THE COLONIST. MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1916. THE RISE OF THE RED CROSS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13980, 10 January 1916, Page 4

THE COLONIST. MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1916. THE RISE OF THE RED CROSS.

One of the incomparable supplements issued by "The Times" was recently devoted to a comprehensive review of the inception and growth of the international Red Cross movement, and the enormous scope of the work that is being done by the British Red Cross Society in the prdsent war. It is a work as we know in which the whole Empire lias lent its combined strength to the Mother Country, as it has done in the supply of men for the firing lino, and as is testified by the huge sum a of money from overseas periodically acknowledged by the headquarters of the organisation, there are few if any British communities throughout the world in which the appeal for funds for carrying on this humanitarian work has not found a warm and generous response. The precise date of the origin of the Red Cro^s was the Italian war in Italy in 1859. Before that date private charity, had more than onco helped various, armies in the field, but such effort was spasmodic and unorganised. Armies, of course, had their own r.edical services, but the experiences of tho Crimean War from 1853 to 1856 showed how terribly insufficient they were to cope with the emergencies of war. The experiences of the Crimea were epoafr,ed in Lombardy in 1859, and a French reformer, M. Henri Dunant, it *vas who forced public attention to see the defects of the sanitary service and the need.for remedying them. He demanded an auxiliary service properly organteed and .disciplined, and authoritatively recognised. Three months after the publication' of hisvbook the mattbr was taken up by the Societe Genwoise d'Utilite Publique, at a meeting he*l on February 9th, 1863. That meeting was really the origin of the Red Cross movement in Europe. An international | conference, held at Geneva on October 26th, 1863, was the result; or this preliminary step. "The representatives! present included delegates ■ from Austria, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Prussia and six other {Jerman States, j Sweden and Switzerland. Belgium,! Donmark, Italy and Portugal sent addrosses. The findings of this conference formed the basis of all future Red Cross work. It decided that each country should have its own autonomous Red Cross Society which should establish close relations with its Government in uach. case. It Was recognised that preparation must be made in time of peace for ■war work, and that volunteer nul-sos must be organised) and places prepared- for the reception of wounded. On the demand or with the -concurrence or' the military authorities tho commitbee'should send volunteer nurses.'to the field of battle, where they should be under the direction of tho military chiofe. A "badge,, a-while armlet hearing a red cross, was decided upon,as the emblem of the organisfttioji, -aud^ its use was made compulsory. The active beginning of the Red Cross Society iv England dates from 18.'0,-tho

year ,of ",the Franco-Prusßian War. The strong desire then expressed to help tho wounded of both belligerents was focused by Mr., now Sir, John pSirley, who enlisted tho aid of the ]ate Lord Wantage^ then Colonel. ', <loyd Lindsay. As the result of their joint effortls a national committee was -formed, the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII.) being president." In Augast of the same year--six surgeons were sent out to the seat of war, and also -CIOOO to be spent in relief work. Once practically started the work in England rapidly gathered strength. Branches were formed throughout England, and funds poured in to the branch headquarters. In this way the British Society reached 'great proportions, and was able to take a noble part in jdleviating the sufferings of the wounded of both belligerents. After the close of the Franco-Prussian War the Society continued to live, but it underwent various changes and modifications. In ]S9B a conference was held, at tTic instance of the Secretary of State foi* War, of representatives of the Red Crosfe Society, the St. .John Ambulance (founded in 1877^1'or educational work in peace time) and tho Army Nursing Service Reserve, to consider what advantages would be derived in war tin o by bringing the societies into torch with the Army Medical Service in time iof peace. This conference resulted in the formation of the Central British Red Crass Council in 1899, the year of the outbreak of tho South African War. In that conflict the Council rendered splendid service in helping 'the Axrr.y Medical Department and in co-ordin-ating tho work of various agencies represented.by it. After the Boer War it was felt that still closer union of agencies giving voluntary help to *.he Army .Service was desirable, and at a meeting held at Buckingham Palace on July 17th, 1905, it was decided to combine the war work of all the organisations represented by' the National IW Cross Council in one agency, the British Red Cross Society as we know it to-day. In 1906 a second Geneva Convention was drawn up, Sir John Furley representing Groat Britain at tho conference. Tho Convention comprised i>3 article* dealing with tho wounded an 1 sick, medical units and establishments, personnel, material, convoys of evacuation, the distinctive emblem, the application and carrying out of the Convention, the prevention of abuses a:'d infractions, and general provisions. A« a compliment to,, Geneva the heraldic emblem of the red cross on >:hite ground formed by reversing the colours of the city, was retained as the exribkm and distinctive sign of the medical service of armies. On the outbreak of the present war the British Red Cross Society at once called together its various agencies to the help of the War Office, and in October, 1914, the Order of St. John decided to co-operate jf.ith the Society for the purposes of the war.