Evening star., 1918-02-24

in the Navy. tory. Tn.y we're pro-
portionats to the general expansion Of
the work in all departments Of the
government service because Of the war
and to tho universal interest and wide
spread efforts at cooperation mani
tested by individuals and by societies
IN civfl life for the welfaro Of the na-
val service.
Before the demands made BY . seass
Of war increased . hundredfoad The
work Of the medical department Of the
Navy the demands Of the increased per-
sonnel had thrown . heavy burden on
the bureau and its agents IN hospitals
and navy yards, on foreign stations. on
board ship. at recruiting stations and
on examining boards.
It Is well known that the ADMINISTERS
tion Of the naval medical department.
has long been hampered by numerically
insufficient personnel. A ready Illus
cessity which the bureau has been un-
der for number of years of delegattng
to physicians under temporary ap-
pointment.; with no experience at sea,
work at recruiting omces. It is pointed
out by the officials Of the medical de-
partment that, however able and con-
scientious these physicians may be,
vantage of being unacquainted with
practical service conditions; with the
physical, mental and moral environ
ment which will surround the recruit
and fnfallibly affect his performance
of duty at sea and which should be con-
sidered in determining his ability to
undertake it.
Again, the experts point out. every
hattleship, in times of peace. should
have two medical officers. because duty
fere with routine duties; because cases
constantly arise demanding mutual aid
and consultation. and because medical
Officers. like other men, get sick and
require leave.
In their pleas for an adequate force
the officials point out that each year
sees medicine and surgery approaching
the goal Of its highest ambition and
tions on a scientific basis. with the re-
suit that all branches Of the medical
department Of the Navy must advance
and enlarge. Medical officers require
longer and better training. 1t is as
serted by the officials. as the field Of
knowledge widens and must be in
creased in numbers as specialized serv-
ices are increasingly required. The
same is true of nurses and Hospital
Corps men.
Especially at this critical time stores,
medicines and appliances must be con-
stantly brought up to date. hospital IA
cilfties must be of a more elaborate
character. and provision for the adequate
care Of the sick and wounded afoat be-
comes ever moro exacting as a prob
lem.
Shortly after the declaration of war
the medical department was allowed
more doctors by a presidential procla-
nation. It was evident at the time, so
the ofhcials say. that very energetic
campaign would be necessary to secure
desirable candidates to fill the vacan-
cies.
OF course. the fundamental objection,
the one operating most effectually to
keep men from choosing the Medical
Corps of the Navy for a life work, is
and family necessitated by sea service.
In the second place, so the medical men
of the Navy declare. the rising stand
ara of professional attainments is re-
aucing es;s the number Of practitioners in
generally present than might appear on
the surface disinclination to enter
into contract with the government.
based on the fear that. while the gov
ernment may be exacting with the indi-
vidual. the individual is not in a posi-
ton to compel the government to keep
It's contract. and that the legitimate
hopes and expectations of years of
service may end in disappointment and
4
Without doubt, one of the greatest
problems which the United States has
had to face since
Thrift Lessons coming into the
From the War. ansncs I'm ,a "a +,;s Gs
time this question has been we'll met
w hA f,,t, s<
be well met. However, officials Of the
Treasury Department, who are charged
with the collection of taxes from the
people. are more and more of the opin-
ion that the people in general are not
nearly as thrifty and saving as they
should be. That is one of the reasons
that the war savings stamps and
thrift stamps have been advocated SO
strongly.
Americas entry into the war brought
the country face to face with pnparal-
1e1ed and unusual financial problems.
both in their variety and magnitude.
To these were added the inevitable ac-
compartment of many other problems
arising out of essential economic re-
adjustments necessitated by the war
and the Transformation of an unarmed
and peaceful nation into a formidable
armed combatant. Many of the familiar
phenomena have appeared and will con-
tinue to appear until these readjust-
ments have been completed. They have
caused inevitable losses and hardships.
Oficials of the Treasury who are
vitality interested in the business and
manufacturing plants of the country
from the financial standpoint, point out
that business. as usual" cannot be
adopted as the guiding principle in
time of war. It Is a wholly wrong
theory. they state, and should find no
advocacy or acceptance by the sensi-
BILE and patriotic people of America.
Business must be readjusted to the
war-making function Of the nation.
What officials of the Treasury De-
partment, as well as other departments
and branches of the government. have
tried to drive home is that in the re-
adjustment that must take place our
people shall be impressed with the
necessity of economizing in the con-
sumption of articles of clothing, food
and fuel, and of every other thing
which constitutes a drain upon the
available supplies. materials and re-
sources of the country. Up to this
time. it is very truly pointed out by
these officials. there has been a. rela-
lively small denial of pleasures, COM
forts and conveniences on the part of
the average citizen. He is drawing upon
the general stores of supplies in the
country with almost the same freedom
as before America went into the war.
This cannot continue without serious
hurt to the nation and to the world.
1t is pointed out that the great fnan-I
cial operations of the government can
not be carried forward successfully un-
less the people of the United States
economize in every possible direction.