HENRI DUNANT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 125, 29 May 1928, Page 9

HENRI DUNANT

HIS CENTENARY FATHER OF THE RED CROSS / ■ During tho month, of May, adherents of the Bed Cross movement look back in heartfelt gratitude to the man who was born on tl.o'2Bth May, '.£2B—Jean Henri Dunant, a Genevise citizen and tho father of the Bed Cross movement. This man's charitable and philanthropic activities began early in life, for at the age of 18 he visited the poor and the ■convicts, and they continued throughout his life, until he died in 1910 at the age of ■ eighty-two. ' i In 1858 a battle was fought on the plains of Solferino between the allied armies of Italy and France, and Austria, resulting in untold bloodshed and suffering to the combatants. < At the close of the engagement, which lasted fifteen hours, 40,000 dead, dying, and wounded lay on the blood-drenched field. The hospital and ambulance services were totally inadequate, and the suffering was intense. Hearing of the

battle, Henri Dunant visited the field, and, gathering a party of peasants, commenced the seemingly insuperable task of succouring the wounded. The battle was fought in tho burning heat of a summer's day, and the suffering beggared description, many thousands dying terribly for lack of attention. Somo of Henri Dunant's helpers desired to attend only those of their own nationality, but Dunant persuaded them to care for the wounded Austrians as well. "An enemy wounded is an enemy no longer," he said. ' Achieving his great task, Henri Dunant was inspired to write a book entitled "A Souvenir of Solferino," calling upon the nations to form an international band of workers to bring succour to sick and wounded soldiers, irrespective of the side on which they fought. From his untiring efforts resulted an international conference at Geneva in 1863. Delegates from fourteen nations attended, including Great Britain. The conference drew up' plans for the society and decided upon a neutral flag destined to enjoy universal respect at the hands of all nations in time of war. This flag, how recognised throughout the world as the, symbol of human compassion, was the Swiss emblem with colours reversed: a Bed Cross on a white ground. Further conferences were held, and to-day every civilised nation had its1 national Bed Cross Society. Only those who have experienced the horrors and ravages .of war can adequately appreciate what the world owes to Henri Dunant for his 'great achievement in moulding into practical shape his God-given ideal. Serious inroads were made upon Henri Dunant's private fortune in launching his cause, and with the foundations ,of the movement well ' and truly laid, its founder was permitted to sink into comparative obscurity. Dunant lived, on a small pension allowed him by a relative, and at the age of 64 he went to live in a little room in the District Hospital at Heiden, on Lake Constance, where he eked out his living by writing. For three years he remained in these circumstances, when the editor of a German paper visited him and wrote a fine article on Dunant and his work. Tho ingratitude which, over many years, had been shown to the great man, awakened a sense of shame in the people and long-delayed recognition began to be shown. The mother of the then Tsar of Russia gave Dunant a prize of 1000 dollars; the Swiss Parliament gave, him another prize, and in 1907 the Nobel Peace Price of 40,000 dollars was awarded conjointly to Henri Dunant and a distinguished Frenchman. In 1872 M. Dunant read a paper in London upon the Bed Cross movement. His first words were: "Though L am known as the founder of the" Bed Cross, and the originator of the convention of Geneva, it was an English woman to J whom all the honour of the convention is "due. What inspired me to go to Italy during the war of 1859 was tho work of Miss Florence Nightingale in the Crimea." Bed Cross workers to-day can best keep green the memory of Henri Dunant by abiding patiently, loyally, and faithfully in the lofty ideals for which he lived.