58 THE _ZEMSTVOS DURING THE WAR 
On August 25, 1914, an imperial decree was issued giving official 
sanction to the Union of Zemstvos. It was recognized as an inde- 
pendent organization striving for objects similar to those of the Red 
Cross, and therefore entitled to use the emblem of the International 
Red Cross Society. The Minister of the Interior sent out a circular 
informing the provincial governors of the organization of the All- 
Russian Union of Zemstvos and ordering them to cosperate loyally 
with the provincial and district zemstvo committees. 
The Central Committee of the Union opened the following de- 
partments that set to work under its general direction: central depot 
(controlling all depots and warehouses belonging to the Union, as 
well as its purchasing commission), hospitals, evacuation, hospital 
train, donations, treasury, accounting, and secretariat. In course of 
time, as the activities of the organization expanded more and more, 
the number of departments was considerably increased, as we shall 
see later in the course of this study.