RED CROSS SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11578, 23 December 1915, Page 4

RED CROSS SOCIETY.

ITS ORIGIN AND WORK.

Tho work of tho Red. Cross Society has bceu brought very prominently before the country during the present world war by its numerous and beneficonl activities on behalf of tho Kick and wounded'. _ Although there is a general conception of the nature and tho functions of the society, there is a good deal of dubiety as to its origin and exact place among the succouring agencies called into operation by the outbreak of hostilities. Tho questions are frequently asked, why is the Red t_-ross used as tho bad go of tho society, ana is tho organisation a civil or a military one? As a matter of public interest, it may bo puitablo at this time to a short sketch of the genesis of the ived Cross movement and the nature of- the work that is associated with the symbols. THE GENEVA CONVENTION.

llie Red Cross is the authorised symbol of tho Geneva Convention, an, iliternatioyg* agreement origmalljy concluded on August 22, 186-1, at the" Swiss city whence its name is derived. Tim original Convention was superseded by a, now Geneva. Convention, framed' in tho sumo city in July, 1906, which provided ior the neutralisation of tho sanitary services of armies in the field. ''Tho treaty was designed to rcrnovo soldiers when sick and wounded from the category of combatants, and to afford them relief and protection without regard' to nationality. This protection is also extended to all persons officially attached to hospitals or ambulances, and to all houses as long as thov contain invalid soldiers. Inhabitants of a. country occupied by a belligerent and who may be "engaged in the care of the sick and wounded enjoy the same privilege. Provision is also mad'e for _ tho return of invalid soldiers to their homes. 1 ' All hospitals and hospital ships must show a white flag with a. red cross as well as their national flag. Tho personnels must have an armlet or badge showing the red cross on a. white ground. The symbol represents the colours reversed of Geneva, tho birthplace of tho Red Cross movement. The inception of tho work was due to the efforts of M. Henri Dunant. a Genevan philanthropist, who, alter being an eye-witness of the tragic results of tho battle of Solferino, between the Franco-Piedmontese forces and thoso of Austria, in 1859, when 40,000 dead and wounded was the toll paid, wroto his epoch-making volume, "Un Souvenir do Solferino/' to direct attention to the crying evils resulting from the inadequacy of tho medical provision for the wounded, who were thereby often condemned to a lingering and painful death on the field of battle. The horrors and hardsips of tho Crimean campaign, which the- efforts of Florence Nightingale and her devoted companions had done so much to alleviate, had afforded a, terriblo objectlesson in the same direction, and were comparatively fresh in the public recollection. They had made a deep j m~ pression on INI. Dun&ut, and the ocular demonstration of Solferino had touched liim profoundly. Notwithstanding tho experiences of the Crimea, the provision of tho French army in Italy for succouring the wounded was sadly unequal to the task.

M. Dunant's book was published in 1862. He had, in pursuance of his ameliorative object, visited the capitals of the principal countries, doing propaganda work among those who were likely to .forward the movement, and endeavouring by zealous advocacy to pave the way for successful results. The proposition he laid down in his book, and which ho had urged by his personal statement, was that the official organisation in any country for succouring tho wounded timeously trill aJway.s bo insufficient, and that organised private efforts would be necessary to supplement it in order that unnecessary loss of lifo might be avoided. THE SCHEME IN THE MAKING. In February, 1863, the matter was brought up at a meeting of the Genevan Society of Public Utility, under the presidency of M. Moynier, and, after discussion, was remitted for consideration to a commission of five meni>bers with plenary powers, consisting of Messrs Gustavo Moynier, president of the_ society: Henri Dunant, General Dufour, and Drs Louis Appia and Theodore Mannoir, names deserving of the highest, honour throughout the world, ior it was largely due to their untiring efforts and perseverance that the great and beneficent R-ed Cross organisations which are doing such magnificent work in this time* of universal distress received their early impulses to altruistic activity.

_ After outlining scheme, they decided to invito an international conference to examine it and rattle details. Tho invitations met Avitlx ready and general acceptance, and the conference was convoked for October 126. 1863, under the presdeney of General Dufour, fourteen Governments being represented by eighteen delegates. THE BRITISH SOCIETY. The Convention was finally agreed to on August 22. 1864. It was adopted by the_ British Government and signed on their behalf in February, 1865, but little was done towards forming a society till July, 1870. when a. meeting was held at Willis' Rooms in London ls purpose, and as a result the " British National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War," was formed. Subscriptions of £300,000, towards which the late Lord Wantage gave £IOOO, were received for the objects of the society, which soon found an outlet for its energies in the FrancoGerman war, during which its commissioner on the continent was Mr (afterwards Sir) John Furley. Miss Florence Lees, afterwards Mrs Daerc Craven, volunteered for tho nursing service, and, rendered distinguished service during this campaign. Tho German States had fairly organised Red Cross organisations. Wurtemberg had been the first to adopt it in December, 1863. Prussia. Bavaria, Saxony, Baden and Ilesse had also their separata organisations, independent in peace time, but in war subordinate to Berlin. But the slaughter of Gravelotte and Sedan proved too heavy a task for them, and they were glad of British aid, which was given principally in the form of medical and surgical necessities and comforts for the wounded. France was afforded assistance in tlio same way. The balance of the funds left was employed in training female nurses at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netlev. ;

The society gave assistance at various campaigns prior to that in South Africa in 1899-1901, but it was only in the latter campaign that it was called upon to deal on a considerable .scale with work on behalf of our forces. In January. IS9Q, the Central British Bed Cross Council, consisting of representatives of the before-mentioned society, the St John Ambulance Association, St Ambulance Association, the Army Nursing Reserve, and the Admiralty and War Office, was appointed to deal with Red Cross work throughout the Lmpire. THE FIRST' HOSPITAL TRAIN. The services they rendered during the Boer war were magnificent, the fitting up of a hospital train and ship marking new departures. The Princess or \\ ales, which sailed from Tilburv under the Red Cross flag and Union J ® ck \ was the first hospital ship specially fitted up for that purpose. After the war the Red Cross Society resumed its civil organisation. It was finally iueorporat-ed by lloyal charter as the British Red Cross Society on September 3. 1908. the date of its fonn--19()1° U as heing given as July 17 ) . -By agreements signed at The Hague m lb9U and 1907 4 maritime warfare, was

brought within the scope of the Geo4* van Convention. The British Red Cross Society has interested itself not only in furnishing medical and surgical necessities, ambulances, hospital trains and ships, unifies, etc., it lias also taken an active part in tho organisation of the voluntary aid detachments under the County Territorial Associations as laid down in tho War Office scheme. On April 30, 39' J. 1, the number of those raised and registered at tho War Office was 1955, with a total personnel of 56,704. These detachments are under military control in time of war. From tliis brief outline it will be seen, how deserving the society is of the support oi : tho public in the great and good work it lias undertaken.