Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08


the Treaty of Geneva), that part OF the
American National Red Cross rendering
aid to the land and naval forces Will con-
s,i,ute a part Of the sanitary services
e. o. TIC, War Department. 1sll.)
2 The following Act of Congress was
approved April "a. 1912:
THAT. whenever in time of war, or
when war is imminent, the President may
deem the cooperation and use OF tne
American National Red Cross with tne
sanitary services Of the land ana navai
forces to be necessary, he is authorized
to accept the assistance rendered by the
said Red Cross and to employ the same
under the sanitary services of the Army
and Navy in conformity with such rules
and regulations as he may prescribe.
Sec. 2. That when the Red Cross CO,
operation and assistance with the land
and naval forces in time OF war or tnreal
ened hostilities shall have been acceptei
by the President. the personnel entering
upon the duty specified in section one OF
this Act shall. while proceeding to their
place of duty, while serving thereat' ana
while returning therefrom, be Transporter
and subsisted at the cost and charge or
the United States as civilian employees
employed with the said forces. and the
Red Cross supplies that may be tenderet
tary service shall be transported at the
cost and charge Of the United States.
g. 0. 16. War Department, islzl
3. Extracts from Manual Tor the Medi-
ca Base hospitals are Medical Depart
ment units of the line OF communications
under the supervision of the surgeon.
base group, (par. 75?,
lished at the base and. when necessary IN
accessible situations along the line of
communications. The number to be as
when first established is determined on
the basis of the number of troops to be
served and the percentage of sick, and
wounded which n may al,to, reasonably g BE
in question (par. 759)
(c) The base hospitals are designed to
receive patients from the, field and
originating on the line of commune
cations. and to give them definite
treatment They should be well well
should be sent to the home territory only
those patients who req Iire special treat
ment or whose condition Is such that they
may be regarded as either permanently
disabled or likely not to recover within
a reasonable time. IT, However. the num-
Der of new cases from the front is taxing
the base hospitals beyond their capacity
or the facilities thereof are inadequate
from any cause to meet the demands
upon Them more extensive evacuation of
patients must be effected. On the eve of
battle the base hospitals near the front
should be cleared as far as possible to
make room for new patients (par. 1922.
4. While naval regulations do not speci-
fically cover the points set forth in para
graph 3. (a), CO., and (c). the employment
of naval base hospital units would be
substantially as outlined therein, with due
allowance for the special requirements Of
the naval service.
l7s. Enrollment-5. Red Cross Base
Hospital Units are organized by the
American Red Cross for service with the
Army and Navy. and when reported by
the National Headquarters of this Society
as ready for sevice. they are placed on
roll in the Surgeon Generals Office of
the department for which enrolled.
s. The Red Cross muster-in roll con-
templates an engagement with the Red
Cross by which the individual agrees to
hold himself ready for service in the or
ganiZation for period of two years
When. however, a unit is called into ac-
tive service with the Medical Department
of the Army and Navy, this engagement
is terminated by the various classes Of in
dividuals entering either service in their
different capacities and under the condi-
tons prescribed by law for the several
grades. 1t is anticipated that in the case
OF Army erlistments these will be in the
volunteer forces and the term of enlist
ment will be limited to the duration OF
hostilities.
l7e. orranisation--7 While Army
and Navy Units are fundamentally SINH
lar they differ in certain details according
to the special requirements of the ser
vice fer which they are designated. The
strength and organization of these units
is at present follows, in accordance
with agreements between this Office and
the Surgeons General of the Army and
Navy, respectively.
S. The organization of the Army Unit
corresponds quite closely to that of
general hospital of 500 beds, the male adj
ministrative personnel of which is in
strength after the unit is called into ser
vice. In view Of the fact that the tables
of organization of the Army are now I'M
dergoing revision, these figures may UNI
IL .l,n Sac,
Medical Omcers .................... - (a)
Dentists q
Chaplalns ..........................
Nurses ................... ........... oV Npl
Male Administrative Personnel. 50 (d}
Civilian Employees ................ III
Notes-(a) This number includes the
Quartermaster and Registrar
who may not be medical men.
(b) is additional nurses in reserve.
(c) Is additional in reverse.
(d) Minimum for enrolment.
9. GAY AS the Navy Is always on war
footing and is consequently not subject to
enormous expansion the need of this ser
vice for Base Hospital Units is compare
lively limited and at present not more
than five are contemplated
o. The equipment of Navy Unit Is
similar to that of an Army Unit, but only
$50 beds are provided. The capacity of
increased to $50 beds. or more, If required
(c) The personnel of Navy Unit is as
follows:
Medical Officers .................... 10
Dentists ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
nurses .:;.,........'.. '.-.....'..... ~ la)
Nurses Aids ........................ IA CO.
Civilian Employees ................ 20 (b).
Notes--(a) 20 additional nurses In reserve.
(b) Not necessary for enrolment
$50. Personnel-10 In order that
there may be no confusion or delay 'in
time Of war, or when war is imminent"
1t Is the intention Of the Surgeons Cen
eral Of the Army and Navy to have all
necessary measures taken in advance to
provide that the various classes Of indi-
viduals named In the above tables shall
serve in the Medical Departments Of the
Army and Navy as follows:
18l. Medical Ofncers OF Army Units
Ii. (a) Medical officers of Army Units
have as a rule been commissioned in
the Medical Reserve Corps. These will
however, under the provisions of Section
81 Of the National Defense Act. within
the course of the year be transferred to
the Medical Section of the Officers Re-
serve Corps, and in the latter will hold
the grades of Major, Captain and First
Lieutenant. The Director and the Chiefs
of the Surgical and Medical Services will
have the grade of Major. and the rest of
the Medical staff will be divided between
the two lower grades. In time of war
higher volunteer commissions may be
given to members of the medical STATS of
Red Cross units.