In the morning a kind farmer, who had been searching for the wounded, found him and carried him to his home. The farmer’s wife bound up his wounds with clean bandages and nursed him until the army surgeon arrived.
If help had been at hand, the lives of thousands of heroes who lay on that great battlefield would have been saved. But there were no plans of rescue and no care for the wounded such as we have to-day; there was no Red Cross.
WHEN THE RED CROSS CAME
In 1918 an American soldier was wounded in the Great War. As soon as he was able, he opened his first-aid kit and poured iodine into his wound.
“Oh, how I wish I had a drink of water,” he moaned. He lifted his canteen to his lips, but it was empty.
He lay back and closed his eyes. Quite soon he was roused by the touch of something cold and soft against his face.
He knew what it was.
Yes, it was a Red Cross army dog, which had been sent out to search for the wounded.
To the dog’s neck was tied a canteen full of water, and from his collar hung a short strap.