New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-19
Major Murphy Reports on
Tremendous Work Done
at the Front
Cleans Up Zones
Near Americans
Organization Even Pre-
pared to Make Artificial
Limbs for Wounded

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18.-H. p. Davi-
son, chairman Of the Red Cross war
Council, made public to-day report
received from Major Grayson NJ. r.
Murphy, Red Cross Commissioner Tor
Europe, in which an idea is given OF the
extensive organization which is prepar-
ing the ground for United States SOL
-diers in France. Besides acting as an
auxiliary to the Medical Department OF
the army, with its ambulance service
dressing stations, field and base hospi-
tails. the American Red Cross in France
is taking preventive measures.
Included in its sanitation work is the
notification Of zone which includes
many French villages, long stripped OF
their physicians, surrounding points to
be occupied by American troops. Com
fort and rest stations for soldiers en-
route, quarters for them when return
ing TO cities at hours when comfortable
lodgings would be unobtainaole' ana
coffee and sandwiches are some OF the
minor details of Red Cross preparation
in France. The report, in part. follows:
AS factors supplementary TO army
equipment, the Red Cross through It's
United States Army division has under
taken TO place on the lines OF commuhi-
cation eighteen rest stations, IN "hieh
TO harbor soldiers who are taken SICK
while being transported IRON the por'
TO the front, or vice versa.
DoI Erase IL constructing par
racks also for such a rest station and
infirmary at the principal American
aviation camp in France.
Forty Dispensaries Opened
Forty dispensaries for the treatment
Of the civil population In the American
army zone have been put in operation.
A special corps of army physician mas mas
been assigned to the work, and the
medical and surgical divisions OF the
Red Cross supply the dispensarles,
nurses. motors and equipment. Eaoh
motor unit, made up Of one doctor ana
two nurses. Is responsible for several
villages. routed much like a rural mail
delivery. In examining the zone IL was
found that most of the doctors had
been called out of civil practice and
zone into the French army.
aThrouph It's American and french
arynv division the Red Cross Is install
inc several specialized plants as auxll-
iaries to existing army equipment
among these a nitrous oxide plant,
splint shop and an artificial limo WORK
shop. ,l
considerable research work has been
done by the American medical frater-
nity now working In France, and large
number Of subjects are at present under
independent investigation. The Amer
ican Red Cross has appropriated $780,
00O IN the research service of its medi-
cal and surgical division to encourage
such Investigations, and a medical re-
search committee has been appointed TO
direct a central laboratory in Paris and
mass on applications for facilities else
where.
Moreover. the division will estsb-
lish service of medical and surgical
information TO furnish surgeons with
the latest results Of field hospital prac-
tice and publish a monthly bulletin.
"The Red Cross has undertaken 70
make and store as large a quantity OF
dressings for the American army as
can be turned out. The same policy
holds true Of general hospital supplies
and stores. Much Of this Red Cross
work is like that Of fire department.
Roughly, you can count that out OF
million men employed, one-quarter. or
$50. 900. will need medical or surgical
service. To carry on the steady stream
OF supplies which is needed all the
time By an army in action is not
enough. To be adequately prepared Is
TO be ready for the maximum load, and
70 be ready within a space Of twenty
four or forty-eight hours-eyen il hos
pitals stand empty, but ready between
times, and stocks Of goods are pied
UP which may never be used.
when the American Distributing
Service became the Medical Supplies
Service of the Red Cross there were
$3.50 hospitals on its lists, situated all
over France, but most numerous IN the
departments back Of the front A hun
bred new hospitals are added every
month, and at the present time there
are 3,6l7 in 1856 towns.
"The Red Cross will open hospita
for the care Of its own sick and tina
Of kindred organizations in France
There is at present not sufficient hos
pital accommodation to care for thu