TOPICS OF THE DAY
Symbol n f the Red Cross The origin of the red cross, symbol of the world-wide humanitarian organisation, is described by a writer in the Zealandia, the Roman Catholic newspaper. As the Emperor Charlemagne’s troops crossed and re-crossed the mountains separating his possessions, the barbarous mountain tribes shot arrows at them and hurled rocks from the crags. A monk summoned by the Emperor to save the killing of his men arranged that the mountaineers should carry a white cross on a red background, so that they could be clearly seen on the snow-covered slopes. In turn the Emperor’s men guaranteed not to molest the mountaineers. Many years later the white cross on a red background became the flag of Switzerland, and with the colours reversed it was the red cross banner. In 1865 the Geneva convention resulted in the adoption of the sign by all civilised nations, except for the Mohammedans, who use a red crescent in its place.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19400409.2.31
Bibliographic details
Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21083, 9 April 1940, Page 4
Word Count
163TOPICS OF THE DAY Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21083, 9 April 1940, Page 4
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