American National Red Cross; Red Cross and Red Crescent
In the Franco-Prussian War the German Red Cross performed even better
service, it having learned many valuable lessons in the German-Austrian
conflict, and through their efforts an infinite amount of good was
accomplished and great suffering averted. Not only were the wounded and
sick soldiers tenderly cared for, but the unprovided families of
soldiers were also supplied. The French Red Cross at the breaking out of
the war was poorly organized and penniless. Within one month, however,
hospitals had been established, ambulances and a large amount of field
supplies were at the front, with a considerable relief force to care for
the sick and wounded. The French Association, not including the branches
in the provinces, spent over $2,000,000 and assisted 110,000 wounded.
Many neutral Red Cross nations assisted in rendering aid and relief in
this great war. England alone sent a million and a half dollars, besides
twelve hundred cases of stores. Eighty-five thousand sick, wounded and
famishing French soldiers entered Switzerland, and were cared for by the
Central Committee at Berne. The International Committee at Geneva, in
one instance, asked for and obtained 2500 seriously wounded French
soldiers, supplied their wants, and sent them to their own country.
In the great Russo-Turkish War, the Red Cross of Russia, splendidly
equipped, with ample means and royal patronage, was, at the beginning of
hostilities, greatly hampered by the jealousy of the military. The
relief organizations were assigned places well in the rear; but ere many
months had passed the military surgeons gladly accepted the Red Cross
aid, and colossal work did it perform. Over $13,000,000 were raised, and
all that was necessary spent in supplying relief. The neutral Red Cross
countries furnished valuable assistance in this war also.
In the recent war between Japan and China, you undoubtedly read of the
wonderful work performed by the Japanese Red Cross. This society
followed the precedent of Germany, in tenderly caring for the wounded
enemy, even though fighting against a nation not in the treaty. Japan
had a cruel, merciless enemy to fight, and yet her soldiers were
instructed to have respect even for a dead enemy.
It is needless to give further illustrations; history records the
wonderful achievements of this greatest of relief organizations, though
it cannot record the untold suffering which has been averted by it.
Is the Red Cross a humanitarian organization? What is the significance
of the Red Cross? I leave these two questions for you to answer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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