New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-07
Officials Make Charges
That 1t Has Neglected to
Provide for Wounded
"Amateurs Clutter"
Our Lines Abroad
Organization Will Be lg-
nored by U. S. Unless Re-
forms Are Made Now
[St1f Correspondence

WASHINGTON, Dec. G. Sharp criti-
cism of the failure of the American
Red Cross to provide nurses for ser
vice behind the American lines in
France and the charge that the or
ganization has been so spread over a
multitude of projects that it is neglect
ing its main function nursing the
wounded has been laid before the
War Department.
Lacking prompt reform, it may be
necessary for the Red Cross to be
ignored by the department in its plans
for taking care Of the wounded.
This, it was learned to-day, was the
reason for the Wa- Departments APP
peal for nurses issued yesterday.
Too Many Amateurs
"The plain truth" said man high
in the councils of the War Depart
ment. q man who is a recognized medi-
cal authority as well as an efficiency
expert, sis that the Red Cross is fem
inized to an unbearable degree. We
have had hurrah campaigns. The vast
sum OF s1OO,OOO.OOO has been raised.
Wonderland men, toO-are knitting
and rolling bandages. All sorts Of
nursing equipment are being made
ready-everything, in fact, except the
human equipment.
81 have repeatedly recommended that
the nurses now in training in colleges
ard hospitals shall Immediately I'M
dergo intensive training and that their
courses be abridged one year. This
eXpedient has been resorted to at West
Point and Annapolis, and there is no
good reason why it should not be
adopted in the case OF nurses. These
recommendation have been received
ooldly. There appears to be an idea
broadcast that woman can put on
a becoming headdress and an apron
and forthwith become a Red Cross
nurse.
81 want 20 say. with all the emphasis
can command, that France is now en-
during 4 veritable plague of American
amateur nurses. These women have
forced themselves into France. They
are consuming great quantities of per-
fectly good food needed by the soldiers
and the inhabitants of that unhappy
land, and. for all practical purposes,
they are worse than useless.
ave need right now in the great hos
pitfalls that are being established in
France and let it be understood all
the big hospitals are being located
there trained women accustomed to
the drudgery. the dirty work. the nerve
and heart testing labor Of. wartime
nursing. There is absolutely no place
over there for the amateur, however
we'll intentioned. Our need for the
right kind Of nurses is pressing and
immediate. It is pretty nearly our big
gest need"
Red Cross Task Tremendous
1t is admitted in War Department
circles that the Red Cross has a
tremendous task or its hands, a task
that includes not only development Of
a nursing service, but the management
of its gigantic civilian relief activities
1t is nevertheless emphasized that the
primary and avowed purpose of the
Red Cross Society is to minister TO the
reeds of the wounded and sick.
That this branch of Red Cross work
has been subordinated. it is stated,
merits the strongest criticism. Unless
the condition is remedied at once, it is
predicted the War Department will be
compelled TO take over the training
and supervision of the entire nursing
service under the charge Of Surgeon
General Gorgas. This would mean the
elimination OF several influential WON
en-. it is pointed out, who have long
been strong factors in shaping the poll
cies of the Red Cross Society.