The evening times., 1899-08-23

Considerable difficulty is being exper-
fenced by the War Department officials in
securing men for the Hospital Corps and
Signal Service. The increase of the Phil
ippine army to $4,000 men will necessitate
corresponding increase in the hospital
and signal service. 1t is estimated that
it will require fully $500 hospital corps
men for an army of $4,000 soldiers. The
calculations made by the medical depart
ment are based on an estimate of 6 per cent
of the combatants being incapacitated from
active duty and in this same connection
provision is also being made for an in
crease in the trained nurse corps.
While the department is having trouble
in the enlisting of sufficient number of
men for the Hospital Corps, the applica
tions Of women for service as nurses in
the Philippines far exceeds the require
ments of the service. Special efforts are
being made to induce young men to enter
the Hospital Corps, and recruiting officers
have been instructed TO pay as much at
tention to securing men for this service
as for the fighting line. On the other hand,
the medical department is having trouble
with the commanding general at Manila
Will be needed when the fall campaign
opens.
Reports received at the War Department
from Manila show that Chief Surgeon
Woodruff, at Manila, and General Otis are
net in accord in their views as to the ad
visibility of providing a large corps of
women nurses. The total number Of train
ed nurses now in the Philippines and un-
der orders for service is fifty Eight. The
Il tanI IL II. ,.;-
should be increased to nearly 500, or about
one trained nurse to every ten sick men
that will be in the hospital. 1t is not clear
yet just how many women nurses Will be
sent to Manila before the campaign opens,
as General Otis will be again communicat-
ed with en- the subject with view to Sc
curing an agreement between him and Sur
geon Woodruff On the subject Many en-
quirics have been received at the War De-
partment as to the trained nurse question
and the following is an extract of letter
sent out by Surgeon General Sternberg in
response TO these queries:
Il have at present long list of trained
female nurses, many OF whom did excel
lent service during the recent war who
are eager to go to Manila / am in no
way restricted as to the appointment OF
these nurses under contract and have am
pie appropriations for their services.
have been ready at any time TO send as
many female nurses to Manila as could
be utilized and properly cared for. In
fact | have sent three cabiegrams at diff
ferent times asking il they did not wish
more female nurses and have sent as
many as General Otis has been willing to
receive. | have given orders to send
twenty additional nurses and am prepared
to send as many more as may be needed
Enclosed L send you copy OF a circular
recently issued organizing corps of fe-
male nurses for army service. This hav-
ing been approved by. the Secretary OF
War gives me all the authority l need
quite independently OF any Congressional
action. Of course. the emergency which
existed when our division and general
hospitals We're filled with cases of typhoid
fever no longer exists. From the
outset | have fully appreciated the i'm
portance of having female nurses at gen
eral hospitals. and under present arrange
ments will be able to supply them in such
numbers as the interests of the sick may
call for"