Evening star., 1939-08-22
World Broadcast
Marks 18th Year
OF Red Cross
District Chapter Plans
Holding Open House
At Headquarters

Washington and the rest of the
world today celebrated the 18th an
niversary of the Red Cross. The
International Red Cross was formed
In Geneva, Switzerland, city of
peace, on August %, 1864, under a
treaty which has never been abro-
gated. The American Red Gross,
now the largest of all the 81 ma
tional units, was organized March l,
1882.
A round the world broadcast, Or
iginating in Washington, New York
and Geneva, was the high light of
the celebration. 1t begun with
a dramatization here of the battle
field experiences of Henri Dunant,
Genevese civilian known as the
Samaritan of Solferino," who was
the founder of the Red Cross.
Davis and Huber Speak.
Norman H. Davis, chairman of
the American Red Cross, spoke
from New York, followed by Max
Huber, president of the Interna-
tional Red Cross, speaking from
Geneva. Their speeches reached
the whole of Europe, South America
and North America. The National
Broadcasting Co. Blue Network
broadcast the program in the United
States. 1t can be heard here over
Station WMAL.
Mr.. Davis said:
1--WE of the United States are
proud to be part of this world
wide chain of Red Cross societies
which today in conf1ict-rldden
world is a tremendous bulWark
against the forces of disintegration.
No frontiers of race, creed, color
exist within the Red Cross"
Mr.. Huber said
The Red Cross spirit creates
mutual understanding between ma
tions, through the cooperation OF
men and women of good will. The
Red Cross must be, and is today,
factor of peace"
The District of Columbia Chapter
of the Red Cross plans to hold open
house for the broadcast at its head
quarters, 1725 I street NV. The
chapter has invited all its workers
to listen at the headquarters. The
District Chapter is one OF the 3,7l6
in the United States, where $500, 900
persons are Red Cross members.
From Siam to Soviet Russia, from
Australia to Argentina, the birthday
will be observed.
The inspiration for the Red Cross
came six years before its birth. In
1859 Henri Dunant was in Northern
Italy, where the French troops OF
Emperor Napoleon III were fighting
the Austrian forces.
M. Dunant arrived at Solferino
during a great battle. 1t was con-
f1ict of 100000 men on 10-mile
front and when it was over, on June
"a, more than 10000 were left
wounded, dead and dying.
Set Up Emergency Hospital.
There was little or no provision
for medical service, and M. Dunant
set up an emergency hospital in a
church and assembled volunteer
helpers-English tourist. an Italian
priest, a Swiss merchant, French
Journalist. Then he wrote little
book called "A Souvenir of Solfer-
ino," in which an international
conference to deal with wars pre-
ventable suffering was urged.
So six years later 26 men, repre-
senting Is nations, met at Geneva
and on August % presented to the
world covenant of 10 articles now
called The Birth Certificate" of
the International Red Cross.
The United States, busy with the
Civil War, was slow to enter the COW
enant, but largely through the ef-
forts of Miss Clara Barton, Presi-
dent Arthur recommended adher-
ence. On March l, 1882, the Senate
consented.