The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-12-31
Waikiki Appeals to the Surgeon
General as Place for
Naval Hospital.
M0ANA, SEASIDE AND THE INN
Stokes Thinks Beach Ideal Place
as Base for Wounded and
Sick Sailors.

Surgeon-General Stokes of the Unit
ed States Navy is deeply impressed with
Honolulu as the place for one of the
two proposed naval hospital bases, and
is particularly impressed with Waikiki
He has his eve on one particular
location, which again revives the rumor
that the United States contemplates
taking in almost the entire beach front
age from Kapiolani Park to Kalia road
Furthermore he has stated that
ready-to-hand hospitals are already
erected and waiting for the authorities
to convert them into a base for sick
and wounded men of the navy, and
designates three hotels which are locat-
ed on the beach.
These hotels on the beach are the
Moana, Seaside and Waikiki Inn. al
though there are other hotels further
down the beach of Importance in the
hotel lists. One of these is the Hau
Tree, occupying large area of ground
between the Seaside and Fort De Russv.
The current number of the Army and
Navy Journal devotes a column of edi-
torial to naval surgery in war. COM
menting on the comprehensive plans for
the immediate care of sick and wound
ed men for both the Atlantic and Pa
citic oceans which are being developed
by the navy department under Surgeon
General Stokes.
Most Important Base.
These plans contemplate the estab-
Hshment of one great hospital base on
each ocean; one hospital ship for each
eight battleships, and two or more
transports TO carry the wounded from
the hospital ships to the hospital bases.
Honolulu is the choice of the surgeon
general for the Pacific base. and the
establishment of this base would de-
monstrate that Uncle Sam i determined
to make of Oahu the most important
military and naval base under the hag.
The surgeon general declares that the
climate and sanitation here are excel
lent, which form two of the principal
reasons for causing him to choose Ho-
noIulu. The Army and Navy Journal
referring TO General Stokes views saws:
'SurgeonGeneral Stokes has been
impressed with the advantages of Wal
Xxi for the Pacific base. There are at
the present time three large hotels at
TINS place which could be converted
into hospitals. No such advantageous
place has been found on the Atlantic.
although there are a number of places
that could he used The naval hospital
bases Will be in charge Of surgeons and
physicians drafted from the proposed
Navy Medical Reserve. which would
include some Of the most noted sur
geons, physicians and pathologists of
the country
Noted Surgeons in Reserve,
The surgeon general has recommend
ed that Doctor Osler, the Mayo broth
ers, of Rochester, Minnesota; Doctor
finney, of Baltimore; Doctor Richard
son, of Boston, and other surgeons OF
international reputation be commissions
ed officers IN the Navy Medical Re
serve Under his plan for this reserve
eminent surgeons Will be given com
missions and titles in this reserve. but
no pay except when ordered on active
duty as III time of war. He has com
mun1cated with many of the gentlemen
Oh the class indicated on the subiect. !
and every one Of them thinks well Of
the idea and expresses a willingness to !
JOIN the reserve.
The general IS now preparing
bill emDodying his views in detail. !
ana 1t VIII be introduced and referred
70 the naval committee in the nearI
future. The committee i tayorabiv i'm |
cHned, and there seems to be no doubt |
mat the proposition Will receive d !
unanimous report.
1t was needless to point out, Sur /
geon General Stokes said that the /
medical force on each battleship, con /
s"tlng OF surgeon, his assistant and /!
1our OF five orderlies, could not take !
care OF the average number OF injured /
that might be depended upon to result .
AIulh any sort of sustained action. The /
niedlcal reserve hospital ships, flying (
tue he'd Cross nag, and therefore pro :
'ecIed as noneOmbataHts, are to cooper /
a'e, according to the Stokes plan, from .
Two main hospital bases. one on thef
acme coast and one on the Atlantic .
Ioast, each capable Of taking care 0t /
4oVo wounded, the estimated average
~, battle fleet of siXteeh vessels. /.
al OF which had participated in a gen ,
efaI engagement. /
10 eacn battle fleet of sixteen YES
seis Tour hospital ships would be at,
caehed On the basis Of interesting
nsufes submitted by the surgeon general .
~ casualties in the various naval bat (
,Ies OF the RuSs0-Japanese war. il is
4osicaI 10 expect in a hard Fought con I
'eSt an average of about 30 dead and .
"foohded men TO each ship engaged. On .
tnis basis the four hospital ships to a .
ps'tie heet of sixteen would be able
aiter battle, or during lulI. to re
move an average of go dead and .
ROUNDED men per ship in total period
% hVe hours for the entire fleet.