ERNEST P. BICKNELL, _National Director American Red Cross_.
During the culminating scenes of the recent revolution in Mexico, when
the capital city was torn by heavy artillery warfare in its central
streets and plazas, and which resulted in the tragic death of President
Francisco I. Madero, the press dispatches referred occasionally to
the activities of the Mexican Red Cross and the Mexican White Cross.
These dispatches were of a character to sadden the friends of the Red
Cross movement, because they indicated a failure on the part of the
federal troops to respect the Red Cross flag and because they revealed a
defection of some who should have been a part of the Red Cross, but who,
instead, divided the strength and prestige of humane Mexico by organizing
the White Cross Society, whose functions are identical with those of the
Red Cross.
It is reported that while engaged in giving attention to wounded men in
the plaza before the National Palace, the president of the Red Cross was
shot and killed. It has also been stated that two members of the White
Cross Society were captured by the troops under the command of General
Diaz and were found to be engaged in carrying ammunition, and that for
this reason they were executed. Without more complete knowledge of local
conditions and in consideration of the terrible confusion which prevailed
in the City of Mexico in those days of fighting, it would be unjust to
endeavor to fix the blame for these unfortunate incidents.
With the establishment of a stable government and the coming of peace it
is hoped that the Mexican Red Cross may be given its proper status and
recognition, and that those who have heretofore served under the banner
of the White Cross may be induced to dissolve that organization and join
hands heartily with the Red Cross.
The origin of the Mexican White Cross dates back to the revolution
which Francisco I. Madero led against the government of Porfirio Diaz.
As a result of the severe fighting between the insurgent and federal
forces along the United States border in the spring of 1911 many men
were seriously injured. At that time no systematic medical service was
provided by either army, and the Mexican Red Cross, which had been
organized only a short time previously, had not undertaken to send nurses
and physicians to the front. The situation at the threshold of the United
States, particularly at the California boundary and near El Paso, Texas,
became so serious that the American Red Cross undertook to provide
physicians, nurses and hospital care for such of the wounded men as could
be reached without going into the interior of Mexico. This service of
the American Red Cross along the border in California, Texas, New Mexico
and Arizona aroused a sense of pride among many of the people of Mexico,
with the result that a group of friends of the insurgents organized a
body of nurses and physicians to be sent to the scene of the fighting.
To the new organization was given the name of the Mexican White Cross.
At about the same time that the White Cross was organized, the Red Cross
also prepared to send nurses and physicians to the front. The White Cross
group reached Juarez, across the boundary from El Paso, only twenty-four
hours before the arrival of the Red Cross group. At that time it was a
matter of current report that the White Cross promoters and supporters
were favorable to Madero and his cause, and that the Red Cross, having
been created under the administration of President Diaz, inclined to
favor the federal cause as against that of Madero. The representatives
of the two organizations on reaching Juarez were not cordial to each
other, and a strong feeling of rivalry was apparent. In justice to both
organizations, however, it should be said that at a conference held in
Juarez at the suggestion of representatives of the American Red Cross, an
arrangement was made by which the work to be done was divided equitably
between the two, and that thereafter they worked side by side, zealously
and seemingly without friction.
[Illustration: MEXICO CITY. LOOKING NORTH FROM CATHEDRAL TOWER.
© Underwood & Underwood]
[Illustration: MARKET SQUARE, MEXICO “THE SOLDIERS ARE COMING.”
© Underwood and Underwood]
While the facts are not known, it is possible that the failure of the
Madero troops, in the recent fighting in the City of Mexico, to respect
the Red Cross flag in some measure resulted from the reported partiality
of the Red Cross for the Diaz government when Madero was the leader
of the insurgents. On the other hand, General Diaz, in the recent
Mexican fighting, may have been the more ready to deal harshly with the
representatives of the White Cross because of the fact that the White
Cross had been reported to be particularly friendly to the cause of
Madero when Madero was fighting President Diaz, uncle to General Diaz,
leader of the uprising which overthrew Madero.
But whatever may have been the causes which led to a division of the
humane people of Mexico into the camps of the Red Cross and the White
Cross, it is not to be forgotten that their objects were humanitarian
and at bottom identical. With the coming of peace and the restoration
of normal conditions of life in the Republic of Mexico, there is every
reason to hope that rivalries may be forgotten and that there may come a
splendid union of all the humanitarian forces of the country under the
emblem of the Red Cross.
In the closing days of the Madero government, while fierce and ruthless
war raged in the streets of the City of Mexico, lives and property of
American residents were in extreme peril. United States Ambassador Henry
Lane Wilson gave every possible assistance and protection, but at best
many were without resources and were unable to escape from the city or
country unaided. The American Red Cross, on receiving information of
these conditions through the Department of State, forwarded $1,000 to
Ambassador Wilson to be expended at his discretion for the benefit of
Americans in need. Many Americans who succeeded in reaching the city of
Vera Cruz were unable to pay for steamship passage to the United States,
and for their assistance the Red Cross also sent $500 to William W.
Canada, American Consul General of that city, to be used as required for
their help.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: PLAZA IN FRONT OF NATIONAL PALACE, MEXICO CITY. PRESIDENT
MADERO ADDRESSING THE CROWD FROM BALCONY.
© Underwood & Underwood]
[Illustration: REMOVING THE DEAD FROM THE STREETS OF MEXICO CITY.
© Underwood & Underwood]