ORIGIN OF THE UNION
orders were issued to prepare for the evacuation of the wounded, and
provision was made to supply the future hospitals with linen. medi-
cal goods, and surgical instruments.
On July 25, an extraordinary meeting of the Moscow zemstvo
was held. In the report submitted to the meeting by the board we
have a highly characteristic illustration of the patriotic sentiment
that inspired the leaders and workers of the zemstvos at the out-
break of the War. The following passage occurs in it:
55
Russia is passing through a historic moment of exceptional signifi-
cance. Events are developing with terrific speed. A storm unparalleled
in the history of mankind is about to break out. But we have no fear
of this imminent calamity. With perfect calm, with the confidence of
courage, with noble enthusiasm, the sons of Russia are marching to
offer their lives in defense of the honor of their country. Gone are now
the barriers which have divided the citizens among themselves, and they
all are united in one common effort. But it is impossible at this solemn
moment to forget that, with the first rumblings of the coming storm,
and simultaneously with the shouts of victory, there will also be heard
the groans of thousands and scores of thousands of men wounded and
dying on the battlefield. It becomes, therefore, the duty of those who
remain at home to strain every effort to render them timely aid. Those
left at home should take up positions in regular battle array, so as to
be ready to carry out quickly, promptly, and efficiently the task of aid-
ing the sick and wounded that will confront them and will probably as-
sume gigantic proportions. Who, if not public institutions whose busi-
ness it is to provide for the needs of the people and who have had many
years of practical experience in caring for the sick, with organized
forces at their command, should undertake the task of uniting the iso-
lated efforts in this great work, which demands such an immense or-
ranization ??
The board proposed to the meeting to call upon all the zemstvos
of the country to form a union and codrdinate their work for the
benefit of the army. This work was no longer conceived on the mod-
est scale of the zemstvo organization built up almost against the law
in 1904. The Moscow board now boldly and openly called upon the
zemstvos to combine in an “All-Russian Union of Zemstvos for the
* All dates are according to the Russian calendar.
‘ Report (Obzor Deyatelnosti) of the Central Committee of the All-Rus-
sian Union of Zemstvos, Moscow, 1915, p. 20.
