New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-29
Asks u. S. to Send
Army of Doctors
To Assist Allies
British Officer Appeals for
Aid in Caring for
100000 Wounded

England faces the problem of caring
for 1000 900 wounded men. exclusive of
convalescents The United States must
20 England and France. and probably
TO Russia, at once, besides supplying
10000 doctors for our own proposed
army.
These were some of the facts brought
home to 1000 New York physicians and
surgeons who attended recruiting
meeting held q: The Yale Club last
night under the auspices of the Medical
Reserve Corps. Colonel T. II. Good
win, of the British army, assigned for
duty at the Surgeon Generals Office at
Washington. startled his hearers by his
description of the large number or cas-.
ualties in the Allies medical corps and
of the grave shortage of help now being
encountered,
Colonel Roosevelt launched one of
his characteristic verbal shots at the
conscientious Objector," and when he
had finished ia physicians present
filed 10 the front of the room and
signed applications for commissions IN
the reserve corps. .
81 am sent &c this country TO ask II
the United States will help us by send
ing medical men and nurses" said Colo
mel Goodwin. This help Is badly
needed. Our difficulties are very great
and our losses are very great. we
have now in hand five campaigns, and
we have also had to send large forces
to India.
"In England, Ireland and Scotland
there are over 900, 900 beds, other than
convalescents, and there are several
hundred thousand more seriously
wounded men in France. England to-
day faces the task of caring for l.
eco 900 wounded men, exclusive OF con-
| valescents.
"Our casualties have been very heavy
in the Somme. We lost 265 medical
officers there in three months and
.475 enlisted men in the medical corps
| in the same period. None OF US can
foresee the end of this war. No terml-
, nation is yet in sight
Major Roger I. Noble, l. ). A, at
tached TO the surgeon generals ohlce,
QuBieH SOENt ctdIbAlh- NSNAN" -
ing the difficulties faced in recruiting
the medical corps.
ave have only 495 medical officers
in the regular service at the present
time" he said. 1--WE must have mini
mum number of 10000 for the army 20
be raised At the present rate at which
appeals are being received II VIII re-
auire fifty weeks to get the minimum
number required. At the rate commits
sions are being accepted 1t will take
1875 weeks to get the required number.
We will require a number equivalent
70 the output of all the American medi-
cal colleges for the next eight years"
Colonel Roosevelt produced a laugh
when he announced that we have the
conscientious objector among u.s.
81 believe" he said, there are also
conscientious directors to vaccination.
If had my way with the conscientious
director | would instantly cut of his
vote.
But that is only preliminary. In
the next place, would take him TO the
front. any way. If his conscience for
bids him to shoot | would not interfere
with his conscience. I'd put him where
he'd be shot at.
"Next Tuesday is registration day.
There are men who seem to think they
do all that is necessary if they regis
ter and. if selected, do their duty. That
represents only the minimum duty. The
selective draft only establishes mini
mum. below which you cannot fall
appeal 10 you to render the maximum
Of service, and not the minimum"