Evening star., 1898-12-19
THE WAR INQUIRY
Mrs. Anita Newcomb McGee Before
the Commission.
VALUE OF TRAINED FEMALE NURSES
Surgeons and Soldiers Preferred
Them to Men.
a FEW SUG ESTION

Contrary to expectation. Gen. Miles did
NOT appear before the war investigating
commission today When the session began
This morning no witnesses were on hand
and Ex-Governor Woodbury. of the commits
sion stated that it was hardly likely that
any would he heard. He said that Gen.
Niles had been invited to testify. but that
BE- has Not yet sgnifed his purpose to do
80. On. Shafter has he said. given notice
that h- will respond to the summons for
him some time this week
Inquiry at the War Department as to the
purpose of Gen. Miles with regard to giving
evtd nee developed the fact that he is dis
irrlined tu appear. II was stated there
that he has been invited but not sum
moned 10 attend and offer any statements
Dee may choose as to the conduct of the
war The other officers of the army who
have been before the commission did so by
reason of orders they received from the
office Of th' Secretary of War
1t was stated that Gen. MILES very niue n
prefers to be put upon the same basis so
that in case he testifes and states unpleas-
ant facts it cannot he said that he "volun-
isered' To do it. He would rather go upon
summons. b. sworn and then submit to
any questions he may be asked.
Mrs. McGee on the Stand
tee reported to the commission for the
purpose of giving evidence this morning an
hour after the session had begun. She
wore a short-skirted bicycle costume. She
was at once sworn. and stated that she is
a regularly graduated physician, and at
the beginning of the war with Spain she
was appointed to be the representative Of
the Daughters of the American Revolution
in the war relief work. Not long afterward
she was commissioned as an acting as
SlStant surgeon in the army, which posi-
tiou she now holds. She was given charge
Of the examination and appointment of the
female trained nurses.
AT What time was it determined to en-
p'oE a large corps OF female trained
nurses? asked DIR. Conner, who conducted
;hc examination of the witness.
Not al any one time They Were ap-
pointed as fast as they could be obtained
g." answer the need
Did trey prove to be ef!icient?"
Very. We have received nothing but the
most satisfactory reports from those who
have the supervision of their services
The witness went on to describe the eff
forts made by the officials to secure the
comfort and health of the nurses. and said
That every provision and precauriOn had
been taken.
As far as you can Judge from your ex-
Pericnce ia this war. you think that female
nurses are very necessary
Yes Decidedly So
1t has been reported to us that they are
preferable to male nurses"
4 believe il to he true. That is my un-
GarStaudirg of the sentiment among the
surgeons of the army
No Complaints.
Mrs. McCice declared there had never
been any complaint concerning the nurses
appointed through her About 800 were
in the service during the war. The major
ity were appointed by the witness. She de-
rlared that some of the nurses in the ser
vice before she entered upon her work had
not been 50 satisfactory.
She detailed her method of testing the fit
H'ss. character and reputation of the appn-
raHlS for places Not one was employed
-pou any political consideration. She said
that all sections of the country were rep
resented among the number chosen.
The witness stated that few nurses were
selected from the women of the west, for
the reason that the cost of transporting
them To- the east was too great. The pro-
portion Of southern women was smaller
-hau from any other section of the United
states This was because there are so
few trained nurses to be found among
them. Recently the west has contributed a
large number. who have been assigned to
duty at Manila. There are now 200 nurses
iu the employ of the United States. She
stated that the women were invaluable in
th- diet kitchens.
Were any of them overworked during
their period of service?''
oh. YES. Reports came from number
Df points stating that they had more than
they ought to do. but that they were do
ing II with all their might"
What proportion of the nurses died as
the result of their labor?
OF the 100 there were thirteen who
~uCcumbCd-
She was questioned as to the number OF
trained nurses she thought should have been
- cured 10y May - last. She sure IL
would have not been possible TO have secur-
81 5.DnT. She SAID that perhaps $500 might
have been obtained by that time II a call
had been advertised in the newspapers.
SIN even 2-.1 is a very large number TO
expect
The fact i that the pay given the nurses
j. insufficient. in view of the service and
skin they are called upon to exercise. NV
opinion in his respect is held by the sur
-.-rus.'
She urged the adoption of the English
system Of organizing the corps of army
nurses. Under ii a nurse is required 20
spend probationary period Of two months
iu an army hospital. This served TO give
them the necessary experience and also
gave their superioTs an opportunity TO OBJ
serve their personal fitness for the work.
The minimum number could be employed in
time OF peace, and il war came then It
'uuld easily be increased by a call for vol
uEterrS
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