Evening star., 1909-02-28
Emergency Medical Equipment.

Emergency Medical Equipment.
The army medical officers are arranging.
SO far as may be-. equipment which wiii
he of use in the care of the sick and
wounded in time of war. 1t is desired
to establish in New York well stocked
depot, = and to purchase, parts OF
ambulances and other vehicles or use
In the medical department in the field
to meet the needs of a large army. To-
gether with other material and supplies
which may not be readily obtained IN
the market In time of war. one or the
plans which is being perfected by the
army surgeons is that which Will utlllze
the rolling stock of the railroads IN the
TRANSFORMATION of the wounded. 1t Is
realized that there may be occasion TO
make use of railroad transportation 10
take the disabled to the main hospitals
and hitherto the impression has prevailed
that this could be effectually &C
complished by employing the ordinary
tourist car. 1t is now found that While
there would be sufficient accommodatlons
in such cars for the sick and wounded
handling of patients. 1t has been prac-
tically decided to make use OF the
European system of converting baggage
and freight cars into railroad ambulances:
This will be done by purchasing material
which will enable the construction OF
pense or trouble. 1t is this material
which will be laid aside to be used in
emergency. The medical officers will soon
conduct experiments with baggage ana
freight cars to aascertain the best method
of maintaining this emergency equip
ment
Frightening the War Color.
It has been found necessary to make
a slight change in the paint known as the
war color and which has been applied
to naval vessels in home waters. This
color is dull gray or slate and represents
the shade which is least observable on
the ship at sea. 1t is found, however,
that the paint will be more durable if
it is mixed with Oil Such a mixture
will give 1t gloss, to which objection
has been made. since 1t reflects the sun
light and brings a ship out when
searchlight is directed upon it at night.
The dull lead color. however. without
the oil mixture is lacking in durability.
II has been found by experts that the
glossy paint loses it's luster after it has
been wet and that the protective effect
of dullness is eventually obtained while
the preservative quality is also acquired.
Orders will be issued to have the mixture
applied to ships which have been already
painted the war color, and the new paint
will be placed on the vessels of the At
lantic fleet when they proceed to their
Feeding Troops in Action.
The army subsistence officers have made
exhaustive tests at Fort hliey, Kan, of
various devices for the preparation of
food in the field. This is an important
matter, as it includes providing for the
feeding of troops in time of action, when
they are separated from their garrisons.
1t involves also the consideration OF
transportation facilities, upon which there
is always a great tax in military mobil-
ity. The latest Improvement effected by
the army commissaries has been the de-
velopment of an oven which can be car
red in the field and set up for operation
on short notice, with such means OF pro-
vision as are afforded by the country
where the camp is established. This
oven was devised by Maj. William II.
Hart of the subsistence department. who
has just completed course of instruc-
ton and observation al the British
Service Corps School at Aldershot Eng
land The oven is capable of baking
two thousand loaves Of bread day, or
enough to supply an entire regiment
with fresh bread every day. This is
an achievement in the military culinary
line which surpasses anything ac
complished in foreign cnmmissary estab-
iishments, so far as known.
Safeguarding Life at Sea.
The commission, OF Whlcn Rear Admiral
AdoIph Mark, U.S.N. is chairman, ap-
pointed to suggest changes in the laws
for the protection of life at sea has re-
ported, In the form of a bill divided into
six articles. Its purpose is to make
the inspection more efficient. relieving
the inspectors of much work by the ap-
pointment of boards to examine and
license officers of the mel chant marine
and to try cases of misconduct The bill
extends the scope of the inspection to
include many vessels now exempt and
to make the requirements for life-saving
equipment more eXacting, including the
employment of wireless apparatus
Regulations are proposed to prevent the