Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-09-06
SPEND VAST SUMS TO
SAVE SOLDIERS LIVES
american Lives Worth More Than
Money, Is Conviction of Govern
ment--Dr. Holland Gives
Interesting Talk

THE WI ar department OF tho
United States and all the allied ma
mons as we'll, are possessed of the
ne Interchangeable belief, that the life
], the merest private is worth vastly
more than any amount of money!
said President Il. o. Holland of the
State College of Washington before
the chamber of commerce at its
weekly session Tuesday. President
Holland has just returned from a trim
to Washington, ID. c., where he was
in conference with officials of the
War Department and the educational
committee of the department. His
Impressions of the war situation, as
given before the business men, were
Instructive and highly interesting,
and his remarks We're punctuated
with expressions of the spirit of eau
tious optimism and determination
which he brought with him from the
national capital.
He drew attention to the tremen-
d0us amount of money which is being
expended to win the war in order
. that life may be spared, and stated
that, while it may appear that the
government is spending money like a
drunken sailor the entire plan is
based on the one determination, to
save every possible life at any none
tary cost. The government, he said,
is basing all it's plans on a war of
from three to four years duration.
DR.. Holland, on his trip, visited the
universities of Missouri, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Purdue and Indiana, and
the land grant colleges of Kansas,
Iowa and North Dakota, and reports
that everywhere he found the same
war spirit and the determination to
end the war as quickly as possible
but with a decisive victory. He
called attention to the tremendous
amount of preparation work that is
being accomplished at the national
headquarters and throughout the ma
tion, and the numerous changes in
plans that are frequently made by
the government to meet the changed
conditions and demands from the bat
tie fronts.
Secretary Baker, he said, is firmly
convinced that no 18-year-old boy
should be put into the line until the
last, and many high school graduates
VIII be privileged to take work at the
institutions of higher education un-
III they are called by the government
for other duties, or permitted to con-
unue their technical training.
An interesting account of his visit
10 Walter Reid hospital for returned
wounded soldiers, at Washington, d.
" was given by DR.. Holland. who
stated that the spirit of cheerfulness
mat pervaded the institution was one
Vi the most impressive and satisfying
'ohdltions he encountered. DR.. Hol-
'dhu told of conversation with Ser
eodht Ross, member of Captain Ar
ehie Roosevelt's company, who was
eoniined in the hospital through the
tubS OF hlg l.; ;,,,.
sergeant Ross continued in the same
"appy-go-lucky mood which had evil
uehtly characterized his entire life,
anu MS only regret seemed to be that
no would probably not get another
enahce at the Huns. When ques-
'oheo as to how long he had been a
aetseant, the injured man replied,
w. I've been sergeant six times
uuring my military career"
interesting and highly satisfying
eures on casualties were brought
.acA oy President Holland, based on
sae casualties suffered by the 500,-
a, SOiuIcIS up I'd July VI
"'s year, the data being furnished by
canadian officer associated with
1e olIice of the surgeon general. OF
ne 100000 Canadian soldiers, who
- ave seen as hard fighting as any of
e troops, only 46 were blinded,
), Invariably small percentage. Thir-
a, ave thousand of the Canadian sol
s s were returned to their own
aoVince as unable to fight again be-
!, use OF wounds, but 80 per cent of
use Use were able to return to their
er positions or occupations, II
es cent requiring re-education. Only
.9Vo major operations were required
- ro 'ne result of casualties among the
.sO'ooO troops, and the ratio of leg
FUNDS to arm wounds was two to