Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16

In an address recently made before
the Southern Medical Society Col. Rob-
ert L. Noble, u. s. Medical Corps, chief
OF personnel in the surgeon generals
office, made the startling announce
ment that all qualified physicians
should become subject to selective
draft into the Army or Navy medical
service. The profession. he says. should
be mobilized so that unto one it may
be said. Come and he win come; and
to another. "Stay and do the duty as it
lies before you" and he will stay.
He did not ask for legislation TO
bring this to pass, but urged the doc
tors of the. land to voluntarily put
. themselves at their country's disposal.
He gave his reasons why the doctors
OF the land should thus put themselves
at the disposal of the country. and his
reasons seem to be cogent.
In November, 1916. there were en-
rolled in the medical reserve 1853 doc
tors enough to supply an army a hum
dred times that number with surgeons
for the field. but leaving none available
for assignment to other duty In No
vember of this year 14.53s were avail
able for duty. or enough for the Held
half men. but leaving none for hospital
ships or the general. convalescent and
reconstruction hospitals. glance at
the returns of the wounded and sick
of the allies on the western front alone
will visualize the need OF doctors and
surgeons IN these institutions.
The responsibility for meeting this
demand upon them rests with the
members of the medical profession rath-
err than with Congress. and when they
once realize the fact that the country
Is fighting not only for principle but
for its very existence. prudence ana
patriotism will combine to lead them to
the desired end.
The idea is that all physicians within
the required age should be commits
stoned in the medical reserve and that
a board composed of some of the prom
inent men of the profession. many of
whom are already connected with the
department., shall make recommended
tions to the surgeon general of those
who are best fitted for the many
phases of Army surgical work. and also
determine who are they that can be
least spared from their communities.
Not only must there be more sur
xeons for the field as the armies in
crease in numbers, but there must be
a reserve to take the places OF those
who fall or who are retired for any
cause. But this number makes no pro
vision for the great convalescent and
reconstruction hospitals that must be
created.
There is also the greatest care due
to the non-fghting part of the people
1t will be a poor reward to soldier
who must do the fighting to know
that the wife and children at
Of op" a physician because the fam
fly doctor. spurred by patriotism,
has entered the Army. even at the cost
Of leaving a community without
physician to look after the sick.
{, lot
legislation to compel such action the
doctors should all place themselves I'M
der the orders of the department to
mobilize for the national good.
For Training Cavalry Horses.
II is reported that orders have been
issued for the organization of cav
airy division at Ell Paso, Texas. and
an Interesting question arises as TO
from where the mounts will come.
Gen won Hernhadf. the German au-
ssouI9 g atmitted to II the sauadson.
and that 1t takes longer time to train
a horse than it does the duilest recruit
In this respect our own cavalry ofh-
cefs kgree and add that a well trained
horse can break In a green rider more
easily than . green rider can educate
hts mount
Theye are plenty of horses available
for cavalry use, after they are trained
what the command. "Fours' front"
means and have not an idea of the
proper way to execute the movement.
with view to the education of these
War Department has given authority
TO the Army Remount Division, of
which Col. John S. Fair is chief. to
organize an auxiliary remount depot
jacksonville. Fla. for the purpose of
forming remount squadrons for duty
In connection with the remount serv-
Ice In France Each squadron will have
a strength of four officers and 27o
men. and will include a wagon COM
pany of thirty wagons. These squad
rons will be filed up with officers and
men accustomed to handling animals.
The men who show most aptitude will
be sent abroad to carry on the work
over there.
While tho main effort of these squad
rops will be to keep the animals in
peffect condition they will also be
prepared to train them for the branch
Of the service that their size and type
Mt them to enter.
The school at Camp Joseph Johnston
VIII be ready about the goth OF De-
csmber by which time its STAFF .organi-
No Holiday for Naval Cadets.
The interest in the work of the mid
shfpmen at the United States Naval
Academy is so high that 1t is feared
by anxious friends and mothers that
there will be no Christmas liberty,
this year. This is the spirit OF the
time: and the young men who are get
ting themselves ready to enter the war
for their country appreciate how hard
they must work to prepare themselves
for the scrap" that SO many Of them
soon VIII enter. It is said Secretary
Daniels left the question to the judg-
ment Of Capt. Eberie, Z. S. N, the su-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.