The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-14
Special Correspondence 10 Tnr srv.

Special Zorro Spopdence 10 THr SrN.
I0NpoN, Nov. An interesting re-
port has recently been issued by the
American Women's War Relief Fund
covering the activities OF that organIza-
August, 1914. until August OF this year.
The organization was Initiated on the
declaration of war by a group OF Amer
lean women married to Engl!shmen and
resident In England. who held a series
Of meetings to consider how they might
best express their sympathy with Great
Britain and assist In the most effective
manner their adopted country.
Three plans OF WORK We're Devised
A hospital ship for Wounded soldiers. an
ambulance snip. and economic. relief
work. An ambulance ship not being
required by the authorities at the time
SIX motor ambulancos Tor use AZ the
front were substituted. A seventh am
bulance, subscribed DOR by Friends in
Boston. L. :. a., was presented TO the
War Office through the fund.
Tie committee begins its report by
t%hankipg the American Red Cross for It's
constant interest in the work OF the
fund Since the two units sent 10 Great
Britain were detailed for duty at the
American Women's War Hospital the
American Red Cross has been IN direct
communication with the committee.
On August ~, 1914. Messrs. L"uygon
placed premises at 81 Old Burlington
street at the disposal OF the committee
and the -amdigamated firms of Messrs.
LeHyEou and NTorant have renewed their
offer for the ensuing year.
Equipped Hospital.
The offer made by the American
Women's War Relief Fund to fully equip
and maintain "A surgical hospital Of 200
beds at Oldway House. Paienton. South
Devon. for the use OF wounded soldiers
was accepted by the War Office through
the Red Cross Society on August p,
1914. The work OF equipment wds i'm
modiatclS put in hand. the many struc-
iural alterations required to convert a
private house into n hospital being ear
ried out under the personal direction Of
T.. Paris SINGER. who had offered his
beautiful residence for this purpose,
while the hospital committee was re-
sponsible for providing the furniture,
clothing and appliances necessary for
the patients.
Sir William Osler. rcgius professor IL
Medicine. oxford, mt once consented 10
act AS honorary consulting physician
and has been uuremittiug in his interest,
The War Office appointed I.ieut-Col.
Cunning to he the military commandant.
with full disciplinary powers, Ernest
Lane undertook the duties OF prinCil.,l
medical officer. having control of the
medical and surgical star, n Miss
Gertrude Fletcher was engaged as
matron and head of the nursing stan.
on september 81 everything was
ready for the first convoy OF 1870
wounded soldiers allocated to the Amer
lean Women'a War Hospital. Al the
urgent request OF the Wal Office authori-
ties the capacity OF the hospital has
now been increased to $50 beds, fifteen
wards containing $50 beds, while the
isolation hut erected in the grounds in
case of an outbreak of epidemic disease
accommodates another twenty,
ON the arrival of the two units de-
tailed for work in Great Britain by the
American Red Cross. Unit - CDR. How
ard w. Beal. directory, at the request
of the war Office took up work at
Paigntou on September rs. This n~ecessi-
tatcd a partial Encouragement Of the
staff, which M to that date had been
entirely British.
The First Thousand Cases.
A month later Mr.. Lane resigned his
appointment rs principal medical officer
and the committee considered II Hppro-
pirate thar, with the consent of the War
Office authorities, the medical and surSi-
cal stan of the hospital should be en-
tircly American, while the nursing STAFF
should comprise both American and
English sisters. Dr. Howard w. Beal
accepted the office of chief surgeon.
The analysed report Of tho first thou
sand cases treated at the hospital gives
the following details:
S%urEi"al eases. ,,,,,,.,..,,,.,..,.....7S
M"ulval eases '''''''''', ,,,,,,, ia
Discharged To furlough ...,,,,.,... Dos
Transferred to convalescent homes or
hospitals for special treatment. ...... 81
Invalided out of the service, .,,...,... 80
Average time In hospital. .2,S days.
A similar report will be published on
the completion of the second thousand
cases, Altogether 1881 cases have been
admitted 10 the hospital and five deaths
nave occurred. These cases were divided
approximately into: Surgical, l,4I3 (;
medical, AS,
Although financed by American sub
scriptions, directed by American sur
geons and stated by American and Eng
fish nurses, the hospital is absolutely
under the control of the British War
Once n IL obliged to conform to
British military regulations as regards
visiting hours n all other matters.
During 1914 the following gifts OF