Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-21
MANY ARE KEPT BUSY
The War Department is Scene Of
Industry.
VAST AMOUNT Of WORK TO Be DONE
Preparing the Troops for the CON-
ing Campaign.
EVERY BUREAU IS ENGAGED

The War Department is hive of indus
try these days. Every bureau is busy with
preparations for handling the big army OF
the Philippines, which is to be in the field
within the next few months. There is
vast amount of work of an executive char
acter to be performed, and the force for
it's performance is none too large. The
chiefs of the departments often labor on
Sunday and at night to keep up their ends
of the line.
The telegraph and telephone play an i'm
portant part in the work. The quarter
masters department has a long-distance
telephone to New York, which is in use
almost constantly while the War Depart
ment telegraph Office handles almost
much matter in day the office of a
thriving town.
An important branch of the work is that
which is carried on by the paymaster gem
erals department, of which Gen. Bates is
the head, with Col c. C. Sniffen, assistant.
Pay for the Troops.
Within the past twelve months more
than $7,U0Oo0 has been sent to the Philip
pines to pay the troops 1t is noted that at
least one third of this amount has been de-
posted by the boys with the paymasters,
and a great deal of it has come back to the
United States to the families of the sci
diers. The men are encouraged to deposit
their money, being allowed interest by the
government at the rate of per cent per
annum.
All the soldiers now being paid the
increase of 20 per cent authorized during
time. This brings the pay Of a private
soldier up to $lJGo a month. The men are
paid every two months, as it would be in
convenient to attempt to reach troops in
the field more frequently than that.
The paymaster generals department
sends money to the Philippines in lots of
about $1,2O,oo0. 1t goes on a government
transport i'll charge of a paymaster, with
a heavy guard, and is carried without eX-
pense to the United States.
Gold coin and subsidiary silver are used
extensively. 1t was found that the de-
structive white ants of the Philippines
would eat the greenbacks, and now the
boys get their $15 in yellow metal, with the
i.60 in silver. The commissary and quar-
termaster departments pay their employees
in money and checks, according to cOnven-
fence.
The Nurse Corps.
1t is probable that there will be an in
crease in the number of trained nurses to
be sent to the Philippines, occasioned by
the increase in the army. AT this time
there are fifty EIGHT female nurses in the
Philippines or under orders to proceed to
Manila.
The nurse corps is a very valuable adj
junct of the medical department of the
army. 1t was established at the outbreak
of the Spanish war. and has grown Won
derfuity rndor the direction Of Surgeon
General Sternberg and the immediate
charge of Acting Assistant Surgeon Anita
NeWcomb MCGEE.
There are now about 200 young women
IN the nurse corps. Those who are not in
Cuba, Porto Rico, the several army camps
In this country, with some at Honolulu and
some on the hospital ship Relief.
Qualifications of a Nurse.
TO be appointed in the army nurse must
be qualified as follows: She must present a
physicians certificate of health she must
be graduate from a training school for
nurses which gives thorough professional
both theoretical and practical
and requires at least two years residence
IN a hospital. She must be indorsed by the
superintendent of nurses at the hospital
from which she graduated and by the one
under whom she was trained. These pro-
visions may be waived in whole or in part
IN the cases of dietists, of immunes to vel
low fever and of nurses who have rendered
satisfactory army service during the Span
lSh-American war.
When nurse is appointed she signs a
contract for at least one year unless sooner
discharged. For services in the United
States nurse is paid $40 month, and in
cuba, the Philippines, Porto Rico or the
Hawaiian Islands, $50 a month In large
hospitals chief nurses are appointed who
receive from $40 to $25 a month in addition
to that pay.
Thirty days leave of absence is granted
a nurse but no extra leave is allowed if
the nurse falls sick. She is entitled to re-
celFe medical attendance and care how
ever. at the hospital where she serves or
at some other army hospital. The nurses
work ten and twelve hours in the wards
put where climatic conditions REQUIRE. this
tour OF duty may be reduced to eight hours
certain number of nurses who have
rendered at least four months satisfactorv
service in the army will be appointed re.
serve nurses. They will sign a contract to
enter active service whenever required and
70 report 10 the surgeon general by letter
.wice year. nurse will be dropped from
one reserve list upon reaching the age of
forty-five years or if she becomes incanaci
tated from i'll health.
Uniform for Army Nurses.
A uniform has been adopted for tho
female nurses of the army 1t consists of
a waist with adjustable cuffs and an anron
Oh white linen, worn with skirt and neck
tie of army blue galatea A Jacket of the
galatea style is also provided, to be worn
When desired. Caps are not to be used
Chief nurses are entitled to wear in n,ace
OF the apron, a sash of red silk knotteG
around the waist. Each nurse NAV have
the uniform made as best suits her conve-
mence, but the material and cut are to
De as prescribed. The distinctive badge of
the nurses corps is a modified form of n
Greek cross, Of dark enamel edged with
gold. "A'i-