The Washington herald., 1918-08-14
OF
NATION TO FORM
SERVICE CORPS
DR.. Franklin Martin Heads
Medical Section Of Ma
tional Defense.
WILSON ENTHUSIASTIC
Three Classes, by Age,
Provided State Con-
troll Planned.
WILSON ENTHUSIASTIC

AASA e~AA&A~s
Selective service, on q voluntary
basis. Is to be extended to the physi-
clans Of the United States. /.
Under q plan announced last night
by Or. Franklin Martin. chairman OF
the General Medical Board, Council
of National Defense, the medical men
and women of the country are to be
mobiIised by the Volunteer Medical
Service Corps. This organization is
authorized by the Council Of National
Defense and approved by President
Wilson.
The extended scope Of the voIun-
teer Medical Service Corps provides
for the enrolment of every legally
qualified physician, including women
physicians, holding the degree OF doc
tor of medicine from a legally charter
ed medical school. without reference
to age or physical disability, who Is
not now in the service OF the govern
ment "
Population Provided For.
In addition to registering thousands
of doctors in a medical reserve which
VIII be Immediately accessible for the
army, navy and Public Health Serv-
Ice, ample provision will be made for
civilian service, no matter how ur-
gent the needs.
"One great need Of definite organi-
Zation Is in relation to civilian sery-
ice," said DR.. Martin. in outlining the.
general plan OF. the corps, ';Unless
some fxed plan Il Adopted. home peo-
pie may suffer and medicine itself
may be discredited."
This new plan registers all medical
men and women for an kinds OF serv-
ice and places them within reach OF
those who know the needs and will
arrange for their supply.
President Wilson Approves.
In q letter to DIR. Martin, approving
the reorganization of the corps, Presi-
dent Wilson says: -., e.
1T have received your letter Of Au-
gust 5, laying before me the matured
plan for the reorganized Volunteer
Medical Service Corps. of which you
ask my approval. This work was un-
dertaken by you under the authority
of the Council of National Defense;
1t has had great success in enrolling
members of .he medical profession
throughout the country into volun-
teer corps available to supply the
needs of the army, navy, and Public
Health Service. In cooperation with
the General Medical Board OF the
Council of National Defense, the
strong governing board Of the re-
organized corps will be able to be of
increasing service. and through 1t the
finely trained medical profession OF
the United States Is not only made
ready for service in connection with
the activities already mentioned. but
the important work of the Provost
Marshal Generals Office and the Red
Cross win be aided and the problems
Of the health OF the civilian COM
munities Of the United States assured
consideration. '"
IT am very happy to give my ap-
proyal to the plans which you hava
submitted, both because II gives me
an opportunity to express to you, and
through you to the medical profess
sion, my deep appreciation OF the
splendid service which the wnolc pro-
fession has rendered to the nation
with great enthusiasm from the be-
ginning Of the present emergency.
The health OF the army and tho
navy, the health Of the country at
large. is due to the cooperation which
the public, authorities have had from
tho medical profession; the spITi. of
sacrifice and service has been every
where present and the record OF the
mobilization Of the many forces OF
this great republic will contain no
case Of reader response or better
service than that which the physicians
Eave rendered" '-........
Three Glasses Planned.
Members Of the corps will be di-
vided into three classes:
l. Fit to fight men under 40,
2. Reserves under 55.
3. Home forces over 55.
Reserves will consist of those who
may be called upon for the army.
navy, Public Health Service and ci.
william service when necessity re-
quires.
The home forces are those who are
able to do civilian service only,
The management Of the corps Is
vested in central governing board
appointed by the Council of National
Defense and approved by the Presi-
dent State governing, boards win
direct the affairs OF the corps In. the
several States. The state boards !
VIII De composed OF members of the
State committees. medicai section.
Council Of National Defense.
Notables On Central Beard.
Some OF the most widely known
physicians in the country hold mem
bership in the Central Governing
Board. Among them are surgeoi,
Gen. Gorgas. of the, army; Surgeon
Gen. Braisted. of the navy; Surgeon
Gen. Blue, of the Public Health
Scrylcs; Admiral CaryNT. Grayson.
EDr rank Billings. Of Chfcaxo: DR.,
(. q hfsyo. Of Rochester, Minn. Pro-
vest Aarshal Gen. z. II. Crowder is
Also member.
Members OF the corps will wear
authorized insignia. showing that
they have placed their services al
tse disposal OF the government.