Austrian War Medals.—Austria has many orders and decorations, the Order of Francis Joseph being frequently conferred upon high officers for conspicuous service in war. In addition there are distinguished service medals of gold, silver and bronze, according to the importance of the service rewarded, gold and silver medals for bravery in action, and, for services in war alone, the War Decoration for officers and the War Medal for enlisted men.
Turkish War Medals.—Turkey has awarded many decorations and medals upon her own soldiers and sailors as well as upon those of her allies in different wars and upon citizens of other nations in peace time. The best known of her orders are the Order of the Medjidie and the Order of Osmanieh.
The Order of the Medjidie.—The decoration of this order consists of a seven-pointed star of cut silver, each point being composed of five rays. Between the points there are seven small crescents and stars and at the center on a gold background is the Sultan’s cypher surrounded by a circle of red enamel bearing an inscription in Turkish.
SEAL OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
CHAPTER XII
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
By the terms of the Geneva Convention held at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1864, all hospitals, hospital ships, surgeons, members of the hospital corps, nurses, chaplains and all persons engaged exclusively with the removal, transportation and treatment of the sick and wounded in war are rendered neutral. The emblem used to mark hospitals and ambulances is the white flag with the red Greek cross in the center as described [on page 62].
Following this Convention Red Cross Societies were established in several countries, taking their name from the red cross on the hospital flag. The movement has been extended throughout the world and to-day every civilized country has its Red Cross Society, an International Red Cross Committee at Geneva being the means of intercommunication between the different national bodies.