The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-04-23
j. S. CASUALTIES
BRING UP PROBLEM
OF RECLAMATION
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page.)
Of our wounded left their school and
college courses uncompleted to answer
the more urgent call Of the nation.
The confereeS agreed unanimously
. upon a plan which was submitted to the
Secretary OF War for transmission to the
President It proposed the creation Of a
special board OF FIVE with a di. ctor, and
outlined specifically ways by which the
interests OF all the Government bureaus
could be co-ordinated. Since then Sem
ator Hoke Smith Of Georgia has intro
duced a bill which would give the Sur
geon General OF the army authority over
all the medical work and the rest to be
taken care Of by the Federal Board for
Vocational Education.
Congressman Jones OF Texas has in
troduced a somewhat similar bill in
the House, and there are to be hear
ings in the Senate next week. Obvious
~ the situation calls for much broader
treatment of the question that II has
been given, and there has been al
ready a regrettable loss OF time in
dealing with IT.
Five Separate Phases.
There are five separate phases, each
as important as the other: First comes
physical rehabilitation, which is a
medical task, and should be under the
surgeon general of the army, who
should have charge OF all the teach
ers who come into military hospitals,
aad can easily include the navy, for
Secretary Daniels has agreed 70 per
init the wounded sailors to be rehabil-
lated In army hospitals. Men who are
cOnvalescent can be taught in the hos
pitfalls, without loss OF time, trades,
and professions.
But these teachers must be instruct
ed in dealing with the mental process
es OF men who have lost their limbs
or are seriously MANNED. European
experience teaches that unless prompt
attention is given to this, the task Of
re-educating a mind that has deterIor-
Rted IL almost hopeless. The teachers
must be- organized and specially In
structed.
They can be assembled here pro-
vided the wounded can be moved back
to this country rapidly. but the neces-
sity for q large stan in France is be-
ginning TO be recognized Rs absolutely
essential. Reconstruction must be
begun the day that consciousness is
restored.
Next is the completion In technical
schools or colleges OF the courses be-
gun in the hospitals. The Federal
equipped to train men for trades and
mechanical occupations, but the Blu
reau Of Education OF the Interior De-
partment, which is in touch with the
leading colleges and universities.
must be relied upon to help those men
who originally were matriculated in
professional schools and academic
courses leading to law, medicine and
the business world.
In Proper Industries.
ThIrd-The Department OF Labor is
interested in placing men in the right
Industries, and from a medical stand
point # is important to determine
just what the physical capacity of
the individual is for the work Sc
lected. There must be the closest har-
mony with the medical department OF
the Government.
Fourth-The American Red Cross
has a function 10 subserye in prepar-
| ing the families OF the wounded men
for their return. Many a parent will
want the son back home as rapidly
as possible, but the first few months
are most important, and when once
a MANNED soldier is permitted to fall
Into the habits OF q helpless cripple,
his mind cannot be concentrated again
| on educational work. The family
must be prepared to forego the privi-
lege OF immediate return home, but
must assist in the mental stimulus
| to the individuals who will be quar-
tered in reconstruction hospitals in
this country.
There is a way to compel the
wounded man to pay attention to re-
education. The Government foresaw
this in the war risk bill. for com
! pensation can be withheld until an
! Individual Is released from the re-
! con struction hospitals. The Govern
IncnI Is vitality interested not merely
| from the point OF view OF putting
! back into industry and business
/ reconstructed Individual but because
| II left to himself he would become a
public charge or a burden on the
| family. without productive power.
! Hundreds Drought Home.
| Hundreds Of wounded Americans
| have alre idy been brought to this
country. and the public ought 10 be
acquainted with what is being done
/ for their care. Unfortunately there
are less than 5000 beds available. |
England has a minimum surplus OF |
10000.
or course. America has been expect