subjoined.
The second paragraph of the additional Article X reads thus: "If the
merchant ship also carries a cargo, her neutrality will still
protect it, provided that such cargo is not of a nature to be
confiscated by the belligerent."
The words "of a nature to be confiscated by the belligerent" apply
equally to the nationality of the merchandise and to its quality.
Thus, according to the latest international conventions, merchandise
of a nature to be confiscated by a cruiser are:
_First._ Contraband of war, under whatever flag.
_Second._ Enemy merchandise under enemy flag.
The cruiser need not recognize the neutrality of the vessel carrying
wounded if any part of its cargo shall, under international law, be
comprised in either of these two categories of goods.
The faculty given by the paragraph in question to leave on board of
vessels carrying wounded a portion of the cargo is to be considered
as a facility for the carriage of freight, as well as a valuable
privilege in favor of the navigability of merchant vessels if they
be bad sailors when only in ballast; but this faculty can in no wise
prejudice the right of confiscation of the cargo within the limits
fixed by international law.
Every ship the cargo of which would be subject to confiscation by
the cruiser under ordinary circumstances is not susceptible of being
covered by neutrality by the sole fact of carrying in addition sick
or wounded men. The ship and the cargo would then come under the
common law of war, which has not been modified by the convention
except in favor of the vessel exclusively laden with wounded men, or
the cargo of which would not be subject to confiscation in any case.
Thus, for example, the merchant ship of a belligerent laden with
neutral merchandise and at the same time carrying sick and wounded
is covered by neutrality.
The merchant ship of a belligerent carrying, besides wounded and
sick men, goods of the enemy of the cruiser's nation or contraband
of war is not neutral, and the ship, as well as the cargo, comes
under the common law of war.
A neutral ship carrying, in addition to wounded and sick men of the
belligerent, contraband of war also is subject to the common law of
war.
A neutral ship carrying goods of any nationality, but not contraband
of war, lends its own neutrality to the wounded and sick which it
may carry.
In so far as concerns the usage which expressly prohibits a cartel
ship from engaging in any commerce whatsoever at the point of
arrival, it is deemed that there is no occasion to specially subject
to that inhibition vessels carrying wounded men, because the second
paragraph of Article X imposes upon the belligerents, equally as
upon neutrals, the exclusion of the transportation of merchandise
subject to confiscation.
Moreover, if one of the belligerents should abuse the privilege
which is accorded to him, and under the pretext of transporting the
wounded should neutralize under its flag an important commercial
intercourse which might in a notorious manner influence the chances
or the duration of the war, Article XIV of the convention could
justly be invoked by the other belligerent.
As for the second point of the note of the British Government,
relative to the privilege of effectively removing from a city,
besieged and blockaded by sea, under the cover of neutrality,
vessels bearing wounded and sick men, in such a way as to prolong
the resistance of the besieged, the convention does not authorize
this privilege. In according the benefits of a neutral status of a
specifically limited neutrality to vessels carrying wounded, the
convention could not give them rights superior to those of other
neutrals who can not pass an effective blockade without special
authorization. Humanity, however, in such a case, does not lose all
its rights, and, if circumstances permit the besieging party to
relax the rigorous rights of the blockade, the besieged party may
make propositions to that end in virtue of the fourth paragraph of
Article X.
It was under this _modus vivendi_ that the steam launch "Moynier"
received from the Government of the United States her commission as a
little hospital ship of the Red Cross. For this little vessel, presented
by Mr. William B. Howland, the editor of the _Outlook_, as the gift of
the readers of that popular periodical, the Red Cross is gratefully
indebted.
On June 6, 1898, the tender of the services of the American National Red
Cross to act as an auxiliary to the Medical and Hospital Service of the
Army and Navy, in accordance with the treaty, was formally accepted by
the Departments of War and Navy:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, _June 6, 1898_.
CLARA BARTON,
_President of the American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C._:
The tender of the services of the American National Red Cross, made
to this department through the Department of State under date of May
25, 1898, for medical and hospital work as auxiliary to the hospital
service of the Army of the United States, is accepted; all
representatives and employes of said organization to be subject to
orders according to the rules and discipline of war, as provided by
the 63d Article of War.
Very respectfully,
R.A. ALGER,
_Secretary of War_.
* * * * *
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, _June 6, 1898_.
CLARA BARTON,
_President of the American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C._:
The tender of the services of the American National Red Cross, made
to this department through the Department of State under date of May
25, 1898, for medical and hospital work as auxiliary to the hospital
service of the navy of the United States, is accepted; all
representatives and employes of said organization to be subject to
orders according to the rules and discipline of war.
Very respectfully,
CHAS. H. ALLEN,
_Acting Secretary_.
In the meantime, war was officially proclaimed, and the President had
issued his call for volunteers. As the troops responded to the call,
they were assembled in camps in various sections of the country,
principally in Washington, Chickamauga Park, Georgia, Jacksonville,
Tampa and Port Tampa in Florida. Soon after the formation of the camps
it became evident that the auxiliary service of the Red Cross would be
necessary in caring for the men, and a formal tender of such service was
made to the government by Mr. George Kennan, first vice-president of the
American National Red Cross, to which the following reply was received:
* * * * *
WAR DEPARTMENT,
_June 8, 1898_.
DEAR SIR: I have, by your reference, the letter of this date from
Mr. George Kennan, of the American National Red Cross, and see no
objection whatsoever to their establishing a station in every
military camp for the purpose indicated in their letter.
Instructions have been issued by me to-day to the surgeon general,
who will communicate this information to the chief surgeons of the
camps.
Very truly yours,
R.A. ALGER,
_Secretary of War_.
HON. JOHN ADDISON PORTER,
_Secretary to the President._
Acting upon this acceptance, the executive committee, of which Mr.
Stephen E. Barton was the chairman, appointed and sent to each camp an
agent, to represent the Red Cross in the field. These representatives
were instructed to report to the respective medical officers of the army
in charge, to make, personally, a formal tender of assistance, and to
ascertain if the Red Cross could be of service, by furnishing quickly
any medical and hospital supplies of which the camps might be in need.
It is perhaps proper to state here, as a matter of history, that while
these field agents were always most courteously received, in many
instances the auxiliary services of the Red Cross were not at first
welcomed by the medical officers of the army. Indeed it often happened
that the assistance, of which the hospital service of the army was
apparently in need, was not accepted until after its efficiency was
seriously diminished by reason of delay.
The reluctance to permit the people, through the Red Cross, to assist in
ministering to the comforts of the men, did not generally seem to arise
from personal objection on the part of the medical officers at the
camps, but from an apparent fear, whether well founded or not, that
immediate acceptance of assistance would result in official censure and
disapproval.
CAMP ALGER.
Among the first of the Red Cross field agents appointed was Mr. B.H.
Warner, of Washington, to whose special charge was assigned the field
known as "Camp Alger." Mr. Warner makes the following report of the work
done by himself and the committee of which he was chairman:
* * * * *
On June 10, 1898, I was notified by letter of George Kennan, Esq., first
vice-president of American National Red Cross, that I had been appointed
as its representative, at Camp Alger, Virginia, and was requested to
report to Chief Surgeon Girard, regarding the establishment of a station
at that camp; to ascertain if anything in the form of hospital supplies
were needed, and to advise the Executive Committee.
It was suggested that, as the work to be established at Camp Alger was
the first step of the Red Cross in the field in connection with the
Spanish war, that prudence and tact should be used in maintaining
friendly and harmonious relations with the military authorities,
especially with the surgeons.
In accordance with my appointment, I visited the War Department, and
obtained a special letter of introduction from Secretary Alger to
Major-General Graham, commanding at Fort Alger, asking him to give me
every facility possible in connection with the work to be undertaken.
General Graham introduced me to Colonel Girard, with whom I had a long
conference, the result of which was the establishment of headquarters of
the Red Cross in the camp, and the settlement of some details as to work
which was to be done in accordance with the advice and authority of the
surgeon in charge.
I found Colonel Girard exceedingly busy, and apparently very sanguine as
to the ability of the government to meet all demands that might be made
by every department of the army. He seemed, however, willing that the
Red Cross should furnish extra comforts for the men at the camp. I was
impressed with the fact that he considered men who had received a
regular army education thoroughly competent to meet the situation, and
that all supplies could be had as soon as needed; that he did not want
too many comforts for sick men, so as to unfit them for the hardships of
war when they should go nearer to the scene of active operations.
On the twenty-first of June, in accordance with a call issued by me,
quite a large number of citizens met at the Arlington Hotel, and I was
formally elected chairman of an executive committee, Mrs. J. Ellen
Foster, vice-chairman; C.J. Bell, treasurer, George C. Lewis, secretary.
Power was given to add to this committee which, as finally constituted,
consisted of the following named persons: E.H. Warner, Simon Wolf,
William F. Mattingly, Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, Mrs. Thomas Calver,
president of the Legion of Loyal Women; Mrs. James Tanner, national
president of the Ladies' Union Veteran Legion; Mrs. Sarah A. Spencer,
Mrs. J.A.T. Hull, wife of Representative Hull, Mrs. Ellen S. Mussey, one
of the counsel to the Red Cross, and Mrs. M.M. North.
Quite a number of prominent citizens were present at the first meeting,
including Rev. T.S. Hamlin, D.D., and Rev. Byron Sunderland, D.D.
Mrs. Spencer was compelled by other engagements to retire from the work
of the Executive Committee early in its history, but still remains as a
member of the General Committee. I want to say for the ladies, who
served on the Executive Committee, that I never saw more devoted,
energetic and efficient service on any committee or under any conditions
with which I have been familiar, than that rendered by them. They were
all constantly active, both at Camp Alger, Fort Myer, and all along the
line, at all hours, day and night, whenever and wherever their presence
was required. They were exceptionally competent to direct, possessed of
a high order of ability and intelligence, and deserve, not only the
thanks of the national organization, but also of all who are friendly to
the thousands of soldiers who were benefited by their administration.
The Executive Committee met every Tuesday and more frequently when
required.
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster began service at the commencement of war, and was
very active in and around Washington in camp, hospital, and the railway
relief work. She also visited Camp Wikoff, Camp Black, Camp McPherson,
Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, camp at Huntsville, Ala., and the hospitals in
New York and Boston, where sick soldiers were quartered. Her experience
gave her opportunities of suggesting improvement in many departments of
work, and the administration of relief, not only by the Red Cross, but
by other organizations as well.
Captain George C. Lewis, on the twenty-first of June, was elected
secretary of the committee. He had been an officer in the Civil War,
and had large experience among soldiers, both in camp and hospital. His
first visit to Camp Alger was made on that date, and from that time,
until the camp was discontinued, he was constantly on duty there, seeing
that supplies were furnished, and all possible relief extended. His
headquarters were in a large hospital tent, from which the flag of the
Red Cross was flying. The principal office of the Executive Committee
being in Washington, at No. 1310 G street, which was tendered free of
charge by Dr. and Mrs. J. Ford Thompson, and which the committee has
retained much longer than originally anticipated.
Experienced nurses seemed to be needed at Camp Alger. Patients were not
receiving the necessary care and attention. The committee supplied
mattresses, sheets, pillows and slips, mosquito bars, lemons, and a
large quantity of medicine, pajamas, underclothing, night-shirts,
handkerchiefs, groceries, delicacies, etc.
The surgeons at the hospitals were timid about asking the government for
supplies. As stated, the surgeon-in-chief at Camp Alger seemed to think
that the soldiers who were taken sick should be treated in such a manner
as would inure them to the hardships of camp, and the life of a soldier.
When spoken to on this subject he said, "These men must understand that
war is not play." One of the assistant surgeons said, "It is much easier
to ask the Red Cross for supplies, and they can be obtained sooner than
by asking the government, as there is so much red tape and it takes so
long to get everything." When the kitchens at Camp Alger were inspected
the food did not appear to be of the right kind, and was not properly
cooked. Point Sheridan, Va., was visited by Mrs. Mussey on July 29, and
sixteen men were found sick. They seemed to be suffering for supplies,
especially medicine, which had been ordered on June 27, but had not been
received. The Red Cross delivered them proper medicine within
twenty-four hours. It was found that each camp hospital must have its
regular visitors, and different members of the committee were appointed.
Articles needed were supplied from headquarters in Washington, and large
shipments were also sent direct from New York to various points. On
several occasions underclothing and pajamas were supplied by the hundred
within twenty-four hours.
Early in August, the Washington Barracks were made a post hospital, and
the Red Cross aid was gladly accepted by Major Adair, surgeon in charge.
For a long time our committee supplied this point with 800 pounds of
ice, 5 gallons of chicken soup, 30 gallons of milk, 20 pounds of butter
daily, as well as 2 crates of eggs weekly. We also furnished 1200 suits
of underwear, several hundred suits of pajamas, 500 towels, several
hundred pairs of slippers, socks and medicines, antiseptic dressings,
and numerous small articles. The work at this point was closed up
October 8, with expressions of mutual satisfaction.
The Secretary of War gave authority for the establishment of diet
kitchens in the camps near Washington, and Mrs. Mussey, who had taken a
special interest in this work from the beginning, was given general
charge of the establishment of the kitchens.
A diet kitchen was established at Camp Bristow, and two competent male
colored cooks placed in charge. Major Weaver, the chief surgeon, and his
staff of five surgeons, were both devoted and competent in their
service, and the sick soldiers were loud in their praise.
We found it was unnecessary to establish one at the hospital at the
Washington Barracks as arrangements there were so good, and it only
seemed necessary to furnish fresh soups daily, and the committee made a
contract for five gallons per day at cost for material only.
The committee authorized Mrs. E.S. Mussey and Mrs. J.A.T. Hull to
establish a diet kitchen at Fort Myer. Major Davis, surgeon in charge,
yielded his own wishes to the Secretary of War. As no building was
furnished, the committee made a contract for one of a temporary
character, which was put up at a cost, when completed with range,
plumbing, etc., of about $350.00. Dr. Mary E. Green, president of the
National Household Economical Association, was secured as
superintendent, and in not more than ten days from the time of its
commencement the building was completed, furnished and orders being
filled. It has been a great assistance, not only in furnishing properly
cooked food, but invaluable as an object lesson in neatness and skilled
cooking.
The government has voluntarily paid all the bills for meat, chickens and
milk, leaving the committee to pay for groceries, and wages of employes.
Dr. Green has rendered such efficient service that she has been employed
by the government to establish diet kitchens at other points.
At Fort Myer nearly four hundred patients were suffering with typhoid
and no provision existed for preparing a special diet. Canned soup was
heated up and served to those just leaving a strictly milk diet, and the
so-called chicken broth, which was served wholly unsatisfactorily to
both physicians and nurses. When the diet kitchen was completed, beef,
mutton and chicken broth, made fresh daily in the manner best calculated
to bring out the nutritive value of the meat, were prepared. Mutton
broth was made from hind quarters only, and beef broth from solid meat,
with no waste. Albumen, so necessary to repair the waste of the system
by fevers, was supplied in the palatable form of rich custards, as ice
cream and blanc mange--gelatine made into jellies with port and sherry
wines--and albumen jelly, all nourishing to the irritated linings.
During the month of September from the seventh instant, 55c orders,
averaging fifteen portions each, or 8250 portions, were filled in the
diet kitchen. Physicians, nurses and patients unite in saying the aid
they secured from this work is of inestimable value, not only in saving
lives, but in hastening the recovery of all. Major Davis, as the surgeon
in charge, has expressed his high appreciation of the good results
obtained by establishing the kitchen, and the methods pursued in
conducting it.
In response to suggestions from the general committee in New York, a
special committee was sent to Fortress Monroe to meet the first wounded,
who came up from the battlefields of El Caney, San Juan and Guasimas.
The surgeon in charge, Dr. DeWitt, stated their immediate needs, and
supplies were sent one day after they were called for, consisting in
part of 500 pairs of pajamas, twenty-five pairs of crutches, 200 pairs
of slippers, 350 yards of rubber sheeting, large quantities of
antiseptic dressings, five dozen gallons of whiskey and brandy, 200 cans
of soup, granite-ware basins, pitchers, dishes, etc.
Several other visits were made to this point, resulting in the
employment of additional trained nurses, with proper provision for their
maintenance. Arrangements were also made on behalf of the general
committee for supplying ice for the use of troops on board the
transports going south, and also for the sick on their journey
northward. Mr. Bickford was afterward designated to take charge of the
work of the Red Cross at this point, so further work on the part of our
committee was unnecessary.
The branch of the work, which has been really one of the most difficult
to conduct, was the looking after soldiers, who passed through the city
mostly from Southern to Northern camps, and those who were going home.
There was such a general demand on the part of the men for coffee, bread
and other supplies, and it was so hard to limit our service to the sick
soldiers alone, that we soon determined to feed not only the
convalescent, but all who were hungry. Soldiers from the following
organizations were fed and supplied, the well men receiving bread and
butter sandwiches:
Parts of the 5th and 6th Artillery, 25th Infantry, two troops of 1st
Cavalry, 12th, 16th and 17th Infantry, portions of the 8th, 9th and 10th
Cavalry, all United States troops, and the following volunteer forces:
22d Kansas, 3d and 4th Missouri, 1st Maine, 2d Tennessee, 7th Illinois,
1st, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th Pennsylvania, 1st Connecticut,
5th Maryland, 2d, 3d, 8th, 9th, 14th and 65th New York, 1st and 2d New
Jersey, two brigades of United States Signal Corps, and detachments from
a number of other regiments, in all about 40,000 men.
Very frequently the committee furnished handkerchiefs and soap, as well
as reading matter. The sick were given soup and milk packed in ice,
fruit, medicines, etc. Forty-five were removed from the trains and taken
to the hospitals in Washington. We used, in this connection, not only
the services of trained nurses in the employ of the Red Cross, but Dr.
Bayne was detailed by the War Department, and rendered most efficient
service, as he was always ready and willing to do everything in his
power, day or night, for the relief of the sick.
The War Department ordered for the use of the committee the erection of
two tents in close proximity to our rooms, which were at 915 Maryland
Avenue. One of these tents was filled with fully equipped cots, on which
the invalids were placed while waiting the arrival of ambulances, and
the other was used as a general depot for supplies. The War Department
paid for the bread we used in this work, and, also, for 4346 loaves
furnished to the Pension Office Relief Committee, which was engaged in
the same kind of work. Many donations of food and material were
received, and as stated, nearly forty thousand men were fed, and how
some of them did eat not only as if they were making up for the fasts of
the past, but for any which might occur in the future.
Mrs. James Tanner had charge of this work, which was very exacting, and
she had been appointed a committee to secure reading matter for the
different camps, before the Red Cross Committee was organized, and
collected several wagon loads of books, magazines, and other
periodicals, which were sent to Camp Alger, Fort Myer, Point Sheridan,
Fort Washington, Chickamauga, Tampa and Santiago. Distribution of this
reading matter was also made at the Red Cross quarters at 915 Maryland
Avenue and handed to the soldiers who passed through the city on trains.
All bills for ice furnished to Point Sheridan, Va., Washington Barracks,
and to the Diet Kitchen at Fort Myer have been paid by the Red Cross
Ice Plant Auxiliary of New York, which also furnished the large ice
chests for the latter point.
The Legion of Loyal Women, of which Mrs. Thomas W. Calver, a member of
our committee, was president, acted as an auxiliary for the Red Cross
Committee, and made a large number of mosquito nets, flannel bandages,
wash cloths, and pajamas. Besides this, they collected many supplies,
consisting of boxes of oranges, lemons, tea, coffee, jelly, condensed
milk, crackers, yeast powder, cocoa, stamps, writing paper, tobacco,
fruit, soap, socks, handkerchiefs, towels, nightshirts, underclothes,
pajamas, quinine and other medicine, which were sent to the various
camps.