The Hartford republican., 1918-12-20
P Ace SHOWS
WARS TRAGEDY
Reversed Flow OF Soldiers
Now Brings Manned
To View.

from war to peace, which reversed
the eastward flow of Americas fight.
ing millions-the greatest trans
oceanic troops movement ever known
brought the American people face
to face with the tragedy of the cas-
ualty lists.
General Pershing's announcement
that more than $4,000 of the expedi-
tionary forces had given their lives in
the nations cause and that $4,000
others, exclusive of prisoners, were
missing, created a profound impress
sion, but the human touch of almost
10000 wounded, 16, 900 Of whom al
ready have been returned in various
stages of helplessness to their native
shores, promises to give the country
its first real appreciation of the sacri-
fees of it's sons who followed the flag
on foreign soil.
The method of their debarkation
denies to the Homecoming wounded
the popular honors paid their COM
rades in full health. But the War
Department, operating along lines in
tended to give the lie to the proven
bial ''ingratitude of government" has
arranged for medical, recreational
and educational attention, whose aim
is to restore these manned heroes, as
fully as possible, to physical comport
and financial independence.
Are Tenderly Cared For.
From the day of their arrival at
New York or Newport News, the ports
of debarkation, to their re-entrance
into civilian life, a host of Good
Samaritans-army Doctors, nurses
and orderlies and workers of the
American Red Cross-will minister
to these sufferers from a ruthless en-
emy's engines of war. Harbor hos
pital boats, debarkation hospitals,
hospital trains and general hospitals
for reconstruction of convalescence
form chain of service linking the
westward bound fleets of transports
with the homes of the wounded. And
in the service the Medical Debarka-
tion Corps, suddenly thrust into the
foreground of publicity by the col
lapse of Central powers, plays an i'm
portant and picturesque part.
The end of the war found the port
AIi 10
shoulder the heavy burden laid upon
them. During nineteen months of
participation in the conflict
they had maintained an embarkation |
hospital service, treating the cOmpar-
atively rare cases of illness among |
troops ready to go overseas. When |
American forces entered the trenches |
small groups of wounded, evacuated |
from hospitals in France, began to |
filter through the service on this side |
If the Atlantic. With this experience |
by the lessons of the al
led governments in repatriating |
heir wounded, the debarkation sys-
em was put in readiness for the re-
,eption of injured men at the rate of
10000 to 1900 a month.
Prepare To Handle Cases.
During the war and a five weeks
,eriod following the signing of the
lrmistice, approximately 1880
wounded had been received at New
York and 4,5OO at Newport News.
md the authorities were prepared, on
,fficial advice from Washington, to
handle 5000 cases in the next four
months.
The army embarkation service at
New York. which sent three-fourths
If the nations 100000 men over
eas, is expected to debark a MAORI
y of the returning forces, and the
westward flow of wounded also will
,e directed here, with some diversion
o Newport News and possibly, later
IN, to Boston. To carry on the work
It this port the medical department
las a personnel of 7.3O6-greater
han the entire Medical Corps when
he United States entered the war.
IN this staff, headed by Col. J. M.
Kennedy, veteran of twenty-five years
# service as an army surgeon, $50
re medical officers, 9S3 nurses, men
nd women, 5.1S4 enlisted men and
SO civilian employees.
The operating facilities include
ggregate capacity of 10000 beds.
wo base hospitals with $50 beds, a
econstruction hospital at Columbia
University for cases too serious to be
moved to interior institutions. five
arbor hospital boats with 800 beds
ach, seventy-five ambulances with
fly additional held In reserve by the
ted Cross, and four hospital trains.
ach accommodating upward of 200
atientS