Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13
Naval Female Nurse Corps.

The examination of candidates for APP
pointment as female nurses in the United
, States Navy began at the Naval Medical
School in this city yesterday.
The opening examination was conducted
by Medical Director G.. f. II. Harmon,
L. S. ~. and Miss Esther V. Hassen. chief
of the Female Nurse Corps of the navy.
There have been many applications from
different parts of the country, and the
officials are confident of their ability TO
secure an efficient contingent of nurses
1t is intended to start with corps OF
twenty nurses, and gradually increase the
number to meet requirements. Further
examinations will be held until about 100
competent nurses are engaged.
Among the foreign hospitals to be sup
piled are those at Yokohama, Japan: Cana
Gao =. L.. and San Juan, =. r. The tour
of duty at these foreign hospitals will be
two years.
AS the corps increases it is proposed to
| form a reserve corps consisting of nurses
who have served term and been honor
ablH discharged These will be allowed to
| wear suitable insignia, and will oblisate
themselves to return to active duty In
| case of an emergency.
| The pay of the nurses has been fixed as
follows: Forty dollars month when on
duty in the United States and $50 month
when on hospital ships or on stations out
side the I, nited States. Quarters and sub
sistencc are provided by the government.
4 nurse assigned to duty as chief nurse
t at hospital where not less than two nor
| more than four nurses are employed Will
| receive s., month additional pay, where
there are not less than five nor more than
nine nurses employed. the chief nurse Will
| receive So month additional, and where
| Their" are ten or more nurses the mead
nurse will receive SO a month additional.
Nurses will be assessed 20 cents q
| month for the naval hospital fund as in
the case of officers and enlisted men.
Miss Hassan chief of the corps, will re-
| ceive a salary of $1,000 Il year. She has
| had considerable practical experience. and
| is well equipped for her responsible posi-
ton She served on the Relief during the
Spanish war, and afterWard on the lsth-
mus of Panama. Although her home is in
| Baltimore, she spends most of her time in
this city. and is well and favorably known
| in this vicinity.
Among those examined yesterday were
Miss Victoria White. superintendent of
st. 1uke's Hospital. at Bethlehem. Pa.
and Miss Martha Pringle. chief nurse at
the Army General Hospital at Fort Bay
] ard. n NJ. In the event of their qualify
ing. they will be appointed CHIEF nurses
and assigned to assist Miss Hassan. super
| intendent in the organization of the
service
| Seventeen candidates for appointment as
nurses will he examined i'm this city on the
| oath instant. Those found eligible will
b. assigned to duty at the naval medical
I
| iiminary training in navy hospital work.
! Ii is the intention of the surgeon general
to supply the navy general hospitals in
| this country before sending any of the
| female nurses to foreign stations.
Responsibilities of a Militia Officer.
| \ question affecting officers of the or
ganized militia was recently presented to
the War Department. An officer of the
National Guard of Washington was con-
victed by militia court-martial of I'M
| becoming conduct in criticising the acts
| of an official body, and was sentenced to
reprimand by the reviewing authority
| The sentence was approved and the rep
rimand was published in general orders
| Thereupon the accused officer sued out a
writ of review to the superior court of
| the state.
| That court held that the charge and
specifications failed to state military
| offense. and that the court martial had
| acted without proper jurisdiction. The
state authorities Appealed from this de-
| cSion of the supreme court.
The contention of the accused is that