Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-23
AMERICANS TAKE CHARGE
OF SIX BRITISH HOSPITALS
transfer Made without Moments
Upset In Routine of Various
Institutions.
ENGLISH GO TO OTHER DUTIES
Surgeons and Nurses From United
States Much Impressed by Thor
oughncss and Effectiveness Of Al.
lied Systcm-Tca Habit Acquired.

fBy Associated IrcsSJ
q X 7 > III HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. June 22.-Quictiy and with
very little ceremony SO as to escape
American doctors. nurses and enlisted
men have within the last fortnight
taken over six OF the British great
general field hospitals. releasing the
English STATS for duty near their
front. American surgeons have been
rendering valuable aid also in the for
ward casualty clearing stations during
the battle OF Mcssincs This has been
the quickest organized aid the United
States has given British arms in
France. and has been grcdt,r apprc-
ciatcd.
The Americans have been much i'm
pressed by the thoroushnoss and cf-
fectiveness OF the British hospital
system. So smoothly have the trans
fers been made. that the Americans
nave taken up their new work with
out even moments upset in the rou-
tine OF the various hospitals.
The Stars and stripes fly with the
British Union Jack from each hospital
flagstaff, the two cnsigns fuitcring
sweep in from the sea. The British
selected their hospital sites with the
greatest care. ANA have developed
them with completeness that has
come from nearly three years field cx-
periencc. Some OF the general hos
pitals arc made UP OF tented wards.
accommodating forty 10 sixty beds
each. Others arc constructed Of a
series of huts. Both styles are models
OF field comfort and convenience. The
operating thcaters arc sp!endidly built,
and seem to lack nothing in tho way
OF modern surgical equipment
CAN ACCOMMODATES
:.om PATIENTS N CRISIS
Originally planned for 1910 beds
each, tho general hospitals have been
practically ell enlarged TO I..oo beds.
and during crisis can accommodate
1000 patients.
The units which have taken over the
various hospitals were organized by
the American Rcd Cross as United
States base hospitals" and with the
declaration of war these stats w"r.
turned over TO tn" regular army for
service as required.
Each unit has bought along an or
ganizinG director who was a surgeon
mand major in tho United states
reserve. The commanding officer in
each unit is n regular American army
surgeon. WIN" the subordinate mem
b.rS OF the STATS arc made UP Of recu-
lar army surgeons and doctors COM
missioRcd from civil life. Tho nurses
arc all graduates OF wcl!-known train
ing schools. and Viii probably he sup
pl"mentcd soon by voluntary aid de-
tachmcnts OF young women workers
such as arc now attached 10 III. ,a,i-
GUS British stats The nunco,nm!s-
stoned ord'rlics and privatcH were
practically ali taken from civil life.
but. in keeping with tho doctors and
nurses. have settled into thor new
work with narHed efficiency AMI en-
thusiasn7
ALL OF I>I'Ts SERVING
"SoMi:Wi HERE N FRANCE"
The frs, OF the American units 10
reach France was known AS United
States Base Hospital 30. /. and Was
organized In Cleveland by Or. George
W. Grille. with Major Gi!chris,. OF the
United States Army. as commanding
officer. This unit has taken over
British General Hospital No Q. some
whore in France" United States Base
Hospital No. D. organized at Harvard
University by Dr. Harvey Gushing.
with Major Il l. Patterson as COM
mandnG Officer. has taken over Brit
ism Genera! Hospital No. II: United
States Base Hospital No .. from the
Presbyterian Hospital. Sew York or
ganizcd by Dr. George Brewer. with
Major Lucius Pcpewood commanding,
has taken over British Hospital 40
!; United States Base Hospital No. IL
organized in 81. Louis by pr Fred
crick Murphy. with Major James ID.
FINE commanding. has tal;on over
British General Hospital No. II; United
States Base Hospital SO, 10. organized
in Philadelphia. largely in the Un!,cr-
sity OF Pennsylvania. by Or Richard
Harte. with Major NJ. y. Delaney com
mand:ng. has taken over British zen
cral Hospital No. lG; United states
Base Hospital No. ~, organizeG in
Chicago by DR. Frederick Ecs!cy. with
Major G. G. Collins conmundlne mas
taken over British General l!usui,aI
No. IS. all. of course. being "sunc,,hcre
in France"
Each American hospital staff has
also organized "a mobile unit for SER
vice in the casuuI,y clearing stations
just back OF The iring lines for emcr
sency work during the first DAYS of
great battles. The American hospitals
present an interesting international
study. with patients from England,
Scotland. Ireland. Australia. New Uea
iand ana Portugal Steps Will be
taken soon to increase the yarious
units. and bring them up To the
strength required for enlarged hos
pitals American doctors and nurses
have already acquired the tea habit
which they enjoy every afternoon with