The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-25
big HOSPITAL OPENS
UNDER u ROAD DIN
Old Greenhut Building in
Sixth Avenue to House
1000 Wounded.
WILL BE FILLED IN WEEK
First Batch Of 500 Installed
and More Shiploads
Are on Way.

The rattle OF elevated trains, the
footing OF automobile sirens and the
shouts OF playing youngsters drifted
, In through the big open windows Of
Base Hospital No. yesterday, pro-
viding raucous medley that was
more welcome to It's 500 wounded
men than even the softened tones
! which marked the passage through
the wards OF the ministering nurses.
II Is the biggest hospital Of its kind In
the world, the only one Of its type that
has been set down in the heart OF a
great city and certainly the only one
where a wounded doughboy may
glance up from the pillows and glimpse
the welcome sight Of a Sixth avenue
elevated train hurrying on its way up
or down town.
When the Government took over
the big building which formerly housed
the Greenhut department store, at
sixth avenue and Eighteenth street,
the medical officers who made the Sc
lection did not figure the rattle OF an
elevated train among the tonics to ba
doled out for the repair OF wounded
fighting men. But even the cheerful
faces of visitors who went into the
hospital yesterday to visit the first
batch of wounded men to be installed
in the place ran second to the sight Of
the trains, for nearly every one of the
patients knew New York we'll enough
to heave big sigh OF relief when the
familiar noise came floating in from
the outside.
Accommodations for 1000.
The wounded 500 who are there
don't begin to exhaust the hospitals
accommodations. which are sufficient
to care for 1000 patients. Major w.
J. Monaghan, who is in charge Of the
hospital. sai1 the place is none too big.
however, since another $50 wounded
soldiers will be set down there to-day,
probably another $50 tomorrow. and
so on until the place is filled.
In reality it will be used as de-
harkation hospital to which the
wounded men Wilt be taken from the
incoming hospital transports. They
will stay only until they arc mended
sufficiently to permit their transfer to
other hospitals, nearer their homes.
The first contingent OF wounded
men to reach the hospital are happy
lot. Many OF them are not badly
enough hurt to compel their remain
ing In bed. Those who are able TO
move about, as we'll as those who are
not, were a smiling lot yesterday. and
dressed in bathrobes and pajsmas
seemed 10 wonder that the hospitals
supply Of good American cigarettes
apparently was inexhaustible.
Major MONAGHAN explained that the
hospital, In addition to being the big
eest on earth, so far as capacity Is
concerned, will be none too large for
the task that has been laid out for II.
The STAFF under him is all ready for
the big Job and Is composed OF Capt.
whalen. Cant. Ralph Jones and Capt
3. Il. Mcclellan, chief OF the surgical
staff. and a long list OF other physi-
clans and surgeons who have been
prominent In their profession here and
in other cities.
Visitors VIII BE Admitted.
Only few visitors were admitted
Yesterday, but later on more will be
allowed TO enter, since the authorities
have no desire 10 keep relatives or
friends away from the wounded men.
except when the soldiers condition lie
against It. Some OF the soldiers are
suffering from shell shock, others from
nervous exhaustion due 10 other
causes. and the surgeons cautioned
everybody who was admitted against
repeating any Of the stories the sick
men told. because they feared many Of
the yarns might be greatly exaggAr-
ate,.. But they pointed out that for
every exaggerated yarn there was a
tale equally curtailed because of the
| molcsty OF the fighter who told T.
Six floors IT the big building have
bsen equipped for the reception OF the
wounded men, and Major Monaghan
said he thought the place would he
filed WITHIN little moro than a week
II the homeward flow Of the wounded
Is maintained at the present rate. In
that event he said. he thought all OF
the wounded surely viii he back in
America inside OF two months or a lit