Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-11-19
Tells OF RED CROSS
WORK IN WAR ZONE
Commissioner Makes First
Report on What Has Been
Done in France
LAUDS AMBULANCE
SERVICE ON FRONTS


in Europe. in which he tells OF the
work accomplished. as We'll as planned,
Of the American organization in
France, was made public yesterday by
Henry p. DAWSON chairman OF the
Red Cross War Council. % &
First Of ALL" Major Murphy says
in his report. the Aemrican Red Cross
stands ready as a semi-O1lcial volun-
tary body TO put its money, supplies
and organization at the call Of the
American Army for Red Cross service,
at every point and at any time, wher-
ever and whenever they can be of use
It organizes, equips. and turns over TO
the Government absolutely the hos
pltal units that are employed in
France. It's medical and surgical divi-
sion in France acts as an auxiliary to
the Medical Department Of the United
States Army, which Is charged with
responsibility for the sanitary and
medical service OF the troops in France.
So also its United States Army Dlvi-
sion acts as auxiliary TO the expendi-
tionary force.
AN army medical department, to do
J justice to its wounded, must be ready
to care for them within twelve hours
it must go to the wounded soldier, not
wait until the wounded soldier Is
brought back. This, in modern war,
calls, with variations, for reglmental
dressing stations as near as they can
BIZ brought to the Ines; field dressing
stations from which the seriously
wounded arc sent back, either 10 NOV
! able field hospitals OF evacuation hos
pitfalls of from 1000 to 800 beds each
where head. chest and abdominal
wounds must be operated upon or you
lose your mem and base hospitals, TO
which the sick and wounded are re-
! moved as rapidly as they safely can
be transported.
1T is with this general system OF
the United States Army Medical De-
, partment that the Red Cross stands
ready to cooperate at every point,
through Installing rest stations and in
firmarles on the line OF communication
= recuperating stations back from the
war zone; nelghborhood dispensaries
In army Villages; diet kitchens and
Z homes for nurses; anaesthetics, ice
! splints; a fund for scientific research
D and a bureau Of information on meth
s DDS in field hospital practice, and great
= and thorough reserves Of emergency
n supplies Of everything froTf-a abahdag,
= TO a mobile hospital"
n After thus outlining the scope Of IN,
P Red Cross work in France, Maio
Murphy gives in detail the story OF tn
m war zones Of the western front. II
~ begins with a laudatory reference O
fhn 4sfnvly ~ lan al
az ance Service, which after long and ef
d. flcient service in France was take
v over by the Red Cross last June. Con
/ tlnuing he states that the Red Gross
O. acting through the United States arm
In Division, has undertaken. the work o
s. placing in operation eighteen rest sta
y lions at proper intervals along tn
r. communication lines which connect tn
l. American ports Of debarkation witt
= the fighting lines, each Of these sta
T. tions being made up Of from two 4
a four barracks, 40 to 100 feet long
a These stations are fully equipped witt
baths, laundries, dlsinfecting plants
Il kitchens, dispensaries, rest and readinl
o rooms. The dormitories contain from
a 20 to 200 beds. ~
II Il is also pointed out that forty dis
IT pensaries have been established in vii
l. lagos and towns located in the vicinit
e OF American camps. These dis
It pensaries and the doctors assigned {
E. duty in them care for the clvilia
population.
o. The report next tells OF the install
to lation Of portable kitchens to serve III
g men in the trenches. CT portable laun
al dries and portable baths. There ar
n also in operation portable dental an
v balances to serve districts where denti
Of rooms are not 70 be.found; portabl
n. ophthalmological ambul8nces for n
treatment Of injuries TO the eyes dll
TO shell explosions and gas attacks whe
speedy treatment may mean. the say
ing Of sight"
n II is also announced that the Re
/ Cross is about TO install an artiflcia
limb factory in France, which will sur
ply its output to the French Governmer
at cost A nitrous oxide plant is ais
a. to be installed within the next fe,
d, weeks. The medical and surgical dis
~ sion OF the organization is now maxim
80 an expert study Of shell shock" an
as Is making an Investigation OF On
ne methods adopted by the French TO
Vi dealing with this tragic phase Of wa
aS The medical. supplies service Of IA
an Red Cross is now serving 3,6i7 Hospital
III and about 400 hospitals are being adde
II every month In the few months III
VI Red Cross has directed this supply SCI
10 vice it has tripled in size. The Frenc
10 railroads serve free Of charge the SUI
20 plies service. IL is stated that the re
Cross is now busy placing in reserve
% great quantity OF emergency supplies
~ Under the caption Aiding Troop
~ en- Route" the report says:
en At junction points on the French line
,.s OF communication, troops going forwm
-o or back on leave often have 10 soen
20 hours waiting for trains. without an
~ means for rest or food, occasional
"a sleeping in the open IN the rain. Car
ro teens have been opened by The Amer
w can Red Cross at four functions throug
which approximately a total Of $50
II men pass day. The troops on permi,
sion find opportunity to obtain substal
tial hot meals at cost price, clean sleel
ing quarters, proper washing faclltie
y a chance to change their linen, an
nd reading writing, and recreation room
They come in from the fighting zon
I'd. tired. dirty, hungry. infested vii
trench vermin; they take the trains OF
refreshed both in body and spirit. b
a the time the cold weather sets in In
service will be covering a big terr
tory.
re-. In Paris the Red Cross is. supplement