The Washington herald., 1918-01-22
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In the City

Five experts were named associate
directors OF the war service exchange
by the War Department yesterday.
They viii aid in recruiting the enor-
nous industrial force needed by the
government to insure the success Of
its war program. Ohices OF the new
directors will be room SIS, State, War
and Navy Building.
The seriousness of the housing prob
lem, not only IN Washington. but In
all sections Of the country IL shown
by the fact that Harry NJ. DeLoss, of
New York, and Bridgeport, Conn.
one Of the men named on the board.
will specialize on this subject
Ini cities all over the country where
war munitions are being manufacture
ed the housing problem has been Sc
rious. Many small cities have been
forced to build hundreds Of temporary
homes and in some places great bar
racks have been established to take
care of the thousands Of new en-
ployes in factories.
Others named yesterday are: Louis
F.. Reber. dean OF the extension d.
vision of the University of Wiscon-
sin: Nathan A. Smyth, an insurance
expert, of New York; L w. Litch-
field. of Boston, and Mai. f. n. Sane
tuary, of the army personnel COM
mittee Of the War Department
Figures announced by the surgeon
general yesterday show that J-2 out
OF every thousand American soldiers
in France were placed on the sick
list during the week ending January
10. These figures show that the rate
Of sickness among American troops
I'm France is higher than among the
troops stationed in this country. Dur
ing the same period 464 per thousand
soldiers in the United States were
on the hospital list.
Pneumonia, which ranks FIRST among
the soldiers here and in France. also
shows a higher rate among the ex'
peditiOnary forces than among those
stationed at home. During the week
ending January 10 the rate among
the troops in France was 10 a.
against OF in the United States.
These figures are the first compara-
tive figures bearing on the health OF
American troops both in this country
and in France. Number Of deaths
were not given in the announcement
nor was the death rate.
Among the most closely guarded
secrets in the War Department II
information concerning the location
of base hospitals. Information gen
orally is kept tight within the depart
ment, but full and accurate informa
ton regarding base hospitals arr
known only ito the highest officers,
IL is said.
The majority Of hospitals authorized
by the department have been put IL
operation. however, and many al
ready have been established in France
Several yet are to be organized
Hundreds OF army nurses are needed
Hospitals at various posts which for
merly had five or six nurses now hav'
that many hundred.
A general receiving hospital hsi
been established at Fox Hills. Statei
Island. by the department. Here thu
wounded brought back from France
will be taken from the ships and sen
on to the other hospitals.
Promotion to be a lieutenant col
onel of Capt. E. J. W. Ragsdal'
recently was announced by the Wa
Department. Lieut. Col. Ragsdale Il
one of the army's experts on trencl
warfare. specializing on hand gre
nades and high explosives.
Col T. L. Ames, Ordnance Depart
ment. has been made first assistsn
to Col. Pierce, chief OF genera
finance. Col Amss is one OF the vet
Grams Of the Ordnance Department
financial corps.
The First New Hampshire Infantry
will enjoy the distinction Of being th'
only regiment OF its kind in tho
American army, at least for a time
While many regiments have beer
recruited for special service with th'
American expeditionary forces. the
First New Hampshire is the only on'
so far TO be made up Of soldier
who speak French.
The regiment will be attached Il
the Fourth Division of the army fol
service in France. 1t is stationed a.
Camp Greene, Charlotte. y. c., anC
privates and noncommissioned Off
GERS from other training camps ant
cantonments who are proficient q
French are being sent there to nj
the regiment to its maximum
strength.
After undergoing an examination il
French 15O men from New York regi
ments of the Twenty-seventh Division
recently were sent there in a body
The need Of a large body of mel
from which to draw interpreters &
the explanation Of the new regiment
War Department officials said.