T1IE 
WORK OF HUMANITY IN WAR. 
PLAN AND RESULTS V 
OF THE 
(Sonctra Congress ani> International Creatn, 
SECURING TO THE SICK AND 'WOUNDED IN WAR 
THE BENEFITS OF NEUTRALITY AND SANITARY CARE. 
PREPARED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE 
American Branch of the International Association 
FOR RELIEF OF MISERY OF BATTLEFIELDS. 
NEW YORK: 
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & CO., PUBLISHERS, 770 Broadway. 
1870. INTEODUCTORY NOTE. 
ANOTHER great war is arousing the civilized world to interpose 
whatever humane and sanitary aids the civilization and science of 
the present can offer. Suddenly, as by explosion, two great nations 
that had fully entered into the spirit and purposes of the Geneva 
Congress and International Treaty for the neutral and humane treat- 
ment of sick and wounded soldiers, have thrown their vast armies 
upon each other in quickly succeeding battles, hurried marches and 
destructive sieges, which have put this Treaty and its plans and agree- 
ments respecting help for the wounded, to a very remarkable and 
severe test. This trial has proved that Treaty and the International 
Association for relief of the wounded and sick in war, to be the most 
glorious triumph over national hatred and jealousies, and the inhu- 
manities of war, the world has ever seen. 
The American people ver}r well understand from their recent ex- 
perience in a long war, the necessity for popular and efficient organi- 
zations to give help to the sick and wounded. The United States 
Sanitary Commission has given the nations a memorable illustration 
of the usefulness and power of individual efforts organized and 
inspired for humane and patriotic duty. The institution of that Com- 
mission, says a European writer, “ marks a new era in the world’s his- 
tory.” And now, throughout the two great central countries of Eu- 
rope, the history of that institution is being repeated, and a scheme 
of sanitary care and relief is carried into operation with all the advan- 
tages of a previous agreement and treaty to which every nation on 
that continent has given adherence. Both France and Germany will 
fight out their war, with myriads of soldiers that come directly from 
their once peaceful homes, bearing with them to battle-fields and in 
hospitals the memories of loved ones and home-life, just as our vol- 
unteer soldiers did ; and, the measure of that grateful remembrance 
and fraternal regard which we in America feel towards the French 4 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
and German people for the rich contributions they sent for the relief 
of the sick and wounded of our army, will now become the measure 
of their fraternal feelings towards the people of this country for what- 
ever aid we give to their merciful work in hospitals and ambulances. 
The actual results of the Geneva Treaty are of the most practical 
kind. Its stipulations provide that the intelligence, affection, wealth 
and skill of the people, and the sympathy of benevolent minds in all 
countries shall be permitted to contribute in all practicable ways to 
mitigate the woes of war; and the International Treaty is, in effect, 
a scheme of organized benevolence, devised by the people and offi- 
cially revised and adopted by the national military authorities. The 
unspeakable usefulness of such contributions from the beneficence 
and skill of the people was exemplified through the Sanitary and 
Christian Commissions in the' American war. Experience in the 
war of Austria, Prussia and Italy in 1866 proved that the constant 
and largest bestowment of this aid from the people can be main- 
tained without detriment to military discipline and success, and in 
the present great war we witness the fraternal co-operation of the 
people of all surrounding nations in this duty of helping the wounded. 
Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Holland, and England, have 
hastened forward the choicest sanitary supplies, and large numbers 
of their ablest medical men, with the means of succor to the wounded ; 
and, already, it is evident that this brotherly help from neutral nations 
is unspeakably useful to the victims of the war, and that these acts of 
mercy are awakening deep emotions of gratitude throughout all Ger- 
many and France. The efficient working of this international scheme 
of charity in war being thus assured, the American branch of the 
work now deems it a duty to publish a brief summary of the pro- 
ceedings and stipulations of the Conferences and the Treaty that have 
sanctioned the work, together with a statement of the measures now 
in progress to “ raise the science which consoles and heals, to a level 
with the science that destroys.” The people of the United States 
have given substantial aid to these measures, and this report of pro- 
gress and proceedings is now due to them at a time when their co- 
operation in the duty of relief to the French and German wounded 
is solicited by the International Committee. 
Naw York, Oct. 22, 1870. THE HUMANE TREATY. 
International Conference at Geneva in 1863 — The Congress and International Treaty 
there in 1864 — Progress of the Plan — International Conference of Delegates from 
Governments and Relief Associations in 1867, ’68, and 1869, at Paris, Wurzburg 
and Berlin. 
Until the year 1861 no comprehensive and adequate plan had 
ever been devised for giving to the sick and wounded in war the 
sanitary care and relief which the governments and people at war 
owe to the soldier. The shocking waste of human life in the Crimean 
war aroused the civilized world from its apathy, and, by the aid of Sir 
Sidney Herbert and Florence Nightingale, the history of that terri- 
ble period and of the amazing results which sanitary efforts produced 
in it, became the means of fixing a determination in numerous philan- 
thropic minds that sanitary measures and the people’s care should 
be interposed to prevent such suffering and needless mortality in all 
subsequent wars. 
To administer the charities of sympathy and private beneficence 
upon bloody fields and in hospitals for the wounded, was manifestly 
no easy task. The story of such voluntary efforts to help the wounded 
on the battle-fields of Palestro, Magenta, Marignano and Solferino, is 
a sad testimony to the fact that the difficulties and insufficiency of all 
individual and philanthropic efforts seemed almost as inevitable as 
the circumstances and iron discipline of war itself. The suddenness 
and enormous magnitude of modern wars also offered special obsta- 
cles to such efforts. 
In 1861 the necessity for these efforts, and the ardent patriotism 
and sympathy of the people, resulted in a work of sanitary care and 
relief in vast armies of our war for the Republic, which removed all 
doubt concerning the practicability of giving any necessary amount 
of aid by an intelligent people, who would cordially unite in the 
requisite plans of organization, In October, 1863, at the call of the 6 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
Society of Public Utility, of Geneva, Switzerland, there assembled in 
that city, a general conference of delegates and philanthropic persons 
to consider questions pertaining to the insufficiency of sanitary ser- 
vice in armies and campaigns. A scheme for an associated effort 
for the attainment of the needed reforms was presented, and, after 
four days of earnest discussion of the several propositions, by such 
leading military and sanitary authorities as General Dufoar, the chief 
of the Swiss armies, M.de Preval, of the French Imperial Guard, I)r. 
Loeffier, Surgeon-in-Chief of the Fourth Corps d’Armee of Prussia, 
Dr. Rutherford, Inspector-General of British Army Hospitals, and 
others, the following resolutions were adopted for submission to the 
respective governments of the civilized world : 
Resolutions of the Geneva Conference. 
(i.) There shall be in every country, a Committee whose duty it 
shall be to co-operate, in the time of war, by all the means in its 
power, with the Sanitary service of the army. 
(2.) Sections unlimited in number shall be formed, in order to 
second the Committee to which the general direction will belong. 
(3.) Every Committee shall place itself in communication with the 
Government of its own country, in order that its offers of assistance, 
in case of need, may be accepted. 
(4.) In time of peace the Committee and Sections shall be con- 
cerned in the means to make themselves really useful in time of war, 
especially in preparing material aid of every kind, and in endeavor- 
ing to instruct and train the volunteer nurses. 
(5.) In the event of war, the Committees of the belligerent nations 
shall furnish relief to their respective armies in proportion to their 
resources ; in particular, they shall organize and place the volunteer 
helpers on an active footing, and in conjunction with the military 
authority, they shall arrange places for the reception of the wounded. 
They shall solicit the assistance of the Committees belonging to 
neutral nations. 
(6.) On demand, or with the concurrence of the military authority, 
the Committee shall send volunteer helpers (nurses) to the field of 
battle. They shall there place them under the direction of military 
chiefs. HUMANITY IN WAR. 
7 
(7.) The volunteer helpers (or nurses) employed with armies, shall 
be provided with everything necessary for their maintenance. 
(8.) They shall wear, in all countries, a white band around the arm 
with a red cross upon it, as a distinctive and uniform badge. 
(9.) The Committees and Sections of the different countries shall 
meet in International Conference, in order to communicate to each 
other the result of their experience, and to decide on measures to be 
adopted for the advancement of the work. 
(10.) The exchange of communications between the Committees 
of the different nations shall be made provisionally through the 
medium of the Committee of Geneva. 
The Conference also adopted and sent to the respective Govern- 
ments the following 
REQUESTS: 
“ (A.) That the Government should grant protection to the Relief 
Committees which may be formed. . . . 
“ (B.) That in time of war, neutrality should be proclaimed by the 
belligerent nations for the field and stationary hospitals, and that it 
may also be accorded, in the most complete manner, to all agents 
employed in Sanitary work, to volunteer nurses, to the inhabitants of 
the country who shall assist the wounded, and to the wounded them- 
selves. 
“ (C.) That an identical distinctive symbol be adopted for the 
medical corps of all armies, or, at least, for all persons attached to 
this service in the same army. That an identical flag be also adopted 
for the field and stationary hospitals of all armies. 
PORGRESS OF THE PLAN. 
These propositions having been submitted, with due formality, to 
the different Governments of Europe by the Central Committee of 
Geneva, and no less than fifteen of them having officially signified 
their approval of them as the basis of an International Convention and 
Treaty of neutralization and relief to military patients and the sani- 
tary service in war, an International Congress of plenipotentiary, 
diplomatic and military agents of the Governments of Europe was 
convened in accordance with a request from the Supreme Federal 
Council of Switzerland. That diplomatic Congress assembled on the 8 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
8th of August, 1864, and, after several days’ sittings, agreed upon 
Treaty and Convention that was acceptable to the Governments they 
represented, and which have since been ratified by every sovereign 
in Europe. Subjoined is the text of 
THE TREATY 
FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE CONDITION OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS OF ARMIES IN 
THE FIELD. 
The Sovereigns of the countries following, to wit: Italy, Baden, Belgium, 
Denmark, Holland, Spain, Portugal, France, Prussia, Saxony, Wurtemburg, and 
the Federal Council of Switzerland, animated with a common desire of mitigat- 
ing, as far as in their power, the evils inseparable from wrar, of suppressing need- 
less severities, and of ameliorating the condition of soldiers wounded on the field 
of battle, have determined to conclude a treaty for this purpose ; and, having 
named plenipotentiaries to sign such a Convention, these plenipotentiaries, after 
the due interchange of their powers, found to be in good and proper form, have 
agreed upon the following articles, to wit: 
Article 1. 
Ambulances and military hospitals shall be acknowledged to lx; neuter, and, 
as such, shall be protected and respected by belligerents so long as any sick or 
wounded may be therein. 
Such neutrality shall cease if the ambulances or hospitals should be held by 
a military force. 
Article 2. 
Persons employed in hospitals and ambulances, comprising the staff for 
superintendence, medical service, administration, transport of wounded, as well 
as chaplains, shall participate in the benefit of neutrality whilst so employed, 
and so long as there remain any wounded to bring in or to succor. 
Article 3. 
The persons designated in the preceding article may, even after occupa- 
tion by the enemy, continue to fulfil their duties in the hospital or ambulance 
which they serve, or may withdraw in order to rejoin the corps to which they 
belong. 
Under such circumstances, when those persons shall cease from their func- 
tions, they shall be delivered by the occupying army to the outposts of the 
enemy. HUMANITY IN WAR. 
9 
As the equipment of military hospitals remains subject to the laws of war, 
persons attached to such hospitals cannot, in withdrawing, carry away any 
articles but such as are their private property. 
Under the same circumstances an ambulance shall, on the contrary, retain 
its equipment. 
Article 4. 
Inhabitants of the country who may bring help to the wounded shall be 
respected, and shall remain free. The Generals of the belligerent powers shall 
make it their care to inform the inhabitants of the appeal addressed to their 
humanity, and of the neutrality which will be the consequence of it. 
Any wounded man entertained and taken care of in a house shall be con- 
sidered as a protection thereto. Any inhabitant who shall have entertained 
wounded men in his house shall be exempted from the quartering of troops, as 
well as from a part of the contributions of war which may be imposed. 
Article 5. 
Article 6. 
Wounded or sick soldiers shall be entertained and taken care of, to whatever 
nation they may belong. 
Commanders-in-chief shall have the power to deliver immediately to the out- 
posts of the enemy soldiers who have been wounded in an engagement, when 
circumstances permit this to be done, and with the consent of both parties. 
Those who are recognized, after their wounds are healed, as incapable of 
serving, shall be sent back to their country. 
The others may also be sent back, on condition of not bearing arms during 
the continuance of the war. 
Evacuations, together with the persons under whose directions they take 
place, shall be protected by an absolute neutrality. 
Article 7. 
A distinctive and uniform flag shall be adopted for hospitals, ambulances, 
and evacuations. It must, on every occasion, be accompanied by the neutral 
flag. An arm-badge (brassard) shall also be allowed for individuals neutralized, 
but the delivery, thereof shall be left to military authority. 
The flag and the arm-badge shall bear a red cross on a white ground. 
The details of execution of the present Convention shall be regulated by the 
commanders-in-chief of belligerent armies, according to the instructions of their 
respective Governments, and in conformity with the general principles laid down 
in this Convention. 
Article 8.  HUMANITY IN WAR. 
10 
The High Contracting Powers have agreed to communicate the present Con- 
vention to those Governments which have not found it convenient to send pleni- 
potentiaries to the Intel-national Conference at Geneva, with an invitation to 
accede thereto ; the protocol is for that purpose left open. 
Article 9. 
The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall bo 
exchanged at Berne, in four months, or sooner if possible. 
In witness whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same, 
and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. 
Done at Geneva, the twenty-second day of August, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and sixty-four. 
(Signed,) ***** 
Article 10. 
Additions to the Articles of the Treaty, 
(Original of August 22, 1864,) adopted October 20, 1868. [ The articles 
relating to Naval war omitted.] 
Additional Article 1. 
The staff designated in the 2d Article of the Treaty, will continue, after oc- 
cupation by the enemy, to give, according to need, assistance to the sick and 
wounded of the ambulance (temporary hospital) to which it is attached. 
When that staff shall ask to retire, the commandant of the occupying troops 
shall fix the period of its departure, which, however, he may delay only for a 
short time, in the event of military necessities. 
Additional Article 2. 
Measures shall be taken by the belligerent Powers, to ensure to the neutral- 
ized staff which has fallen into the hands of the enemy, the complete enjoyment 
of its treatment of the patients. 
Additional Article 3. 
Under the conditions specified by Articles 1 and 4 of the Convention, the 
term ambulance applies to the field-hospitals and to other temporary establish- 
ments which follow troops upon field of battle, for the reception of the sick or 
wounded. 
Adeitional Article 4. 
Conformably to the spirit of the 5th Article of the Convention, and to the 
reservations mentioned in the Protocol of 18 G4, it is explained that on regulat- HUMANITY IN WAR. 
11 
ing the equitable distribution of expenses relative to the lodging of troops and 
to the contributions of war, account shall be taken only in proportion to the 
degree of charitable zeal displayed by the inhabitants. 
Additional Article 5. 
By extension of Article 6 of the Treaty it is stipulated that, with the excep- 
tion of officers, the retaining or possession of whom would be important as to 
the chances of the war, and within the limits fixed by the second paragraph of 
that article, the wounded that have fallen into the hands of the enemy, even 
although they shall not be deemed incapacitated for service are to be sent back 
to then- country, after their cure, or sooner, if it be possible, with the under- 
standing however, that they are not again to take up arms during the war. 
Thirteen of the governments of Europe having, through their 
Plenipotentiaries at this Congress, subscribed their adherence to the 
Treaty, the remaining powers carefully examined into its provisions, 
and finally, the last royal hand—that of the Sultan of Turkey—has 
subscribed its approval to the covenant. The military and State au- 
thorities of Europe, therefore, may be supposed to be ready to give 
this scheme of relief every facility for fair trial. The people of the 
different countries have not only anticipated, but greatly influenced 
this action of the sovereigns, for they have, during the last five years, 
been steadily organizing National and local Associations for Relief of 
the Sick and Wounded in War, and have chosen their counselors 
from among the ablest hygienists, surgeons, and military men. From 
Moscow and St. Petersburg to Naples and Madrid, the National Relief 
Societies (Sociztes de Secours aux Blesses) are reported to be efficiently 
organized; and, at the sudden opening of the present great war, the 
Relief Association (royal Hulfs-Verein) of Prussia, and the French So- 
ciety dc Secours, with hundreds of tributary associations in those coun- 
tries, were found in as perfect readiness to offer aid as the forces 
themselves were to move forward to battle. Nothing seems to have 
been wanting in the system and organization of the central society in 
Berlin and its 280 auxiliaries or sections in the towns and villages of 
Prussia at the hour when the French proclamation of war was an- 
nounced. All of these relief associations (Hulfs-Vereine) sprang to 
their meeting-rooms and engaged in preparing the reserve sanitary 
supplies, and arranged with the military authorities for the designa- 
tion of whatever material and personal help, should be offered by the 
people. In France the National SosTte de Secours proved to be even 12 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
more completely ready for the war movement than was the imperial 
medical service itself. The reader will find a distinct account of 
the present state of this sanitary and relief service in a subsequent 
chapter. 
THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES. 
Since the Congress at Geneva, and the ratification of the Treaty 
by most of the Governments, there have been three International 
Conferences of delegates from Relief Societies and the Army authori- 
ties held, in different years, at Wurzburg, Paris and Berlin; and 
another conference is to be held at Vienna in the year 1871. At each 
Conference, subjects of great practical importance are discussed, and 
the views of the representatives of the different countries are obtained 
upon the various propositions for giving full effect to the Geneva 
Treaty, and for improving the sanitary service in armies. 
The chief propositions submitted had reference mainly to securing 
adequate military protection for the stores, convoys, etc., from the 
Societies de Secours, destined for the wounded ; the unexceptional 
neutralization of the wounded that require surgical treatment without 
transportation ; and, lastly, the establishment of strict rules concerning 
the delivery of permissions and arm-badges to the representatives of 
relief societies and all persons who engage in the care of sick and 
wounded ; also, a request to the Governments that “ they shall take 
care that in time of war every soldier is furnished with a certificate 
indicating his name, place of birth, and the corps (regiment or com- 
pany) to which he belongs,” and that the inviolability of the neutrality 
promised in the Treaty should be “guaranteed by uniform declara- 
tions published in the military codes of the different nations.” 
TIIE WURZBURG CONFERENCE. 
THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AT PARIS IN 1867. 
Among the numerous propositions that were unanimously recom- 
mended to the Governments by the delegates to this important 
Conference, the following have since that period received much 
attention: 
(i.) That ambulances, hospitals and all the material for relief of the 
wounded on land or upon sea shall be neutral and respected by all 
the belligerents. 
(2.) The personal staff of hospitals and ambulances, including per- HUMANITY IN WAR. 
13 
sons for religious aid and those engaged in transport and administra- 
tive as well as the medical service, shall have the benefit of neutrality. 
(3.) That such neutral persons may, if they fall into the hands of 
the enemy, continue to discharge their functions in the hospital or 
ambulance in which they are officiating. 
(4.) That the members of all National Societies assisting in suc- 
coring the wounded of land or of sea forces, should be declared 
neutral. 
(5.) The inhabitants of the country and the attendants upon the 
wounded in any house, and the house itself in which any wounded 
soldiers are entertained and taken care of, should have the rights of 
neutrality and military protection. 
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES AT BERLIN IN 1869. 
At this Conference one hundred and sixty-eight delegates were 
in attendance, and all, excepting two, of the States of Europe were 
represented. The following important results were decided in this 
Conference: 
(1.) Relief Societies will abstain from creating ambulances da com- 
bat, and will avoid in principle whatever may draw their members 
into the lines of battle. 
(2.) As a general rule they will help establish and administer hos- 
pitals of reserve. 
(3.) But at the seat of war, in a foreign country, the sanitary serv- 
ice of the armies will be aided by Relief Societies, both in personnel 
and materiel: 
(a) On the field after a battle; 
(b) In the transport of sick and wounded ; 
(c) In hospitals. 
(4.) With a view to material assistance, central and local depots of 
sanitary materiel will be established at home and abroad. Especial 
regard will be had to fortresses in the interior which may be menaced. 
(5) Gifts of materiel will undergo a strict examination before 
being sent to the theatre of war. 
(6) The materiel of the sanitary service will conform, as nearly as 
possible, to the models adopted by the State. 
(7) The Societies will act in all their arrangements in conformity 
with the regulations of the army, and will follow a plan previously 
fixed upon for this purpose. 14 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
(8) Assistance to sick and wounded soldiers in each country shall 
be, as far as practicable, under a central direction. 
(9) It is desirable that in each country, or union of countries, the 
relations between the Relief Societies and the military authorities 
during war, be defined by certain rules, and that these rules be as uni- 
form as possible. 
(10) In all that concerns the service at the seat of war, efforts 
must be made to establish good relations and a common action with 
the Relief Societies existing in that country. 
(11) Preventive measures against any abuse of the international 
badge of neutrality are considered necessary. 
(12) A rigorous police should be established to protect the dead 
and wounded from pillage or ill-treatment on the field after battle. 
(13) Hygienic regulations relating to the interment of the dead 
should be carefully observed. 
(14) Some convenient means should be adopted to enable the dead 
and wounded to be easily identified. 
(15) The articles of the Geneva Convention should be made 
known as widely as possible, especially among soldiers. 
The Conference adopted a recommendation to the nations for the 
addition of the following article to the Treaty: 
“ In case of war, non-belligerent powers are invited to place at 
the disposal of the belligerents those surgeons of their armies whom 
they may be able to lend without disadvantage to their own service, 
such surgeons to be placed under the orders of the chief medical 
officer of the belligerent army to which they may be attached.” 
The Conference also agreed upon the principles and methods 
which ought to govern the Voluntary Relief service in Naval War. 
And, in order to obtain more complete plans for making such aid 
effective, the Central Prussian Committee offers a prize of ioo frkd- 
trics (Tor for the best essay upon the questions submitted in Confer- 
ence respecting this subject. 
The duty of Relief Associations during peace was considered in 
the Conference, and the plan of action that was then agreed upon 
is happily adapted to develop thoroughness of organization and a 
constant readiness for the exigencies of war. The most essential 
points that were agreed upon relate to— HUMANITY IN WAR. 
15 
(1) The organization of Help Societies and a Central Committee 
in each country. 
(2) The study and preparation of the most efficacious means of 
giving aid. 
(3) The adoption of measures for having in training and readi- 
ness, a corps of hospital attendants by the National Relief Commit- 
tee in each country ; consequently, the adoption of means for educa- 
ting and training skilled nurses, who, in time of peace, shall be useful 
to the sick poor. At the same time, the choosing and equipment of 
a sanitary corps of strong and suitable men, who shall be found use- 
ful both in war and peace. 
(4) The procuring of models and whatever improvements in the 
materiel for relief that can be suggested, and the thorough testing of 
the same. 
(5) The special study of the practical questions in hygiene and 
the care of the sick and wounded. 
(6) The relief societies promptly to give relief and methodical 
care where\rer great calamities happen in time of peace, and to em- 
ploy themselves usefully in works of humanity corresponding with 
their duties in time of war, by giving well organized and speedy help. 
(7) The duty of the respective National Committees to arrange 
with the military authorities for a perfect understanding and agree- 
ment upon all questions of relief service for war. 
Respecting the International Committee of Geneva, as originally 
provided by the first Conference in that perpetually neutral city,* the 
delegates at Berlin recommended that the Neutral Committee should 
continue its labors on behalf of all the National Associations and 
State Committees of Relief; also, that it should charge itself with 
the duty of publishing a journal, and interesting itself in the forma- 
tion of a collection of objects of sanitary materiel, improvements and 
inventions relating to the welfare of sick and wounded soldiers. The 
Geneva Committee was authorized, in case Avar occurs, to select a 
suitable and convenient place for a central neutral agency for the 
reception and distribution of sanitary supplies, and the maintenance 
of correspondence, the issuing of supplies for the wounded belliger- 
ents, etc. 
The Berlin Conference proposed the following important ques- 
* See Resolutions of Conference, etc., tenth Resolution, page 7 in this pamphlet. 16 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
tions for further examination, and for discussion at the Conference 
which shall assemble at Vienna in 1071 : 
(a) I low shall delegates of Relief Societies best follow the 
military headquarters with a small convoy of materiel and 
attendants. 
(b.) How best to maintain correspondence between Relief So- 
cieties in belligerent armies. 
(r.) By what means shall the people be most effectively en- 
couraged to aid the Relief organizations in war. 
The declarations of this great Conference concerning the senti- 
ment and decision they entertained in regard to our American rela- 
tions to this scheme of humane effort among the nations, were ex- 
pressed in the following cordial terms: “ The Conference expresses 
its great regret at not having had the valuable assistance of any dele- 
gate from the United States of North America.* Convinced that 
the great and noble nation, one of the first in the world that has 
rendered eminent services to this great work of humanity, will wel- 
come with sympathy the result of its labors, the Conference desires 
that the protocols of its sittings shall be addressed by its President to 
the Government of the United States, and the Relief Committee in 
that country.” 
This summary of the proceedings in Council by which the move- 
ment of humane and sanitary care for the soldier in war, that had its 
first great example in our War for the Union, had been made inter- 
national over all Europe, will give the reader some just conception 
of the efforts by which this result has been achieved. Of course it is 
impossible in the limits of this small pamphlet to present all the facts 
concerning this rapidly advancing work of humanity. The princi- 
ples and articles of agreement are so sound and practical that no 
difficulty has been experienced by Prussian army authorities in the 
complete adoption and practice of them in the last two wars in which 
* In the International Conference at Paris in 1S67, the American Association for Belief was re- 
presented by Delegates, and in the Congress at Geneva, for agreeing upon the basis of the Inter- 
national Treaty, the U. 8. Sanitary Commission was represented by a delegate. But at the Wurz- 
burg and Berlin Conferences there were no delegates from either of these institutions, a cireiun- 
e lance much regretted, but unavoidable. HUMANITY IN WAR. 
17 
they have been applied. Russia and the German States have put into 
practice the various recommendations of the International Con- 
ference of delegates as well as the stipulations of the Geneva Treaty. 
France also adopted the articles of the Treaty with great faithfulness, 
but its wretchedly obstructive and bad system of the Intendance, by 
which not only the voluntary, but the regular military medical and 
sanitary service is crushed beneath an arbitrary dictatorship, ignorant 
alike of medical and hygienic principles and duties, is an imperial in- 
cubus upon the French Sanitary service. Austria, Italy, Denmark, 
and Spain, have each had opportunity to put the Treaty into practice 
in their own countries respectively, and have proved the practica- 
bility of its stipulations. All the other nations of Europe are ready 
to sustain the Treaty in all particulars whenever war occurs. In 
each country this Treaty, and the voluntary associations of the peo- 
ple that procured its adoption by the Government, will not fail to 
present the proofs that the brotherhood of man is held by far stronger 
bonds than any which emperors and kings can create. 
The fact is now confessed on all hands, by the ablest military 
authorities as well as by people in civil life, that there is no insur- 
mountable difficulty in the application of voluntary aid for the relief 
of the sick and wounded after battles. The idea and the individual 
plans of such relief are as old as the records of the Knights of St. 
John of Jerusalem, and the military consent and request for such assist- 
ance from the people and for the observance of neutrality for the 
wounded dates back to the wars of Frederick the Great. But the 
real impracticability of all such efforts previous to the recent war in 
the United States, consisted chiefly in the absence of organization 
among the people, and, consequently, of want of pre-arrangement 
and good understanding with the governmental and military authori- 
ties. The United States Sanitary Commission demonstrated that the 
benevolent help of the people can be as completely organized as any 
military forces and movements; and the International Conference, 
and Treaty of Geneva has proved that whatever voluntary means 
of relief for the sick and wounded are so organized, can be made 
acceptable and be legitimately authorized in all the armies and mili- 
tary hospitals of Europe. “ The fitting time,” said Surgeon Long- 
more of the British army, “ has only recently arrived, for what was 
exceptional to become the rule, for such topics as those embraced in 
the Geneva Convention to excite general interest, and to be held to 18 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
be of sufficient importance to European Governments to enter into 
a treaty respecting them.” * 
The rules of warfare among civilized nations have always forbid- 
den the infliction of suffering not necessary to the weakening of the 
enemy, and, in the ultimate results of any war, the belligerent is most 
respected and morally strengthened that most strictly respects such 
rights of humanity as are compatible with the art and necessary acts 
of warfare. The Duke de Fezensac, a high authority upon such a 
military question, says emphatically that such a regard for humanity 
is in war “compatible with its terrible mission, and with its own rules 
and special laws.” However hideous and unchristian the combats of 
armies actually are, the occurrence of war is yet so inevitable be- 
tween nations, that philanthropic and thoughtful citizens in every 
country readily assent to the duty of giving hearty support to the 
great scheme of voluntary relief and International aid for the sick and 
wounded. It was necessary, of course, that such a scheme should 
be devised upon an adequate basis of the popular intelligence and 
sympathies, and of the necessities of armies and the usages of war, 
and then also, that such an organized plan of benevolence should be 
made acceptable to national Governments. This accomplished, as it 
has been in the work of the Sanitary Commissions, and by the Inter- 
national Conferences, and the Geneva, this beneficent service of 
humanity cannot cease until the nations make war no more. 
The faithful records of all wars, until the present time, have been, 
as M iss Nightingale truly says, frightful “ records of preventable suf- 
fering, disease and death ;” and, as in former times, these evils were 
regarded as incapable of mitigation, and were allowed to breed bar- 
barism and national hatred, it has now been made a duty of civilization 
to bring to bear all practicable kinds of relief and charity for the un- 
fortunate victims of war. This duty is pressed upon the attention of 
all enlightened nations by the events now passing in the war between 
France and Prussia. Neither the political questions and results of 
this war, nor the distance of its bloody fields from us should hinder 
our responses to the calls for relief to the wounded. The brother- 
hood of man, the duties of civilization and religion, and the daily mes- 
sages of the telegraph and the International Committee for Succor, 
appeal to us in America as urgently as to neighboring nations in Europe. 
* Lecture delivered at the Royal Service Institution, England, 1806, by Deputy Inspector-Gen- 
eral T. Longmobe. Practical Operations Under The Treaty. 
Experience in the war in Schleswig-Holstein, and in that of Austria, Italy and Prussia— 
The present war between France and Germany—Early work of the International Com- 
mittee at Geneva and Basle—First report of the International Agency at Basle, August, 
1870—Operation of Prussia and German Hiilfs-Vereine, or Relief Societies—The 
French Societes de Secours—Aid by the Relief Societies of other countries—Working 
of the Plan of International Help; the Appeal for aid from the American People. 
In the war of Schleswig-Holstein, in 1864, in that of Austria, Italy 
and Germany in 1866, and that of the Spanish Revolution in 1868, the 
principles and the practice of the scheme of voluntary relief, as sanc- 
tioned by the Geneva Treaty and the International Conferences, have 
been thoroughly tested, even before the details of the plan were proper- 
ly settled and understood. But from the outbreak of the present war 
between France and Prussia, though the summons and the collision 
burst upon a state of profound peace with the suddenness of a terrific 
explosion, and with forces exceeding in numbers, and the quickness 
of movements, any previous example in history, this sacred Treaty 
and the scheme of voluntary help have operated with the regularity 
and efficiency of a completely organized and outfitted department of 
the military service. We will here present an abstract of the authen- 
ticated reports which have been received by the American Branch, 
concerning this grand work in Europe. It is proper first to show 
what the Central or International Committee, at Geneva, is doing, 
and secondly how the scheme of relief is conducted by the two bel- 
ligerent countries, and, lastly, what is being accomplished by the 
people in certain neighboring countries. 
Extracts from the first Report of the International Agency of Relief for the 
Wounded, Basle, Switzerland. Month ending Aug. 31s<, 1870.* 
The first monthly report of the Basle Agency presents a daily record of the 
* The Report from which these extracts are taken, has been made by the International Com- 
mittee of Geneva, as provided by the Berlin Conference. The Depot and Agency were established 
19 HUMANITY IN WAR. 
20 
receipts and distribution of invoices of sanitary supplies. It appears that the 
relief societies of Italy and Switzerland have sent their gifts through this 
Agency. Most of the other neutral countries have sent by direct routes to the 
hospitals of Germany and France, not delaying for orders from the Geneva 
Committee, but reporting to that advisory body the acts of their agents and 
receiving information, etc., thus maintaining, in some degree, the unity of the 
relief work. The following quotations from the report of the “ intermediary 
work ” of the Central Committee and Agency present important facts concerning 
the operation of the relief system. 
PREPARATORY LABORS. 
After the International Committee of Geneva had made known to all the aid 
societies the creation and organization of an Agency at Basle, our first duty was 
to place ourselves in relation with the Committees of Germany and France, so 
as to offer them our aid. At the same time, we were obliged to address ourselves 
to the Committees of neutral countries, to solicit subsidies from them. 
Moreover, we endeavored to take and give information on all sides, as 
numerous and exact as possible, so as to be enabled to answer all sorts of ques- 
tions. In this respect the agency has from the first displayed great activity. 
Next we took steps to obtain facilities of transport, and our requests were 
everywhere very favorably received. Germany granted us freedom of duties, 
post, and transport, as well as the free passage of persons recommended by us. 
France remitted to us 75 per cent of expenses for the transport of staff and 
materiel. As to Switzerland, she first and very obligingly conceded to us the same 
facilities as Germany. Other countries, as Holland and Belgium, have since 
followed this example. 
RESULTS OF THE APPEAL. 
The best proof that we can give of the utility of our Agency, is t lie remark- 
able and constantly increasing success it has obtained. The movement of our 
affairs is such, that it will, this week * have obtained the figure of 1,000 packages. 
More than 100 persons, chiefly medical men, have been sent on by us, and with 
at Ba«le as a central point of convenient communication, distribution, and correspondence. The 
Committee is constituted by the following members : 
General Dcfour, of Switzerland, Honorary President, 
Moss. Gcstave Motnieb, “ President, 
Dr. Louis Appia, “ Secretary, 
Col. Edmond Favbe, “ (of the Federal Army,) 
Hon. Micheli De la Rive, “ (a Deputy of the Swiss Council.) 
The business of the Agency at Basle is conducted by Messeiurs Prof. Socin, Krayrc-Forster, Sara- 
sin-Biseboff, and Vischer-Sarasin. 
* The last week in August HUMANITY IN WAR. 
21 
the money which has been remitted to us, we have already been enabled to 
assist many unfortunate sufferers. 
Abroad, Italy, by its numerous invoices has furnished us the largest quantity 
of materiel money, and help. Bohemia, Spain, Russia and Holland, have also 
employed our intermediation ; however, the geographical position of those 
countries has often induced them to employ a more direct route for their expedi- 
tions, as has constantly happened for England and Belgium. 
In consequence of the numerous and incessant relations which Switzerland 
has constantly maintained with the two belligerent nations, it might have been 
expected from the beginning, that this International Agency established at 
Basle, on the frontier of the three countries, should have received, particularly 
from that where it was located, the largest exhibit of gifts. In fact, scarcely 
was the war declared, but a serious and ardent desire of co-operating in the 
assistance of the wounded showed itself under the most varied forms. Propo- 
sitions of personal service, invoices of dressings, offerings of every kind flowed 
into our hands.. Many Societies offered us regular deliveries of ice, but certain 
invoices of this kind having melted, it was expressly recommended not to send 
any unless we received a telegraphic demand for the same. 
Following the battles which have hitherto occurred, the German wounded 
always remained in the hands of their near countrymen, but they have had, 
moreover, in their charge, almost all the wounded French soldiers, those 
slightly injured, only, having been enabled to retreat with them own corps. 
Thus a great number of wounded French were found in the German Hospitals, 
as well in Germany as in the French departments occupied by the enemy. Now, 
in accordance with the 6th Article of the Geneva Convention and Treaty, these 
wounded were to be taken care of as if they had been wounded Germans. The 
Society of Relief for the wounded having been founded, as its title imports, in 
the interest of the wounded, and not to assist belligerent governments, we 
did not think it incumbent on us, after what had been said, to make an exactly 
equal division of our gifts. Such a division, which at first sight seems the most 
simple and impartial, would be little equitable in reality and not easily justi- 
fiable. The agency resolved that as long as the greater part of the French 
wounded would be cared for by the Germans, to make largest transmissions in- 
to Germany rather than into France, for the gifts benefit the wounded of both 
armies, which is precisely the object which we proposed to ourselves. When 
there occurs any necessity for a change, the agency will take the thing into con- 
sideration and divide its gifts differently. We were obliged to consider also, 
that it is no longer possible for us to make our envoys reach the Frenoli Com- 
mittees, whilst great German reserve depots, always accessible for us, have es- 
DIVISION OF THE SANITARY SUPPLIES. 22 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
tablished near to the seats of combat, asylums which they supply with all neces- 
saries, at least as much as is permitted by the incumberment of the means of 
communication. But, thanks to the regularity and abundance of tho resources 
which are placed at our command, we shall promptly restore tho momentarily 
entangled equilibrium if transportation becomes easier. Let us further observe, 
that the wounded French who escaped capture, took refuge, in largo numbers, in 
fortresses actually surrounded by the enemy. Thus many of the wounded of 
Wiessemburg and Woerth are at Strasbourg or at Betclxe ; and those of the 
battles fought around Metz, were received into that city. It is clear that aid 
from without cannot be made to reach them. We hope that our donators will 
approve of our action, and acknowledge that according to their wishes, an equal 
partition of aid among the wounded of both nations has been effected as com- 
pletely as circumstances would permit. 
At the special request of the Central Committee, we directed a large invoice 
of material to Berlin. Our principal fields of activity are Carlsruho, and very par- 
ticularly Mannheim, where is the central depot of aid, which being supplied on 
all sides, can send daily to the army all that it stands in need of. The only 
channel by which the fields of battle can bo reached is that of the Grand Duchy 
of Baden : even from France herself \ we have b>en asked, by that means, to furnish 
aid to the wounded French, in the environs and the town of Haguenau. Tiio 
Mulhausen Committee has thus been enabled already to act by our intermediur 
tion. Requisitions have come to us from Munich, Stuttgart, Spire, Niederbronn, 
Mannheim, and Fribourg, to which we have responded according to the best of 
our ability. 
GERMANY. 
FRANCE. 
Our first objective point was Strasbourg, and we bad the satisfaction to intro- 
duce into it some pecuniary aid, dressings, medicines and assistants on the very 
evening of the investment of the city. Afterwards our messengers c >uld only go as 
far as Grafenstaden, a cannon shot from the unhappy city. At the expressed desire 
of the Central Committee of Paris, we thenceforth addressed our stores to that 
place always under care of a delegate ; but latterly this Committee has desired 
of us to keep in reserve, at Basle, the aid that was destined for it. Those of our 
delegates who have made the journey from Haguenau through France, returned 
by the Grand Duchy of Baden, and went forth again, furnished with a complete as- 
sortment of articles, to devote themselves almost wholly to the aid of the 
wounded French. Delegates of Bischwiller, where the wants seemed very great, 
have just arrived through the Baden territory, and their return, with abundant 
provisions, will be a blessing for the poor groaning sufferers who so anxiously 
await them. HUMANITY IN WAR. 
23 
Offers of personal service we have received daily since the existence of the 
agency ; numerous offers from physicians and attendants ; offers of nurses, un- 
fortunately, we were obliged to reject almost from the beginning ; however, we 
have sent, in all the earlier periods, some male and female attendants to the 
Strasbourg Committee, who should have been directed to the field of battle with 
the column of aid leaving Strasbourg, a part of which is still actively employed in 
the ambulances of Haguenau. On the other hand, the physicians, and particularly 
the surgeons, have had, alas ! only too much occupation. Our colleague, Prof. 
Socin, with whom were joined several other professors and medical men, took 
the direction of the ambulance de la gare (look out) at Carlsruhe, which now 
contains about 400 wounded. Besides, the military physicians who have re- 
sponded in great numbers to the appeal of Gen. Herzog, Commander-in-Chief 
of the Swiss army, have been sent by Dr. Lehmann, their Physician-in-chief 
either at Paris or in Germany. 
It is well in this connection to observe, that the International agency has 
no right or power whatever to send physicians into Germany or France unless 
authorized to do so. It is even necessary for those wre send to Germany, to 
attest that each one possesses the following papers : 
(1.) A diploma of the local authority relating to his right to practice 
medicine. 
(2.) An authorization to go to the belligerent army given by the same 
authority. 
(3.) A passport delivered by a North-German legation, at sight of these two 
papers, and indicating at the same time the place of destination. 
Similar papers are required in France. Dr. Lehmann, the physician-in-chief, 
has preserved the organization of the Swiss Military Medical Department, in spite 
of the almost total disbandment of the federal troops ; the military physicians 
are therefore requested to address their offers to him at Berne. 
Asa want of attendants might be felt hereafter, the Central Committee of 
the Swiss Society for Belief, at Berne, has sent formulas to all the local com- 
mittees in the cantons, on which the attendants who offer their services must be 
registered, so that they may be obtained in case they should be needed. 
We have also received from Italy, Holland and Bohemia similar offers of aid, 
and have profited by them according to need. Prof, de Huebbenet, of Kiew, 
delegated by his Government and by the Bussian Aid Society, and accompanied 
by fifteen physicians of his country, went to Mannheim to penetrate thence to 
the theatre of war, with the intention of there dividing their medical succors 
between the belligerents, in what should seem the most useful way. 24 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
TRANSMISSION OF LETTERS AND INFORMATION. 
Immediately after the commencement of hostilities, the Committeo of Geneva 
conceived the thought of proposing our agency to the belligerent countries as 
the intermedium of correspondence between the wounded and their families, as 
well as for communications which the Committees of Aid of the belligerent 
powers may have to make to each other reciprocally. The proposition has been 
accepted on both sides with great avidity, and we ImVe many proofs that this 
branch of our activity has had precious results. Many thousands of hitters have 
already been forwarded by our intermediation ; and many tears have certainly 
been dried in that way. From a mother even we derive the beautiful title of the 
“ Society which takes pity on Mothers.” 
By a notice [lasted on all letters which pass through its hands, the agency is 
careful to give notice that it takes upon itself to forward answers to their desti- 
nation. We daily transmit sums of money to the wounded and prisoners, and 
have taken steps to answer, in this respect, the increasing demand upon us. 
Every day we are asked for information as to soldiers who have disappeared, 
and we refer some to the Central Bureau of Information at Berlin and Carlsruhe. 
We have been promised complete lists of French wounded, who are to be 
found in the different German hospitals, and have just received a first series 
of these lists. This will considerably simplify researches. We are obliged for the 
moment to postpone obtaining the same favor as to prisoners, because of the 
extent of the labor. 
The question which had been so often repeated to as on the subject of the 
possibility of strangers visiting Germany to take care of wounded relatives, has 
received from competent authorities a categorical negative answer.* 
GUT'S OF SUPPLIES IN KIND. 
It is with a profound sentiment of gratitude that we announce the list of 
gifts received for the wounded soldiers ; the invoices have taken proportions 
which had not been foreseen by the Agency, and which soon compelled us to 
establish ourselves in a larger place. We take advantage of the occasion 
which this first report affords, to address to the donors recommendations on 
certain points and the expression of certain wishes. It is impossible, seeing 
the great number of objects which comes to us, to open all the cases and 
verify their contents, consequently it is desirable that each case or package ad- 
♦Note.—At the moment of going to press, we learn from a certain source, that contrarily to 
this statement the Prussian Minister at Berne, relying on the 5th article of the Geneva Treaty 
declares that without hindrance, safe conduct to persons who wish to go to Germany to tend 
their relatives, or prisoner friends, and bring them back to France, will be given. 
[Information has reached us from Germany that this humane and almost unprecedented 
liberality of the military authorities has been exercised in that country with happy results. But 
such a privilege manifestly should be both well guarded and sacredly honored. Editor.] HUMANITY IN WAR. 
25 
dressed to us, should be accompanied by as exact an inventory as possible, and 
it is best to paste this list on the lid of the cases. 
It is also very desirable that each Committee should number successively the 
packages which it sends, which greatly facilitates the control of objects received, etc. 
[Here follow various specific directions for packing and invoicing the sup- 
plies that are destined for the field and hospitals. Editor.] 
We will add a request; it is that as much as possible, all packets whose 
weight exceeds 10 pounds, should be sent to us by railroad, and not by post, 
which in Switzerland admits free only packages below that weight. 
[Here the Committee enumerates the various kinds of articles most wanted. 
Editor.] 
When we receive packages, etc., with a special destination, “for the Ger 
man,” or “ for the French,” we have hastened to act according to the views of the 
donors, but it is impossible to follow these directions for small packets. 
Many gifts will be again confided to us, and we will do our best to distribute 
them according to the spirit of the Convention of Geneva, impartially among 
the wounded of both nations. 
The invoices have been assorted in the most varied manner. There came to 
us, moreover, a certain number of packages for which a special destination was in- 
dicated, either for Committees of succor, or for local ambulances, or individuals. 
We have in all cases sent these invoices to their address, but, nevertheless, we 
must remark that invoices to the addresses of individuals do not go free. There- 
fore we earnestly beg that invoices shall not be sent to us for individuals, but 
that those who send them will be kind enough to send by some other means of 
transmission. 
SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND DISTRIBUTIONS AT THE BASLE AGENCY 
IN AUGUST. 
The 1000 boxes and bales of supplies comprised every variety of 
sanitary stores and appliances that had been called for in the Com- 
mittee’s circulars : Compresses and roller bandages, lint and old linen, 
flannel bands, shirts and pillows, basins and sponges, blouses and 
quilts, delicate viands and liquors, uncut goods for hospitals, and 
money for necessary purchases, etc. The total amount of cash con- 
tributions during the month was 26,450.85 francs. 
The sanitary stores, during August, were distributed nearly 
equally to the French and German hospitals respectively; for ex- 
ample : 
To Hospitals and besieged cities in France, 
the Committee sent 219 packages. 26 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
To Battlefields in France, the Committee sent 214 packages. 
To German Hospitals, “ “ 183 “ 
The principal depot for sanitary supplies for battlefields, during 
the month of August, was at Mannheim. The cash in hand by the 
Committee was expended for the relief of the wounded near the bat- 
tlefields, and for those at Strasbourg, iooo francs; for Strasbourg 
refugees at Haguenau, iooo; for chloroform, 500; for morphine, qui- 
nine and carbolic acid, 518; to Relief Committee at Bischwiller, 500 
francs, etc., etc. 
This work of the Committee and Agency in Switzerland has been 
simply supplementary and intermediary, while the advice which this 
Committee has been able to give to the relief associations of 1 lolland, 
Belgium, England and Russia, has helped on the means of relief which 
have-been hastened from those countries to the vicinity of the battle- 
fields. The sanitary stores from the Basle Agency have supplied the 
deficiencies that no other source could at the time fully supply. Thus 
it is likely to continue to do until the war ceases. “ The principles 
that have governed us in the division and distribution of the supplies 
confided to us,” say the Committee, “ have been to act with strictest 
impartiality, and always to be ready to aid wherever it has become known 
to us that the necessity for relief is the greatest.” 
With minutely particular and daily renewed information from 
relief agents and surgeons on battle-fields and in hospitals, and with 
access to the besieged cities, the International Committee in neutral 
Switzerland fully appreciates the wants in both of the belligerent 
countries, and most faithfully does that body of honored men perform 
the duty entrusted to them by the National Associations for Relief. 
The opening paragraphs of their report for August tell how the great 
events of the hour are impressing their minds in regard to the relief 
work. They say: 
“ We sometimes have difficulty in believing the reality of the facts 
which are spread out before us. With wounded hearts we daily learn 
of the cruel and irreparable loss of great and precious lives. We 
groan at the cruel horrors that occur in our civilized Europe in a 
circle that only recently boasted of the progress it was making. 
Nevertheless, by the side of this tableau of terrors, which the war is 
unfolding to our view in such a manner as to make us doubt human- 
ity itself, we now behold a horizon most consoling, the spectacle of 
which must efface, or greatly ameliorate, our sympathetic anxiety. HUMANITY IN WAR. 
27 
Throughout the world we now see called into life a sacred charity 
that pours balm upon the wounds, and which, with a noble abnega- 
tion, comes to offer its voluntary means of relief where ordinary sup- 
plies have proved insufficient.” 
Both in France and Prussia the central National Society of Relief 
was found ready for immediate service when the war was proclaimed. 
The International Conference at Paris in 1867 left its good influence 
upon the newly-begun work in that capital and throughout France; 
and the Conference at Berlin in 1869 was accompanied by a very 
wide-spread public interest in the design and organization of the 
Halfs-Vereine, or Relief Societies. Hence there ensued such endeav- 
ors to perfect the central and auxiliary societies in Prussia and the 
German States, that, when war was declared, the central society at 
Berlin, and the Relief Societies in each State, acted without a day’s 
delay and without confusion. 
RELIEF SOCIETIES OF THE BELLIGERENT NATIONS. 
THE GERMAN RELIEF WORK. 
The Relief Associations (Hdlfs-Vereine) of Prussia and the Ger- 
man States, taking their instructions and inspiration directly from the 
decisions of the International Conference that was assembled at Ber- 
lin in the previous year, have been able to give great unity and effect 
to the voluntary work for relief. The central Committee of direction 
in Berlin found their plans and wishes heartily seconded by the State 
and auxiliary Societies. The promptitude and fraternity of this activ- 
ity in Germany are shown in the calls to co-operation. The official 
summons of the Saxon Committee we reprint here: 
Union and Concentration of Relief-Work in Saxony. 
“ Notice.—The Saxon International Relief Societies—the Inter- 
national-Verein* for the Relief of Soldiers wounded in the field, and 
the Albert-Verein—have, in view and for the time of the expected 
war, formed a union under the name of ‘ International Relief Society 
for the Kingdom of Saxony/ and her royal majesty, the Crown 
* “ Society.” 28 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
Princess of Saxony, has been kind enough to accept the Presidency 
thereof. 
“ For the Directory of the Albert-Verein, 
Dr. Staundorff, Secretary. 
“ For the Directory of the International Society for the 
Relief of Soldiers wounded in the war, 
Von K.RIEGERN, Secretary. 
“ Dresden, July 16, 1870.” 
Subjoined is a copy of the summons of the Crown Princess Karoi.a, 
as the Directress of the Saxon Central Society for Relief, which was 
issued to the united auxiliary societies the day next following the 
French declaration of war, and the formation of the “ Union” here 
mentioned. 
“Appeal to the United Saxon International Relief Societies. 
“ Again war is broken out, again bloody battles will be fought, 
whose victims will soon fill the hospitals. It is the duty of the Inter- 
national Relief Societies again to do their humane work. But the 
means on hand are insufficient. We are, however, certain of the aid 
of the Saxon people, which in the sad periods of the year 1866 so 
gloriously proved its readiness to help. 
“To you, fellow-citizens, to you, women and maidens of Saxony, 
we again repeat the urgent appeal. Help us in this work, give us 
your aid with money, with bandages and supplies. 
“ Karola, Directress of the *Albert-Verein' 
“ (Signed,) Crown Princess of Saxony 
“ Dresden, July \yth, 1870.” 
“ Reports of Receipt and Expenditure,», together with an Appeal of the Central Committee 
of the German Societies for the Relief of Sick and Wounded Soldiers. 
“ While we express our most heartfelt thanks to all the country and 
branch societies, to this and other corporations, and to all Germans 
in this and foreign countries for the assistance they have given us in 
aid of our work, we must yet tell them that the wants continue to be 
large, and that we expect from them further liberal help. 
*• In addition to the expenditures of all kinds for the sick and 
wounded of the German armies in action ; in addition to the expendi- HUMANITY IN WAR. 
29 
tures for suppplying the depots which are being pushed on further 
and further; the assistance to other Relief Societies and the numer- 
ous Hospitals ; the provisioning, etc., of the personnel; the assistance 
to the transports for the wounded and the evacuation of Hospitals in 
the occupied parts of the country, we must continue to do our best, in 
view of the suddenly appearing raw and damp weather, to keep away 
diseases from the armies. 
“All this, thank Providence, has been done thus far in a most thor- 
ough manner, and we rejoice in the expectation to be able to note 
down in our report at the end of the war, the truly united work of 
all German Societies, and of the whole German people. 
“ The total receipts at our central trea- 
sury amount, so far, to . . . 1,342,793 thalers. 
Deduct, 
(a) The sum of 166,888 thalers, which 
was designed by the donors for 
the invalids of the present war, 
and the widows and orphans of 
the killed. 
(b) 20,153 thalers, which, in accordance 
with the wish of the donors, 
were paid to several Societies. 
Total 187,402 thalers. 
Total for our use . . 1,155,391 thalers.* 
“ There have been paid out, up to this date 877,037 thalers. 
“ The sum of 278,353 thalers, which, in accordance with this report, 
are on hand yet, are already exhausted by the purchase of material, 
which is not paid as yet, by orders which we have given, and by 
other responsibilities which we have taken upon ourselves in carry- 
ing out the purpose of our work to the end. These responsibilities 
are connected principally with the care of the sick and wounded, the 
keeping of the nurses, and the returning home of our personnel, etc. 
“ May the assistance of the Societies and the readiness of other 
donors to make sacrifices, soon give us the necessary aid. 
* Equal to 820,327.51 American dollars, gold. HUMANITY IN WAR. 
30 
“Contributions may be addressed to our central treasury (No. 12 
Unter den Linden.) 
“ The Central Committee for the Relief of 
Sick and Wounded Soldiers. 
“(Signed,) R. Von Sydow, Secretary." 
“Berlin, Sept. 26, 1870.” 
This report presents barely the treasury account of receipts and 
expenditures. The receipt and distribution of sanitary supplies in 
kind, have been managed upon a plan similar to that devised by the 
Sanitary Commission in our late war, and are reported to have thus 
far been in about the same proportion to the gifts in money, as the 
American contributions exhibited through our war; that is, the value 
of materials given is about three times greater than the total gifts of 
money. This proportion seems also to have been experienced in 
France and Switzerland, so far as we can judge from the reports that 
have reached us. 
The thoroughness of organization and promptitude of action in 
the German Relief work, are well shown by the results produced 
and the methods adopted. 
TIIE FRENCH SOCIkTkS DE SECOURS. 
From the beginning of the war the National Socizte de Sccours at 
Paris prepared itself to send forward a large number of completely 
furnished Ambulance Corps. Through numerous auxiliaries in all 
portions of France, and by means of a subscription list in Paris, nearly 
3,000,000 francs were received into the central Treasury for Relief 
during the first month of active operations, and, previous to the capit- 
ulation at Sedan, the National Comitd de Secours had fitted out no 
less than eight corps d'ambulance having a list of nearly 1000 attendants 
and surgeons.* Besides these there was a corps organized by Amer- 
* Organization of the Ambulance Hospital Service of the National Society for Relief in France.—The 
Insufficiency and defects of the regular army medical and sanitary system were so well understood 
by the officers of the National Society, that from the first they, determined to offer to the govern- 
ment a large number of completely equipped ambulance and field-hospital corps, with ambulance 
wagons, tents, surgeons, nurses and hospital furniture. Previous to the capitulation at Sedan, 
several of these ambulance-hospitals had come up with the army, and three of them lmd been found 
at work upon fields won by the Prussians. 
Each of the first nine ambulance corps that were fitted out under the auspices of the Society In HUMANITY IN WAR. 
31 
icans, under the auspices of Dr. Evans, of Paris, and another was or- 
ganized by American and English surgeons, and rapidly pushed for- 
ward towards Metz. At Sedan this ambulance corps came up with 
the discomfited French army the day previous to capitulation. The 
French authorities assigned that corps a site outside the city, and 
operations were immediately begun on the 31st of August, the sur- 
geons and dressers being under fire most of the day, and one attend- 
ant being killed while on duty. This ambulance or field-hospital, 
with its 500 patients, was left by the victorious Prussians, and at the 
date of last intelligence -from it—a month after the French had as- 
signed its location—it was still in the same place, and its beds full of 
wounded soldiers that had been gathered up from the battle-field the 
first of September.” * 
Now, when the regular army ambulance and sanitary system of 
France has been utterly disorganized and crippled by the disasters 
of the war, the National Societe de Secours is comparatively unem- 
barrassed. In the besieged cities, its work goes on through the auxil- 
iary committees and their ambulance and hospital organizations in 
these places ; while the work of organization and outfitting by the 
National Comite de Secours, now at Tours, is pushed on with efficiency 
under the directorship of Count de Flavigny, Dr. Le Fort, the Medi- 
cal Chief of voluntary ambulance service, having been detained at 
Metz. Concerning this work a correspondent of the N. Y. Courrier 
des Etats-Unis writes from Tours, under date of September 17th : 
Paris comprised a personnel of nearly 100 persons, viz: 1 Surgeon-in-Chief; 14 Surgeons and Assist- 
ant Surgeons; 12 Sub-assistants; 52 Attendants ; 1 Dispensing Agent or Steward; 1 or 2 Chap- 
lains ; 3 clerks, together with teamsters and servants; 17 hospital tents; ambulance and freight 
wagons; 40 horses ; 300 beds and 100 litters. 
The entire train of wagons, goods and attendants, was capable of being put under way in ten 
minutes, and, in case of battle, the official staff, aided by a reserve corps of surgeons and assistants, 
is able, temporarily, to take care of 1500 wounded soldiers. The cost of the outfit of wagons, 
horses and the materiel for such an ambulance corps amounts to 150,000 francs. 
* A letter from Dr. McCormick, one of the English members of the Ambulance Corps here men- 
tioned, gives the following facts to his friends at home: “About 9 or 10 o’clock in the morn- 
ing they began firing straight into Sedan from the hights opposite For six hours this feu 
cfenfer never abated. Our house was often struck by the shells. One of our infirmiers was literally 
torn into shreds, and another grievously wounded just at the door. Early in the morning the 
wounded began to arrive, not only those of the 1st, but those of the day before, and all that day 
till late in the night I was busy performing capital operations. I must confess the practice of sur- 
gery under fire is anything but agreeable, but I had to do it We receive daily visits from 
surgeons of the French and Belgian ambulances, and from the German surgeons also. They are 
surprised and pleased to find our organization so complete.” 32 
HUMANITY IN WAR. 
“ That which most interests the city is the work of Mons. de 
Flavigny and his assistants. The work of the Society for the Relief 
of Wounded, is everywhere welcomed with respect and sympathy. 
All persons are placing all the resources they can dispose of at its 
disposal. Mons. de Flavigny is about to organize ambulances in the 
departments of Indre-et-Loire, Sarthe and Maine-et-Loire. Tours 
will be the central depot: the college has given up its large buildings, 
and the white badges with the red cross swarm in the streets.” 
Whatever adversities may continue to befall the people of France, 
and whatever struggles they yet may make for the establishment of 
their National Government, they have so heartily adopted the spirit, 
as well as the methods of the Geneva Treaty and International Con- 
ferences, that this work of humanity must continue to be more and 
more successful in its operations until the war ceases. We give in 
this place the following extract from the letter of thanks which the 
French National Comite de Secours has sent to the Austrian H'dlfs- 
Vcrein (Relief Society) in Vienna : 
“ Humanity asks that the principle holy to all cultivated nations 
of our day, that the enemy when wounded is an enemy no more, but a 
brother, to whom we must extend our helping hand without regard to 
nationality, should be carried out in its largest sense by the Relief 
Societies of all nations, and that the misery of the war can be relieved 
only when every one does what he would wish to be done to himself 
in a like situation.” 
The Central Committee of the German Relief Societies, has given 
to the Austrian Association a like expression of the German senti- 
ment on this subject. 
Practical Working of the Thin of International Help. 
In this most sudden and terrible of all the wars which Europe has 
suffered, the plan and Treaty which the nations agreed upon at Gen- 
eva have been so well tested, that no reasonable doubts or objections 
are now urged against this scheme of philanthropy by any of the 
observers of the work. The inherent difficulties which attend upon 
the first efforts at administering a new and vast enterprise in the 
midst of a great war, are seen and confessed by the co-workers in HUMANITY IN WAR. 
33 
Europe. But the work is a success; and it has already demonstrated 
several very important truths, which all the civilized world will 
understand as they never understood and acted upon before. 
Guided by the principles which developed the plans of the Inter- 
national Conferences and Treaty for Relief of the Miseries of War, 
the people of all countries which are accessible to the belligerents, 
can readily concentrate their sympathies and every kind of means of 
relief for the sick and wounded, and secure the administration of 
their gifts with strict impartiality to the sufferers of both belligerent 
armies ; and, experience proves that national animosities do not practi- 
cally interfere with this international scheme of philanthropy.* 
The assistance which has already been given by Belgium, Holland 
and England to the wounded of both belligerent armies has been as 
fraternal and effective as it could have been had all this voluntary 
work of charity been concentrated upon either one of the armies; 
and the total amount of it is doubtless tenfold greater for being im- 
partial in its objects. The aid rendered by Belgium and Holland is said 
to be the most perfect in all respects that has ever been witnessed in the 
ambulance and field-hospital service in any war, so complete is the 
system, the surgical and nursing attendance, and the supply of hospi- 
tal materiel. But it remained for the people of England to present in 
this war the most remarkable example of liberality ever witnessed by 
one country towards the people of other countries. The National 
Society of England for the Relief of the Sick and Wounded in War 
* The latter fact is strikingly illustrated by the spontaneous acts of the Austrian Relief Society. 
Some of its work has been previously mentioned in these pages. Its official summons to co-opera- 
tion was in the following words: 
“Vienna, July 21, 1870. 
“Appeal of the Central Committee of the Austrian Relief Society. 
“ The war which has just broken out over Europe, calls on the Austrian Relief Society to per- 
form the international work as laid down in its regulations, and according to which it is the duty of 
the Society, in the event of a war between foreign powers, to aid as much as the means of the 
Society and special contributions make it possible to do. 
“ The Relief Society acts, therefore, in accordance with the principles of strictest neutrality, by 
equally dividing it3 endeavors between the two belligerents ; every wounded soldier has a right to our 
help and relief 
“ The Austrian Relief Committee has, therefore, opened communications with the central Socie 
ties in Germany and France. 
“ This international society will, however, in case donors have preferences for one or the other 
part of the belligerents, use the funds in accordance with the wish of the donors. 
“ The Austrian Relief Society thinks itself justified in expecting a strong co-operation of the 
population, for the ready assistance which the Austrian wounded received from the French and 
German sides still lives in our grateful memory.” * * * * HUMANITY IN WAR. 
34 
was organized on the 26th of July, 1870,'and had only a very few aux- 
iliaries established at the end of that month. But rapidly developing 
its organization, and working systematically, it raised and sent for- 
ward to the wounded in France and Germany during the months of 
August and September the products of cash contributions to the amount 
of 220,854 pounds sterling, together with large quantities of hospital 
supplies, which have been sent to its central depot in London. Nearly 
100 expert surgeons have also received the badge of the Red Cross 
and gone from England to serve the wounded. I)r. John Simon, the 
Chief Medical Officer of the Privy Council, and a staff of English as- 
sistants, have charge of a model surgical hospital at Bingen on the 
Rhine. And, lastly, upon request of the National Society, in London, 
the British Secretary of State for War has ordered that a complete 
ambulance train, on “ full service scale,” with wagons and hospital out- 
fits for 200 beds, shall be sent forward to some point most agreeable 
to the French or German army authorities. 
Switzerland, the first in the field, as likewise first to urge the 
scheme of international relief, has officially sent the chief portion of 
the Swiss Army Medical Staff to France and Germany, and this fra- 
ternal act has been received by the belligerent governments with ex- 
pressions of gratitude. Italy has been daily sending forward her gen- 
erous stores for the wounded of both armies; and in every country 
the resident natives of France and Germany are stimulated alike by 
patriotic and humane sentiments to give liberally to the Relief So- 
cieties of their respective nations.* And Russia also, as we have al- 
ready mentioned, has outfitted and sent forward, through the Russian 
Committee of Relief, one of the ablest companies of surgeons in 
Northern Europe. 
By such acts as these, by munificent contributions in money and 
materials for relief of the wounded, by such personal chivalry and 
professional fraternity as these surgeons and aids of the National Re- 
lief Societies have exhibited, and by such burial and forgetful- 
ness of national and sectarian prejudices and enmities, has not the 
spirit of the civilization and religion of our times become ennobled, 
* The German-born population in America hare contributed freely for the relief of the wound- 
ed, and with great magnanimity have not only sent all their gifts directly to the Prussian Central 
Relief Society, but have specifically directed that these contributions shall be impartially bestow- 
ed upon “ all the wounded within the German lines.” The Germans and French will continue to 
contribute munificently; but that will not diminish the obligation of our American-born citizens 
to give. This obligation is due to humauity. HUMANITY IN WAR. 
35 
and is not the brotherhood of man strengthened and exalted ? Even 
if this were no necessary part of the fruit of such beneficence and 
sympathy, it certainly is an ample reward for these labors under the 
Geneva Treaty that untold agonies, terrors and dangers have been 
mitigated, and that thousands of human lives have been saved. 
Savers of men !—comforters and preservers of homes !—such we 
know from personal observation are the faithful surgeons in armies 
and hospitals, and such are all the skilled persons who bring sanitary 
relief and help to the sick and wounded. 
Throughout the long and terrible civil war in our beloved coun- 
try, how thoughtfully and with what determination did the repre- 
sentatives of these branches of patriotic duty strive to secure the ap- 
plication of the people’s aid in the saving of our brave soldiers from 
needless suffering and untimely death. And now shall we not pity 
and strive to alleviate the woes of the hundreds of thousands of Ger- 
man and French soldiers who are at this hour in the military hospi- 
tals, far from home, and longing to live for those they love? The 
fresh memories of our own terrible experience in these United States 
arouse our fraternal sympathies and urge the people of this country 
to contribute generously and without delay to the work of Interna- 
tional aid and relief for those who fall upon the battle-fields or languish 
in hospitals. The war is not ended—when we write these words, 
apparently hot nearly ended—nor will the wants of the wounded cease 
until many months after the war shall have ceased. In the latest dis- 
patch to the American Branch of the International Association for Re- 
lief, the President of the Geneva Committee says: “ We earnestly de- 
sire and need your gifts for the wounded ; the wants are large, urgent, 
and recurring without ceasing. It is exceedingly desirable that 
America should awaken the elan of the friendly world, after having 
given to it so good and great an example in the war of the secession.” 
We lay these statements and this appeal before the American peo- 
ple, respectfully urging that there shall be prompt and generous con- 
tributions from them to the great work of Humanity in War—a work 
for all civilized nations, and which had its first great and inspiring 
example in these United States of America.