| Show ANGELS OF MERCY IN the progress of civilization in this thia century is perhaps best illustrated on a modern field of battle where amidst J carnage and death angels of mercy are busily engaged carrying all the aid pot pos sible to the wounded and dying formerly organized assistance on the battlefield was not thought of medical aid after the engagement was generally insufficient the victims of bullets swords or bayonets were often left where they fell to die in agony all this to is changed even cruel war has baa been made to recognize in the soldier a human being entitled to the tender care of fellow beings and today a battlefield tle field literally swarms with members of the red cross society who take their own lives in their hands bands in or der to save others the field hospital service of tire the american army has now reached a high degree of perfection when a regiment to is engaged in battle a number of soldiers about twenty five to a regiment are detailed as a stretcher bearers about twenty moro more of the hoe hospital corps are engaged for the sam aada purpose the latter closely watch thy lines and as soon as a soldier Is in lebn to fall their duty is to hasten to 0 o hlat hint with a stretcher should the wounded be too numerous for the twenty mn men of the hospital corps the twenty five assistants si belonging to the regiment are called into service it if necessary a surgeon examines the injured man bafo before 0 he is taken away and dresses his hl wound temporarily he is then removed to the dressing station which la Is located out of range of the fire and here heire his injuries are attended to the hospitals contain about two 0 o hundred cots attached to them are competent surgeons and nurses they are age equipped with medicines linen sulta aulta ble food and aad the necessary apparatus for performing surgical operations VS the injuries of the patient are such that he requires medical treatment for a longer period than aeo uple of weeks he Is sent to some permanent hospital located far away from the scenes of war and there given the necessary attendance it is incumbent upon the commanding officer to announce to the chief of the hospital service the probability and location of battle and supply him with maps of the battlefield as soon as the plans are completed in order to enable him to locate his dressing stations and field hospitals at the most advantageous positions for the victims naval battles our government has made equally generous arrangements at a cost of a million dollars the ship solace has been fitted out as a floating hospital the first one fever ever employed in such service in a naval war this vessel can accommodate about seven hundred patients and has every appliance found in a modern first class hospital this ship is subject to the orders of the commander of whatever fleet she may be attached to during action her position will be to the rear of the battle line at her masthead floats the red cross flag a crimson cross on a white field and this protects her from the fire of the enemy any american vessel with wounded on oil board raises the signal to indicate that fact and when the signal is 10 hoisted a 4 steam launch is dispatched from the solace to take off the injured men the ship has also a morgue where those beyond human aid are embalmed embalm ed so that the remains of those who die in the ithe service of the country need not be cast into the sea as formerly but may toe be sent to friends and relatives ashore all this is the result of a civilization which abic h evidently realizes that the advanced position it has attained lias placed upon it new duties as regards regard the methods of warfare it Is an evi dence of a growing disposition to gradually render war between nations claiming a standing on the high platform of western civilization unnecessary and to substitute for it better methods at present those who have given thought to this subject have been able to see no other remedy than armed peace force however can mot prevent war as has been abundantly proved but the humanizing influences that have as yet vet taken form in the work of the 1 l cross society are bound to continue to work among the nations until public sentiment will pronounce the decree the best interests of the worl both material and moral tn orl are in the direction of peace |
