Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-09-06

broke out in Europe and farsighted
men and women saw that this country
might ultimately become involved the
directors of the Red Cross began to pre-
pare on a large scale for such an emer-
gcncy. Up and down the land went
organizers urging public spirited citi-
nj in cities all over the country to
establish units and raise funds for hos
pital equipment. AS this meant In
each instance the raising Of from $780,
600 to 100000 for something whose use
fulness was in the minds of the gen
eral public very problematical, the task
was nc light M
But the workers persisted. AS a re-
suit when this country declared war
the Red Cross was prepared and has
already organized forty-four base hos.
pital units-thirty-nine for the army
and five for the navy, which will be
ready to be turned over to the govern
ment with their equipment as fast as
they are asked for. Already seven Of
| these have been sent abroad for the
use Of the allies, and the balance are
ready to go at q days notice.
The base hospital is housed in q sub
stantial, permanent structure anywhere
from twenty-five to q hundred miles
away from the firing line. The wound
ed are taken from the trenches by
stretcher bearers and carried to the
dressing stations Immediately back Of
the line. Here they receive emergency
dressing and attention and are then
carried back to the field hospitals in
ambulances. From the field hospitals,
as soon as possible, they are carried by
ambulance and hospital train back to
the base hospitals, where they are sur
rounded by the best hospital equipment
known to modern medical and surgical
science. Portable hospital buildings
have been devised, so constructed that
they can be easily packed and shipped
and set up quickly.
The great size Of a base hospital can
be appreciated when it is stated that
the regulation buildings, in as compact
a form as can be arranged, cover an
area 1000 feet long and 500 feet wide,
eleven acres in all. The equipment
alone when stored occupies 10000 Gu.
bic feet. The cost Of modifying q
unit with it's equipment at Philadel-
phia recently, aside from %transporta-
ton, was over $1,000. One base hos
pital will care for 10000 men.
The portable kitchen, which feeds
$50 persons three times a day, is @
new type especially designed for the
Red Cross. The portable X ray outfit
is even fitted with a generator to pro
vide It's own current, as there Is never
any certainty as. to whether direct OF
alternating current or any adequate
current at all will be found already
supplied at the point Of destination
Then there is the laundry equipment
complete ven to a drying room; fumi
eating, sterilizlng and incinerat1nt
plants, a completely equipped operat
ing room, laboratory, etc. There is tn
eight ton refrigerating truck, which /
a complete unit in itself, not only pro
ducinG two tons of ice q day, but run
ming a battery of cooling plants. Con
nected with each base hospital ar
three ambulances and q two ton trucl
for carrying supplies.
The base hospitals are under the di
rection of the department Of the mill
tary relief of the Red Cross until mus
tered into service, when they become
part Of the army organization. Form
ing another very important branch o
this department are the ambulance
companies. Each company consists o
ninety-one men, including five medica
officers.
Still another branch of the depart
ment Of military relief is made up o
the hospital units. Each unit is CON
posed Of twelve doctors, usually spe
cialists, who may be shifted fro1
point to point wherever the need. !
greatest.
Aside from this active service in tn
field, the department maintains a br
reau for providing the soldiers wit
! the comforts Of life not regularly
part of the governments military SUI
plies, such as extra medical supplies
literature, tobacco and other comfort
Another important unit Is the san
tary training detachment for the nj
thodical teaching OF first aid. Group
of men are trained for service with til
= army, resembling the voluntary aid d.
tachmcnts organized with such success
In England.
In short, by It's activities IN carir
for tho well being Of the soldiers Il
l Red Cross probably doubles the G
fciency OF the lighting forces.