Report on the Dutch East Indies Section of the Netherlands Red Cross Society and some personal ideas
OF
L. S. A. M. VON RŒMER.
Official D. E. 1. Red Cross Delegate and Chief of the Neth. Ind. Gouvt, Medical Propaganda Service.
Before I give my report sensu strictiori, I would like to give you a short review of the history of the Netherlands Red Cross Society (Dutch East Indies Section).
This Section was founded in 1870, when all the nations were profoundly impressed by the sufferings brought about by the Franco-German war, and as its name: "Society for the relief of sick and wounded warriors in times of war" indicates, the sphere of its activity was very limited.
A little afterwards we had a very serious war with the Atchinese, and also with other native tribes, and here the said Society worked brilliantly and brought much aid and relief to the soldiers and other men, and often volunteers joined the expeditionary forces as "delegates of the Red Cross" helping everyone needing help, irrespective of their being friend or foe, white or brown.
In this way the Dutch East Indies Section worked till the great war broke out. But latterly the circumstances in the Archipelago have been changed, because no war nor rebellion troubled its peaceful evolution, and our Section was, if it is permissible to say it so, in an agreeable dolce far niente. Then the cry of war, which resounded through all the world, also awoke our Section, and it deliberated with the War-Department, how to prepare itself for another part of its task to be ready, when not a native but a foreign foe would attack us.
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