New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-01

Toronto, June 30.-Probably no part
Of Canada's war experience will be OF
greater value 20 the United States
than that which has TO DO with the
returned soldiers. Industrial. eco
nomic end social conditions in the two
countries are so nearly the same that
the problems in connection with the
partly, or wholly, disabled fighting
men are almost identical. Besides. as
the more serious casualty cases can
not be transported across the Atlantic,
the returning American wounded will
arrive home in the same condition as
the men now being landed in Canada
at the rate Of between 1000 and 1000
every month. They will require treat
ment, in similar institutions. There
fore, the United States can study with
advantage Canada's successes and
Canads's failures in providing effec-
tive measures in the best interests OF
the disabled soldiers.
The more obviously heroic elements
in the record of this country's war
participation have appealed to the peo-
pie of the United States. The activi-
ties Of the Dominion in caring for the
men returned from the front are not
so widely known. Nevertheless, atten-
tion is being paid by both official and
unofficial agencies in the republic to
Canada's methods Of rehabilitating
the wounded and restoring them
to industrial efficiency. The United
States has a decided advantage over
Canada in having better understand
ing of the problem than was possible
for this country at the outbreak of tho
war. Cooperation between the two ma
tions should have important benefits
in the work of achieving victory over
wounds and reducing TO the smallest
possible degree the permanent impair,
ment of earning capacity resulting
from injuries OF war. The Dominion's
experience suggests some "don'ts' for
the neighboring republic. and IT. also
points the way toward a very large
measure of success in restoring in
jured soldiers 10 civilian life as self
supporting members Of society.
Sympathy Should Be Practical
Warning should be issued, in the
first place, against hysterical sympathy
which is not restrained by knowledge
Of what ought TO be done in the inter-
ests of the returned men and OF the
general public. According 10 the view
Of those familiar with the problem in
Canada, the United States would be
we'll advised to initiate at the outset
campaign of education TO teach the
people that only very small proper
ton of injuries sustained in war in
volve permanent incapacity. The
American troops should be impressed
with the idea of victory over wounds.
Their minds and the minds of the pub
lie should be disabused of the notion
that an injured soldier must become a
charge upon either the state or ms
relatives. Once there gets abroad a
realization that no matter how serl-
ously wounded man may be there Is
still hope for him, a long step forward
will have been taken in solving the
problem Of his future.
Canada's organization for the care OF
the returned men is not without de-
fects, and, indeed, is not yet in its
final form; but despite such weak
nesses remarkable results have already
been achieved. Sir Rider Haggard,
after a personal investigation OF the
methods in Great Britain, South Africa,
New Zealand and Australia, declared
that no other part of the empire mad
so excellent a system OF providing 1or
returned soldiers as that IN force IN
Canada. At the beginning OF the war
responsibility for the care OF the
wounded men brought back TO the Do
minion naturally devolved upon the
army medical branch of the Depart
ment of Militia. Local executives IN
Ia Oh ~
siderable number Of large private resi-
dences were offered free for GONZALES
cent homes. and were accepted. 1t was
not until the wounded men began TO
come back. however, that those IN
charge of the work came 10 any real
understanding of what was required.
II was found that only convalescent
men could be brought across the At
lantic. and it became apparent that the
scheme of small, Independent homes
was totally unsuited TO requirements.
The necessity of a central executive
organization was recognized.
Civilian Control Preferable
The government also felt that civilian
control. which would allow greater
latitude in dealing with individual
cases. was preferable 10 the Army
Medical Branch control, with the
military discipline which the latter
involved. Accordingly, the Military
Hospitals Commission was created IN
June. 1915. The members OF the com
mission gave their services voluntarily.
For nearly a year the Army Medicai
Service continued the work OF looking
after the returned men almost as II
the new commission never existed.
a y q m
Deputv Provincial Secretary OF On
tario TO whom much OF the credit is
due for the admirable group Of public
institutions directed by the ProVincial
Administration, was appointed director,
and the powers Of the Military HOS,
pitfalls Commission arc now focalized
in him. -, -,
avoid dual control in the convalescent
bospitals which it may establish.
There is much TO be said in favor OF
Giving charge of such institutions TO
The Army Medical Service, but there
are also undoubted advantages OF
very important character in CIVILIAN
administration. The question Is not
vot fully settled in Canada. and while
a LARGE part of the work which is done
for The Military Hospitals Commission
in its institutions is being done by
Army Medical Service officers. the
latter do not know who is their
when a Canadian soldier is wound,
cd he is taken 70 the nearest medical
qtation and thence to base hospital.
He may then be transferred TO an ing
Iish or French general hospital. When
the case reaches such a condition that
transferrence to Canada is considered
advisable a party is made up. accom-