How to Aid the Red Cross - St Paul Globe 27th April 1898

How to Aid the Red Cross.

The women of St. Paul will have an opportunity to aid the Red Cross in the event of bloodshed in the clash of arms between the United States and Spain. Yesterday afternoon The Globe sent the following telegram to Stephen Barton, Central Cuban Relief Committee, New York.

Women of St. Paul are about to arrange a general meeting for relief work. They are desirous of obtaining any Red Cross literature or suggestions valuable for the work. Will you mall promptly to Globe whatever you have of this nature? If you care to wire Globe today any suggestions that will be helpful to Red Cross and St. Paul women, we will take pleasure in publishing same tomorrow.

Mr. Barton's Answer.

Special to The St. Paul Globe. NEW YORK, April 26.

In addition to the distribution of food, medicine and clothing and necessary hospital work now being performed by the Red Cross in relief of the suffering people in Cuba, the organization is making every possible preparation for responding to a call from the medical departments of the army and navy to supplement ambulance and hospital work in case of conflict between the army and navy of the United States and Spain. No one can foresee possible demands upon the Red Cross in this direction. It is a duty to be prepared with the money in hand to enable it to establish hospitals of immense capacity, to purchase ambulances and field equipments and provide a personnel for the same, to employ surgeons and nurses in great numbers and to meet any possible emergency. All history has shown since wars began that armies can never make sufficient preparation to meet the demands for hospital service which come suddenly upon them In case of great battles. In every war since the Red Cross treaty originated in 1864, the organizations have been called upon for work of great magnitude. The Red Cross societies of Germany, France, England, Belgium, Switzerland and other countries raised and used over thirty million dollars during the few months of the Franco-Prussian war. The Russian Red Cross alone raised $17,000,000 during the two year.? of the Russo-Turklsh war. The American National Red Cross will notify the International Red Cross of Geneva immediately of its willingness to accept financial aid and personal assistance in case of need in the present war. The army and navy departments and surgeon general of the United States have been notified by Miss Clara Barton that the Red Cross ls preparing to respond to their call. No move will be made beyond the most ample preparation until the call comes. It will depend upon the course and developments of hostilities. One thing should be remembered— namely, the preparation cannot be too great for possible requirements, and it should be ample to meet them. Therefore, anything which the St. Paul women can accomplish in the way of raising funds will be a most commendable work.

Stephen A. Barton.

Source: Chronicling America, Library of Congress