PATRIOTIC WOMEN OF AMERICA SELF-SACRIFICING
Nursing in war is of comparatively recent origin. While it is recorded that Fabiola, a patrician Roman lady, founded a hospital in A.D. 380, and 600 nurses in the early part of the fifth century were in the hospitals in Alexandria, nursing in war hospitals dates from the Crimean War; and on the battlefields, from our Civil War. The Crimean War gave the first real impulse to this humanitarian work, and the Civil War gave added luster to the glory of this work of humanity, as did the Franco-Prussian War and the Spanish-American War. But the late war broke all records; now, war-nursing will continue until “Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn to war any more.”
The true disciples of humanity in war are the nurses, wearing the sign of the Red Cross and whose sacred mission it is to bind up the soldier’s wounds and “To heal all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases.” In the World War, reports show that there were approximately 11,600 American Red Cross nurses in service over-seas.
The total number of nurses employed:
Army Nurse Corps, Regulars and Reserves 22,854
Navy Nurse Corps, Regulars and Reserves 1,500
Nurses assigned directly under the Red Cross for
service overseas 604
Nurses assigned to U. S. Public Health Service in
this country—extra military zones, essential
war industries plants; marine hospitals 284
———
Total 25,242
The cost for operation for June 30, 1917–July 1, 1918, was
$197,180.00.
Total assignments of Red Cross nurses in foreign activities:
To the Army 17,931
To the Navy 1,058
To the U. S. Public Health Service 284
To the Red Cross nurses 604
———
Total 19,877
The Red Cross has furnished equipment to approximately 12,000 nurses and lay women personnel engaged in foreign war service, and to nurses in cantonments and naval hospitals in this country, at an approximate cost of $2,000,000.
Personnel equipped by the Red Cross for overseas duty, from the beginning of the war to December 31st, 1918, at the following cost:
| Army | $2,031,120.00 |
| Navy | 60,120.00 |
| Red Cross | 138,960.00 |
| 12,546 nurses—Total cost | $2,230,200.00 |
As to the work of the American Red Cross Clara Barton says: “History records the wonderful achievements of the Red Cross, the greatest of relief organizations, though it cannot record the untold suffering which has been averted by it.” As to the Red Cross war-nursing, she says: “There can be no estimate of the misery assuaged and the deaths prevented by the unselfish zeal and devotion of the nurses of the Red Cross.” In prophecy she says:
And what would they do if war came again?
The scarlet cross floats where all was blank then.
They would bind on their “brassards” and march to the fray.
And the man liveth not who could say to them nay;
They would stand with you now, as they stood with you then,—
The nurses, consolers, and saviours of men.