The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-12-25
HOSPITAL SCHOOL
FOR THE NAVY
Young Men Trained for Ser
vice on War Vessels
WHILE SHIPS IN ACTION
Only Institution of Kind in Existence.
Success Has Warranted Establish
ment of Others In This Coun-
try and Philippines
From the Washington Star.


Residents of the southeastern section
of Washington will, after February next
be deprived of truly remarkable athletic
exhibitions. Although a number of the
participants in the exhibitions in question
are among the best football players in
the country, the spectacles afforded on
the spacious grounds of building at
Ninth street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Southeast for the benefit of any passerby
or spectators are not in the nature of
the strenuous winter game, or, indeed
any other popularity recognized form of
sport. The building in the grounds of
which the unique athletic exhibitions are
to be seen is the Hospital Corps Train
ing school of the United States navy,
and the exhibitions themselves are the
various drills and exercises In which the
men OF the hospital corps are required to
be proficient in order to fit them for
their work on a battleship in action or
with a marine landing party.
In the grounds of the hospital corps
school is a simple frame structure which
the passerby on the avenue would prob
ably be puzzled to identify. This struc-
ture, however plays a prominent part
in one of the drills, and to see the clean
limbed, powerful men springing with the
agility of pantherS from the ground
through narrow opening in the she'd
like erection to the roof of the latter,
anG leaping to the ground again, is 20
see muscular activity and concert In ac-
ton at their very best.
But this exercise of physical activity
is not spectacular stunt, nor is II gone
through merely in the course of GYM
nasium routine. The distance from the
ground to the opening through which
the men spring is exactly the distance
Fl om the lower deck of warship to the
upper and although ladder hanging to
the side of the shed is employed in the
drill, the contingency is likely to arise,
in the case of ship under fire, of the
companion ladder being shot away or
otherwise put out of commission. In
such a case the hospital men must jump
from one deck to the other through the
hatchway, in order to assist the wounded
and lower them to the place where their
injuries will be cared for. The mere
physical activity required in this feat
must be seen to- be appreciated.
New schG&s to BE Started
The present class is the last that will
be trained at the school. though the
course conducted under the able direc-
tion of Surgeon M. S. Elliott, in COM
mand, will be pursued In the new schools
to be established in connection with the
naval hospitals at New York, Norfolk,
Mare Island and Canacao, Cavite, Philip
pine islands, by the direction OF Sur
geon General Stokes. At present the
school In this city is the only one of its
kind in the United States. 1t is explained
that Surgeon General Stokes intention
in extending the hospital training school
system of the navy is to render the
training available to all the men in the
corps. Under the present plan,'' said
Surgeon Elliott, about only 80 per cent
rrf ha r71aT oh n fa1y ~
Under the system about to be inaugu-
rated the men, as soon as they are en-
listed, will be sent to the training sta
items at Newport or San Francisco. where
they will remain for four months, I'M
dergoing training In naval life. They will
then be sent to the different training
schools at hospitals mentioned for a def
mite period, and after becoming proficient
will be available for duty on board ship"
1t is not only the open air drills alluded
to that make the school unique among
the institutions of Washington. The Wis
itor feels, when he has gone over the
place. that glance out OF a window
should afford, not the prosaic surroundings
Of the city, but the vast sparkling or
| Inenacing sea, and almost prepares to
balance himself against the motion of the
vessel. In fact, everything is conducted
rs on board a ship. The men sleep in
hammocks, which are arranged in thor
ough marine fashion, on the top floor of
the building. The nautical aspect of the
dormitory--one is almost disposed to call
| it a deck-is accentuated by the spick
and span cleanliness apparent. One
could, even in the most hasty and cur
sorry Inspection, realize that there is not
a speck Of dust to be found on the iron
uprights or the clean hammocks.
Traditional Sailor Garb
On the subject of cleanliness the naval
authorities are, like one of Dickens
| characters in the matter of gravy, ada
mart. This fact was brought to attention
| by the spectacle of a man In the precincts
| of the school athletically engaged with a
| b1ush soap and water, which he was ex-
crcising, In their several capacities, upon
The garments peculiar to himself and his
| confreres. 1T wears out CLOTH observed
one of the sailors. but it's got to be
| done"
| All the men at the school, by the way,
arc dressed in traditional sailor garb, and
are thorough jacktars, even to the mex
| perienced observation of the merest land
lubber."
Below the sleeping deck-or foor-are
the wards the dispensary and the operat-
ing room. A very neat young sailor was
found presiding over the bottles Of drugs
In the pharmacy, which has the aspect of
a well equipped commercial emporium of
| the sort, minus the soda water fountain
and the cigar counter.
1.-THE whole object of the school since
Its beginning" said Surgeon Elliott. has
boen to train practical. dependable men.
The medical corps Of the navy could not
| exit without the hospital corps. These
men under training are. in short. the fu-
ture hospital stewards and pharmacists
OF the navy"
The men are q good class coming from
good families, and harsh discipline is not
required in dealing with them. Some of
them are aocomplished--one of the pres
ant class is a Harvard graduate; and one,
an ardent amateur photographer, has
written and illustrated magazine articles.
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