The Washington times., 1912-05-08
DIVISIONS OF SHIPS
Ito FIGHT ON OCEAN
IN FUTURE, HE SAYS
Surgeon General Stokes
Draws Graphic Picture at
| Red Cross Meeting.

Drawing a graphic picture Of what
the next great naval battle may be.
Surg. Gen. c. F. Stokes, U. S. N,
addressed the International Red Cross
Conference this afternoon on the rela-
tions Of the Red Cross and the Am
lerican navy.
o. 1T may safely be assumed there is a
general tendency toward concentration
of ships, so individual combats at sea
between single vessels of small units
ARE becoming relatively infrequent and
of lessening Importance" said Surgeon
General Stokes.
1T Is quite conceivable the next great
naval battle will involve from fifty to
100 capital ships, and the difficulties pre-
sented in the immediate care of the
wounded during battle and their prompt
evacuation and subsequent treatment
are stupendous. 1t seems probable an
actual engagement between battleships
will last less than thirty minutes. as by
'that time either one or other of the
combatants will probably be annihilated
or the supply of ammunition become
. exhausted, The casualty list might
equal % per cent of the total compile
ment. an appalling number when we
consider the rapidity with which they
would accumulate"
To cope with such a situation he sug-
gested a medical transport with accom-
modations for 1000 wounded, with q
corps of fifty-fve medical officers and
2O hospital corpsmen be assigned to
each division of five battleships.
In time of war there would need to
pc an enormous expansion of the per-
sonnel Of the Red Cross. said the
speaker. The commissioned officers can
be supplied from the medical reserve
corps, but trained women nurses and
male attendants of all classes would
pc seriously lacking. The recruiting of
THIS emergency supply of nurses he re-
Sarded as one of the great opportuni-
ties or the Red Cross to supplement the
work Of the navy
That the Red Cross should be under the
control or the military or naval authority
with which 1t is working, that women
nurses should not be assigned to hos
pital ship duty, but should be kept on
land and that uniform instructions
ehould be given in all cases. were other
etatements made with emphasis by
Surgeon General Stokes.
Thia paper opened the afternoon ses-
e6on. beginning at o'clock and was
the sole address scheduled for the after
hounsecssion.
-. Switch In Plans.
Owing to change in the program
which will bring the White House re-
cept1on on Friday of this week instead
0or9s-and one address were shifted from
che Friday program to this afternoon.
Tho address OF Major de Marval on
Tho organization OF the Swiss medical
corps provided a little excitement this
morning. Dr.. de Marval needed q
black board on, which to exemplifx his
IDEAS No blackboard was to be had.
sspsed snd but h dd dc hSSr nSs srrvs and
Major de Marval was about 10 begin his
address. Miss Mabel Roardman hailed
an automobile; which happened to be
executive office, was told to get in and
to get that blackboard" A blackboard
was found and PLACED on the platform
while Major ne Marval was proceeding
with his address.
The program tomorrow includes ma
tional addresses on the rights and privi-
leges of Red Cross societies and their
conservation, a statement of the bes:
measures to be pursued In informing
bell'gererts that the Red Cross is about
to be sent upon a field, and the expert
lief work when country is in state
of insurrection. The morning sessions
begin at 10:30 o'clock.
Necessary In War.
''Our own Spanish-American war is
full Of experience to teach us that it
ts futile to attempt the employment of
q number OF individual relief associa-
= items In the hope that a good result
will insure to those who are suffering
from the discusses and injuries incident
to war; said Brig. Gen. George II.
Torney, in describing the organization
OF the American Red Cross before the
first. business session Of the Interna-
tional Rcd Cross conferepce. today.
Even in time of peace the personnel
Of the medical department of the Unit
ed States Army has never been ade-
quate for the needs of the SERVICE" de-
clared Brigadier General Torney. "and
therefore 1t will become necessary for
the War Department to accept the vol
untary assistance by patriotic societies
for the care of the sick and wounded of
the military establishment in time of
It is advisable, he said, that In the
immediate future Red Cross columns of
physicians, female trained nurses, and
attendants for hospital work. and OF
physicians of the army for field work
T. army be organized, and that such units
be Instructed for professional and ad-
ministrative service similar to the sys-
tenn that Is pursued in foreign coun-
tries.
Control Is Necessary.
The evil OF turning sick and wounded
over to civil institutions was demon
strated conclusively during the civil war
IN the opinion OF bTlBdoler IeneIdl IOT-
ney. Unless military control Is main
tained over the relief forces absenteeism
10 bound to prevail, with consequent dis
organization and inefficiency
There was held in the Pan-American
building last night one of the most bril-
liant receptions that has been seen in
Washington.
Representatives of nations of the
earth foregathered there, the Red Cross
delegates from abroad, who include no
6emen, army officers and scientists of
sarh onIl SIieredd ceeded 'iu bW IN IN NaeIy J oi
Gowns of the women. The receiving
line included members of the Cabinet
and their wives. Members OF the Sons
of the American Revolution acted as
ushers.
Admission to the reception was by
card and these had been reserved large
" to the delegates and members of the
diplomatic corps here