The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-10-12
American Surgeon Calls Tale Of
Serious Differences a Ger
man Canard.
UTMOST C0RDIALITY EXISTS
Excellent Work Being Done by AmerI.
can Units Has Reen Subject Of
Compliments \ Remarks by
British Surgeons.

British Headquarters In France and
Belgium. - German agents recently
have been spreading broadcast on the
continent the report that serious diff
ferences have arisen between the
British army medical service and the
American surgeons and physicians who
nave been working with the British
forces in France. Special publicity
has been given the story by it's spon-
sors in Belgium and France The cor
respondent of the Associated Press ac-
credited to British general headquar-
ters has made a careful investigation
OF the facts, visiting not only base
| hospitals which have been taken over
by American medical units, but cas-
ualty clearing stations in which Ameri-
can surgical teams are working.
The utmost cordidiity has and does
exist between the Br tish medical serv-
ice and the Americans who are work
ing with them. The assertion that
there has been any quarrel between
the bodies is without foundation AS
one eminent American has put it,
"The story is a gross canard. The
reasons for circulating It are obvious.
The Germans are trying to create
among Belgian and French civilians a
contempt for America and Great Brit
ain and consequently hostility
toward these two nations"
Americans Are Part OF Machine.
The six medical units which were
sent over from the United States to
take charge of six British base hospi-
tails have become part Of the smooth
ly running organization that the Brit
ish have developed. The Americans
feel that they are fortunate in their
position. They realize that they have
much to learn about war hospitals and
they are having the opportunity OF
learning rapidly from men who have
had more than three years experience.
The British, on the other hand, recOg-
ni2e fully the sacrifices that have
been made by the Americans, many
of them eminent surgeons with big
practices at home, to come TO France
to do their bit In caring for the wound
ed.
The excellent work being done by
the American units has frequently
been the subject of the most compll-
mentary remarks by all ranks of the
British medical organizationaTha serv-
ice which the workers from the United
States have performed is viewed as
one of the bright spots in war which
is causing 50 much misery.
When the Germans began their ruth
less sinking of hospital ships and 1t be
came apparent that il would be unsafe
to try TO transport wounded British
soldiers and German prisoners to Eng
land, there was a hurry-up call for
the establishment of more base hospi-
tails In France. America was asked
for assistance and the six units were
rushed across to Europe, without stop
ping to bring their full equipment.
They Immediately took over large base
hospitals, and although they were han.
dicapped for a time because of lack
Of supplies, their Institutions soon
ranked among the best, for while the
units were inexperienced in war work,
they were highly trained in hospital
service.
Hospitals Care for Germans.
Roughly speaking. the six base hos.
pitals conducted by the Americans
have beds for about 1,500 patients
each, and there are many times when
they are filled to oyerflowing, for base
hospitals must care not only for their
own wounded but for Germans as well.
The six base hospitals have, in addi-
tion TO their other work, furnished
about ten surgical teams for service
in casualty clearing stations near the
firing line. These teams usually con.
sist of a surgeon, an assistant, a nurse
and an orderly. American surgeons
whose names are famous internation-
ally are laboring beside youthful medi-
cal officers who have sat under them in
the classroom at home. Doctor Grille
of Cleveland, Doctor Gushing of Har-
ward, Doctor Brewer of New York,
Doctor Harte of Philadelphia, Doctor
Murphy of st. Louis and Doctor Fred
erick Besley Of Chicago-they call
them majors over here-all have been
or are at present working night and
day in casualty clearing stations,
which have been caring for the wound
ed from the last great offensive.
These surgical teams have had one
characteristic experience. Their work
is hampered and their lives are endan-
gered by German airmen, who persist
in hurting high explosives down among
them. In one of the latest raids the
German aviators killed or rewounded
many of their own men who were pris-
oners being cared for In one of these
hospitals.