New Britain herald., 1917-06-22
WORK ON LINE ALSO

WORK ON LINE ALSO Qusst1y But Enecttveay Nurses and Physicians Assume Their Places in Gathering Spots for Wounded of
 Many Nationalities.
 British Headquarters in France, June 32 (By the Associated Pres6.)- Quietly and with very little ceremony so as to escape all but official atten- ton American doctors, nurses and en- listed men have within the last fort night taken over six of the British great general field hospitals, releas- ing the English staffs for duty near their front. American surgeons have been rendering valuable aid also in the forward casualty clearing stations during the battle of Messines. This has been the quickest organized aid the United States has given British arms in France and has been greatly appreciated.
 Tho Americans have been much im- pressed by the cordially extended by the British hospital units.
 So smoothly have the transfers been made that the Americans have taken up their new work without even a moments upset in the routine Of the various hospitals. The Stars. and etripes fly with the Union Jack from each hospital fiagstaff, the two en- dsns huttering side by side in the cool breezes that sweep in from the sea.
 Sites CAre6ully Selected.
 The British selected their hospital sites with the greatest care and have developed them with a completeness that has come from nearly three years field experience. Some of the general hospitals are made up of tented wards, accommodating forty to sixty beds each. Others are constructed of series of huts. Both styles arc models of field comfort and con- venience. The operating theaters are splendidly built and seem to lack nothing in the way of modern sur- gical equipment.
 Originally planned for 1.040 beds each, virtually all the general hospt- tals have been enlarged to HOO beds 3,000 patients. The units which have taken over the various hospitals were organised by American Red Cross. as United States base hospitals" And with the declaration of war these staffs were turned over to the regular army for service.
 Settle Down to Work.
 The nurses are all graduates of well known training schools and wilt probably be supplemented soon by voluntary aid attachments of young women workers. such as are now at- tached to the various British staffs. The non-commissioned orderlies and privatea were practically all taken from civil life but in keeping with the doc tors and nurses have settled in their new work with marked efficiency and enthusiasm.
 Cleveland Unit First
 The first of the American units to reach France was known as the Unit ed States base hospital No. 4 and was recruited in Cleveland by Dr. Grille. This unit has taken over British gen- eral hospital No. g somewhere in France. United States base hospital No. 5, organized at Harvard by Dr. Harvey Gushing with Major Paterson as commanding officer, has taken over British general hospital No. II. Unit ed States base hospital No. from the Presbyterian hospital, New York, or- ganized by Dr. George Brewer with Major Hopewood commanding, has taken over British general hospital No. 1; United States base hospital No. 21, organized in St. Louis by Dr. Fred erick Murphy with Major Fife conn manding, has taken over B. G. H. No. 12; United States base hospital No. 10, organized in Philadelphia, large 1y in the University of Penna, by Dr. Richard Harte, with Major Delaney commanding. has taken over B. G. H. No. 16; United States base hospital No. 12, organized in Chicago by Dr. Bes. ley, Major Collins commanding, has taken over B. G. 1T. No. IS, all, of course, being Somewhere in France" :" Each American. hospital staff has organized mobile units for service in the clearing stations just back of the firing lines for emergency work during the first days of great battles. The American hospitals present an inter- esting international study with pa- tients from England. Scotland, Ire land, Australia, New Zealand. and Portugal. Steps will be taken to in- crease the various units and bring them up to the strength required. American doctors and nurses have al- ready acquired the tea habit, which they enjoy every afternoon with the convalescent wounded.
 URGE RECONSIDERAT1O Nyr.,.-,,n,,<, T>o xo fSov, Cfi1I a Mattar {