LTHOUGH three months still separate us from May, this A interval, is none too long for preparing the ground for the Membership Campaigns which are to take place that month. Experience has shown ever more clearly that if a "drive" is to be thoroughly successful, the preliminary work of preparation must be as complete as possible. Preparedness", in fact, must be the watchword for every successful campaign. The truth of this assertion has been proved, not only in America, but also in Europe, where two recent Membership Campaigns - one in Poland and the other in Czecho-Slovakia, both organised with the help of the League — achieved a remarkable success. According to the terms of the resolution adopted by the first General Council, the Spring Campaign is to be for Membership, appeals for funds being reserved for other occasions. In this connection, it is important that a distinction between these two forms of campaign be borne in mind, for if the Red Cross is to realise the ideal which the League has in view, the question of Membership must inevitably take precedence over every other consideration. The lack of funds, for instance, is doubtless a serious handicap to a Society, but it is an evil which can be, and sometimes is, remedied very quickly, whereas an insufficient or shrinking Membership strikes at the very root of its existence, for the life, health and force of a Red Cross Society depend on its Membership. If the rôle of the Red Cross were to be merely that of a philanthropic society, whose sole object is to offer relief - a conception unfortunately still very prevalent the question of raising funds would necessarily outweigh all others, as, in fact, was the case before the war. But one of the results of this world calamity and its aftermath was a new conception of what the rôle of the Red Cross must be, if it is not to share the fate of other noble but short-lived impulses of humanity, creatures of a passing enthusiasm rather than of a profound conviction. There is one word which sums up the difference between the old and the new conception of the Red Cross, and that is the word militant. In the conception of the League, the Red Cross is and must be a militant body. In other words, it must do more than cure wounds and relieve distress, it must above all forestall and prevent. In its fights against those formidable allies, Disease and Ignorance, it must carry the war into the enemy's land and constantly push forward and complete its defences, for "what boots. it at one gate to make defence, and at another to let in the foe?" It is thanks to this new conception of the Red Cross that the rôle of the individual member has been raised to a higher plane. It is not enough for him henceforth to give his dole and have his name inscribed on a register, to attend committee meetings, vote resolutions and wear a badge; he must himself take an active part in the fight by spreading the gospel of health and preaching the crusade against disease. He must, in short, prepare the way for the general advance, using his own home as a base of operations, for the teaching of health, like charity, must begin at home. The contribution which each member can bring to the great task which the Red Cross has assumed is, however, not confined to furthering the physical health of the community. Another and equally important duty is closely allied with this exterior activity. Throughout the world, and especially in those parts which have most suffered from the war, there is a deep and growing conviction that there can be neither peace nor security until a new world-conscience has taken the place of the old, blind, racial instincts. There is at present no greater force working towards the realisation of this ideal than the Red Cross movement in its new conception, and in this movement every new Red Cross member is a potential factor. The Membership Campaigns which are to open this spring are destined for these reasons to have a profound influence, not only on the development of the Red Cross movement, but also on the general task of building up a new civilisation. The following is the resolution unanimously adopted by the First General Council regarding Membership Campaigns: That, having regard to the educational and sentimental value of a universal and simultaneous appeal, an annual campaign for the enrollment of members of all national Red Cross Societies belonging to the League should be conducted as far as practicable at the same time, and preferably during the first week in May. THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND THE ANTI-TYPHUS CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN EUROPE. The following telegram has been sent by the League of Nations to the various Governments : "During the session of the General Assembly of the League of Nations, the Assembly decided to send an urgent and immediate appeal to all the countries in the world, in order to collect sufficient funds for undertaking an efficient campaign against typhus in Eastern Europe, beginning with Poland as a centre. The Assembly has further requested the Federation of Red Cross Societies to continue its valuable assistance and has also asked certain other international Red Cross organisations and public health institutions to collaborate in this work. The Assembly has authorised the chairman to appoint a commission of three delegates to examine the question of the necessary funds and to take any steps possible before the end of the session to secure these funds. The Assembly approved of the action taken by the Council and the reports submitted by the various committees and sub-committees of the Assembly which have considered the subject, and pending the result of the appeal feels that it is imperatively necessary to make at once such a beginning of the campaign as may be possible within the limits of the funds already promised. In view of these resolutions, we urgently request, on behalf of the General Assembly, that the Government of . . . . . take all possible steps to contribute immediately in a large measure towards the establishment of the necessary funds, so that the sum of two million pounds sterling, which is considered indispensable, apart from the sums collected by voluntary organisations, may be definitely available. Contributions should be placed to the account of the Typhus Commission of the League of Nations, Lloyd's Bank, Westminster House, Millbank, London." HYMANS (president of the General Council). J. LOUDON (Holland), delegate. NEWS OF THE RED CROSS SOCIETIES. AUSTRALIA. Farewell presentation to Lady Helen Munro Ferguson. — The November issue of the Australian Red Cross Society Leaflet gives an account of the farewell ceremony which took place at a meeting of the Central Council, held at Federal Government House on August 9, when Lady Helen Munro Ferguson presided for the last time before her departure from Australia. Her Excellency was presented, on behalf of the Australian Red Cross, with an illuminated and illustrated address containing a review of the services rendered by her as Chairman of the Society and which concludes as follows: "The establishment of the League of Red Cross Societies, of which the Australian Red Cross is a member, makes our organisation a continuing one. Your Excellency's acceptance of the position of a governor of the League, representing Australia, will serve to maintain between yourself and the Australian Red Cross Society the tie which we should all mourn to see broken. To our profound sorrow we are deprived of your inestimable services here, but we rejoice to know that, as a governor of the League, you will not only continue to be associated with the work in Australia, but that you will find a world-wide scope for all the talent and energy which produced such magnificent results in this outpost of the Empire. » In acknowledging the gift, Her Excellency expressed her thanks for having been appointed representative of the Australian Red Cross on the League of Red Cross Societies, enabling her thereby to keep in touch with the Council. Growth of the Junior Red Cross. A notable increase in the membership of the New South Wales Branch of the Junior Red Cross is shown during the three months ending September 30, during which 479 new membership badges were issued and several new circles formed. Members continue to send in large supplies of garments and knitted goods for disabled soldiers and war orphans, and a considerable number of families are regularly supplied with at least two parcels of clothing a year, one at the beginning of the winter and another before Christmas. A number of circles have expressed the wish to provide extra clothing and useful articles. During the three months in question 675 garments were received at headquarters and have all been distributed. Besides donations of money, large gifts of eggs, fruit and vegetables have been sent to the convalescent homes and local hospitals. The interest of the Juniors is at present centered in the Blinded Soldiers' Tea Room, which was recently opened and for which a sum of £50. as well as other gifts were contributed during this period. BELGIUM. Appointment. - Professor A. Depage, member of the Board of Governors of the League, has been appointed chairman of the Belgian Red Cross. This choice will serve to strengthen the excellent relations existing between the Belgian Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies, which has not forgotten the eminent services rendered by Professor Depage during the first meeting of its general council when he presided over the medical commission. This feeling was voiced by the Director-General of the League in his telegram of congratulation to the new chairman, in which he declared that the League was happy to know the future of the Belgian Red Cross confided to such excellent hands. On behalf of Poland. The following particulars have been received from the Secretary of the Belgian Red Cross concerning the sanitary unit and train sent by the Belgian Red Cross to Poland. The Belgian Red Cross has sent to Poland :— 1. A Sanitary Unit; 2. A Sanitary train. The personnel of the unit is made up as follows:- Doctor in charge, 2 surgeons, 4 doctors, a radiograph chemist and microbiologist, 24 trained nurses, 2 stretchers-bearers, 2 secretaries, one head electrician, one head mechanic, five automobile chauffeurs, one warehouse director, one housekeeper, 2 head cooks, one head baker, one person in charge of linen and a seamstress, the auxiliary personnel being engaged in Poland. In view of the dearth of housing, two barracks, 36 metres long by 6, with double walls, have been hired in order to house, if necessary, a part of the sanitary unit. The transportation service is carried out by five motor-cars, 3 ambulances and 2 camions. The unit is supplied with surgical and medical equipment, sterilising material, microscopic laboratory, medicines, bandages and hospital supplies. Ample provision has been made for a period of six months both as regards medical and linen supplies. The sanitary train consists of:a) One first class and one second class carriage for personnel; b) four carriages for slightly wounded, containing 252 seats; c) 8 carriages for seriously wounded, containing 144 cots; d) a carriage used as an operating room as well as for sterilising, radiography and pharmacy; e) Carriage containing dynamo for lighting purposes; f) kitchen; g) storehouse; h) Van. A Committee entitled Pro Polonia has undertaken to collect the necessary funds for the upkeep of 60 beds during a period of six months. Gift. The Belgian Red Cross has notified the League that, in agreement with the Russian Red Cross of Paris, it sent last December medical supplies to the value of twenty-five million francs and a number of cases, containing linen and hospital clothing, to Constantinople for Russian refugees from the Crimea. Articles of Association of the Belgian Red Cross. In 1864 a first attempt was made in Belgium to create an institution similar to that of the Red Cross by founding the Association Belge de secours aux soldats blessés ou malades en temps de guerre. This association, which was organised by committees in the different cities, took on a certain development during the FrancoPrussian war in 1870, but it was only in 1891 that a royal decree gave it an official standing under the name of "Red Cross of Belgium". Another decree in 1919 defined the conditions under which the association, of whose organisation and activity it is not possible here to give a full account, would, in time of war, collaborate with the Ministry of War as auxiliary to the army medical service. In July 1899 the first number of the Bulletin du Comité Directeur du service sanitaire de la Croix-Rouge de Belgique appeared. Although in 1906 the statutes of the Society underwent a slight modification, the necessity of radical changes was only felt in recent years, resulting in new articles of association which were finally adopted last July. The Bulletin of the League of Red Cross Societies1 has already spoken of the special assembly of the Belgian Red Cross which was convened for this purpose. The following are further details regarding the new articles of association : Article I states that the association, which exists under the name of "Red Cross of Belgium ", was constituted in conformity with the Geneva Convention and adheres to the principles of this Convention as well as to the League of Red Cross Societies, founded in Paris on May 5, 1919, as a result of the Cannes Conference. According to Article IV the Belgian Red Cross has as objects in time of peace: 1) To prepare, in conformity with instructions from the Department of National Defence, the organisation of Red Cross hospital services in time of war; 1 See Bulletin of the League of Red Cross Societies, Vol. I, No. 12, pages 4 & 5. |