RED CROSS SOCIETIES, a general name for those societies founded for assisting the wounded in time of war, so named because their distinctive badge is a red cross on a white ground. Such societies have been established an all civilized countries as a result of an inter national conference held at Geneva in 1863, which was followed next year by an interna tional convention agreed upon at the same place, at which the International Treaty of Geneva was accepted and signed by a number of differ ent nations. According to this all hospitals and hospital officials and all in any way en gaged in attending the sick and wounded in war are treated as neutral parties. The society in England has four branches, two ambulance branches, one volunteer nursing branch and one branch to raise funds and supplies, and societies in other countries. There is an international committee at Geneva which serves as a centre of communication between the different Red Cross societies throughout the world. In con nection with this may be mentioned the decora tion of the Royal Red Cross instituted by Queen Victoria in 1883, as a reward for women who have exerted themselves in aid of sick and wounded soldiers and sailors in time of war. The enameled crimson-and-gold cross bears the words Hope and Charity,l' with the effigy of her majesty, the royal and imperial cipher, etc., and is attached to a blue ribbon and worn on the left shoulder.
The first war to bring the Red Cross service into activity was that of 1866 in Germany, Aus tria and Italy. Austria had not yet joined the compact, but her citizens raised and gave to the service almost $500,000. Germany's socie ties supplied over $3,000,000 and 500 volunteers, men and women, entered the service. The Red Cross work during the war proved the incal culable value of the organization. The next call on the service was the Franco-Prussian War. In Germany more than 2,000 committees were formed at the beginning of the conflict, with a central committee at Berlin. More than $14,000,000 was raised and used. France had less resource in readiness, but she raised and used nearly $2,000,000, and her service cared for more than 100,000 wounded men. The next demand on the Red Cross was in 1876-78, when Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece and Rus sia became embroiled. In the beginning of this
period of its work the Red Cross service was regarded with suspicion by the military, but was soon solicited to take control of its treaty province. It raised almost $17,000,000 and ap plied over $13,000,000.
The Red Cross emblem found its first op posing force in Turkey. The Turkish soldiers regarded it as of religious significance and so violent was their prejudice that a red crescent was substituted in order to secure speediest recognition and co-operation. In the Japanese army the Red Cross service has been wonder fully effective. In 1886 Japan entered into this international treaty, and the mikado became president of a Red Cross Society in a civil capacity. In the Turko-Russian contest, in the Tunisian, the Tonkin and the Madagascar wars, the Red Cross was notably active. In the Grieco-Turkish campaigns its work and sacri fice were heroic.
National Red Cross.— This is an American body incorporated under the laws of the Dis trict of Columbia, 1 Oct. 1881, reincorporated 17 April 1893, and reincorporated by act of Congress June 1900; for the relief of suffering by war, pestilence, famine, flood, fires and other calamities of sufficient magnitude to be deemed national in extent. The organization ac.ts under the Geneva Treaty. The United States gave its adhesion by act of Congress 1 March 1882; ratified by the Congress of Berne 9 June 1882; proclaimed by President Arthur 26 July 1882; headquarters, Washington, D. C. The intro duction and development of the Red Cross movement in the United States were chiefly due to Miss Clara Barton, the founder of the American branch. Previous to the organization of this branch there were many members of the Red Cross Society in the United States with Miss Barton as their representative. When the national branch was regularly formed Miss Barton was chosen leader. In the United States no laws have been passed to regulate Red Cross work. The national branch has no sub-societies or sub-committees; but patriotic and sympa thetic men and women as individuals, or united in societies, are at liberty to assist and to co operate with the Red Cross in raising money and in providing nurses and whatever the serv ice requires. Whenever needed, this co-opera tion is active in every State and in most of the Territories.