, this efficiency be-
ing due to long experience as result
of the almost continuous wars In that
part OF Europe. Greece, Montenegro,
Serbia and Koumnnia all support capa-
Bile Red Cross societies. OF the latter
group the organization In Roumania
because OF the i~hors of the beautiful
Queen Marie, director Of all its activi-
ties, is best known to the outside world.
Red Cross work In China began In
1904, during the Russo-Japanese war,
being inspired by desire on the part
of the Chinese to alleviate the suffer
ing OF those who were not being pro-
vlded for by the Red Cross organsza-
tons of the combaiant countries. The
Chinese Fed Cross is planning a reor-
ganization this year on scale that
will carry the message of mercy to
every part OF tie vast empire.
South America, Central America and
Mexico have many efficient Red Cross
societies. In some OF the smaller coun-
tries the Red Cross organizations have
had struggle to keep going, and these
are to receive special attention from
the congress at Geneva.
The Red Cross organizations Of the
4 tvS IN % ri
their combined drive against distress
and disease. These two drawbacks TO
human happiness are not to have such
easy going after the Geneva congress.