Hollis High School - Sunbeam Yearbook (Hollis, ME)

Page 14 text:

THE SUNBEAM The largest single job of this organization is to keep track of all prisoners of war and interned civilians and to watch out for their welfare. It is actually a sort of inter- national registration office, clearing house and post office which receives from all the belligerents up-to-date official lists containing all the information necessary for identifi- cation of each prisoner, as well as the place of imprison- ment, the state of his health, and the address of his family In addition to locating prisoners, the International Committee maintains delegates in each country who inspect prison camps, report on conditions there, and see to it that prisoners are treatedin accordance with international agree ment Two years ago, for example, the Red Cross delegate in Germany made his first report on interned Americans cording to the report, two hundred and twenty two Americans were interned in a large chateau near Salzburg, their rooms were well heated, but their clothing was in bad condition and their food was somewhat insufficient When the American Red Cross received thksreport through the International Committee, it immediately cabled five thousand dollars for aiding these prisoners This was in ac cordance with the rules that all mall, food and clothing for prisoners and interned civilians must pass through the hands of the Committee The International Committee also maintains an Inquiry and Information Service for transmitting messages to civil ians in warring countries and for tracing refugees who have become lost, The truly remarkable thing about the International Wed Cross is that in carrying on its errands of mercy for victims, it takes an attitude of absolute impartiality and neutrality, Its aim is to serve suffering humanity Five nations which subscribe to the Treaties of Geneva Iraq, some soviets of the Union Soviet Socialist R public, and Iran The flag of the soviet republics of Russia con sists of a red crescent while the flag of Iran bears a red lion and sun The American Red Cro s is one of sixty three national societies which are united by the L agua of Ded Cross So cieties Just as the International Committee does most of its work in wartime, the League is most active in peace Its purpose is largely to encourage the formation of national Red Cross organizations, to collaborate with thfm in im- proving health, preventing disease, and mitigating suffering and to spread new medical and scientific knowledge I2 I . V o . Ac- . . . . . I Q . O . ' war . . . . , . . . . . but do not use the red cross as a symbol are Turkey, Egypt, I . V O , s ' . - ' 'J ' ' A - e . ' n - ' ' a . A . ' ' A , , A -, . , A . . , , fl .. . . . 1 . V