The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-01
AMERICAS HEROES
LACK FOR NOTHING
Doubly Cared For by Army
Doctors and Red Cross on
DebarkatiOn.
ROUTINE HERE REVEALED
Relatives Are Notified After
Men Are Debarked From
Transports.


ciers. coming back to America in in.
creasing but happily not very large
numbers. being cared for in that try.
ing period between their arrival Oh
transports and their distribution
among our widely scattered recon
struction hospitals? Is the Govern
ment leaving anything to chance
emitting any service that might con-
tribute to the patients comfort or re-
covery?
There is a story In the answer to
these questions. It ought TO be sup
plemented and illustrated by scenes
described, so that he who reads could
visualize, but cannot be until the War
Department gives consent. But even
as 1t stands II is a story reassuring
20 home folk wondering If all the way
across the Atlantic and through the
home port and on trains bound inland
or TO the Pacific coast their boys are
getting the treatment they deserve
and Uncle Sam is pledged to give.
Sick to Con ONE First.
\ great majority q; the soldiers
sailing to war passed through the port
OF New York, and through this port,
whether we'll or disabled. will a great
majority return. The army port Of
ep1barkation !s also the port of
debarkation. Machinery built fol
swift despatch of troops to Europe re-
verses itself. as It were. and dis
tributes throughout America the SOL
diers whom 1t aforetime gathered up
and propelled across the ocean.
But before the companies and regi-
ments of the well, the unhurt, are
started back from France all the
wounded or sick will have come ahead
of them. That IL the War Depart
ment's policy. 70 bring home the sick
and wounded first. They are coming
now and have been for some time, and
after the shortest possible soiourn in
dcbarkation hospitals are segregated
and passed along to reconstruction
hospital as close as possible TO their
homes, there to be discharged If their
condition warrants II. or TO be treated
for special disabilities. or to complete
the period Of convalescence.
To receive these incapacitated SOL
diers; TO make smooth their hard path;
to be prepared for their coming; to
make the distribution process swift,
sure and merciful: to see that every
thing is provided for until the distant
destination is reached-that Is the CO.
operative job OF the medical depart
ment of the port 'ot debarkation and
the American Red Cross. So this is
the story of how the Job is done. Off
cially IL Is the plan OF handling tho
slck returned from overseas service"
The New York port OF embarkation
and debarkation-really includes all
the coast from Baltimore to Canada.
but its work Is directed from Hoboken.
The surgeon of the port, who has
charge of the reception and care OF
invaded troops. is Col. James NJ. Ken
needy, Medical Corps, L. 6. A. He Is the
sanitary adviser OF the commanding
General OF the port. William " Judson.
His Office Is in the Terminal Building,
near the waterfront, at IS Hudson
street, Hobokcn.
Every Facility for Medical Care.
Keep me out of anything you
write" were Col. kennedy's instruc-
tions to the reporter. But there's no
harm in saying that he has been
an army surgeon twenty-five years,
served in Cuba and the Philippines,
was In charge OF the army hospital at
the Preside through the earthquake
and fire terror In San Francisco and
has a record and q personality tust-
flying public confidence.
The following facts were obtained
from Col. Kennedy and are official:
Sick and wounded soldiers are
brought from Europe on army trans
ports having every hospital facility
Each transport has normally good
sized hospital. which may be expanded
20 accommodate any number Of men.
Every patient has more than enough
room. one Of the great liners con-
verified into a troopshlp may nave
carried 10000 men 10 France. but as
a hospital ship it brings back only a
thousands or so. The medical attend
ance for the returning soldiers has
been uniformly satisfactory.
The transport arrives OF Quaran-
tine. Il Is boarded there by two nedi-
cal officers detailed for this purpos
By the port surgeon. They ascertain
the number aud classes OF the sick,
the pier and hour at which the ship
will dock. one Of them stays aboard,
arranging for debarka ton.
Tho O.hor returns to the Quarantins
station and telephones his information
20 the Office of the surgeon Of the port
IN HObokcn. Tho surgeon then sends
e.,