Evening star., 1918-04-14
r~1HE right hand of the Armyfs the

=iHG right hand or the Army 10 the
ordnance department. which
supplies the arms and ammuni-
q ton with which to make pos
sibIs q victory over the enemy. The
. left hand OF the Army Is the Army
., Medical Corps. which maintains the
health OF the men behind the guns at q
...uhigh standard.
--' When America entered the war
months elapsed before the nrst contin-
~ gent of United States soldiers actually
stood face to face with the Hun. But
with the first assignment to camp OF
drafted men, Surgeon General William
&C. Gorgas and the Army Medical Corps
were called upon Immediately to hght
4,edisease.
The growth of the fighting arm OF the
Army, while, perforce, rapid, could ex-
tend, at least, over q few brief months
But the very act of that growth threw
upon the Army Medical Corps the re-
= sponsibility of assuring an unimpeded
expansion through the control of dis
ease. Consequently, the development
of the corps represents one of the most
Important phases of Americas war pro-
gram, and INVOLVES the medical profess
4rsion of the entire country. with the vast
Scientific knowledge that implies.
ON April /. 1917. just six days prior to
~-our declaration of war against Ger
many, the Medical Corps of the Army
included less than 45o officers in the
regular service. and about $500 medical
men. signed up. but inactive, In the
Army Medical Reserve Corps. The Wom-
ems Nursing Corps numbered less than
900. Bed capacity in Army hospitals,
not including limited facilities at Army
posts. numbered 3,s4S. Including post
hospital facilities, the bed capacity
feached, approximately. 5000,
A year later, when America Is enter
ing the second year Of the great war.
more than 100000, including the enlist
ed personnel Nearly 1000 officers rep
resent the regular service, with reserve
corps officers numbering more than
a $4,000. of which total all but about 5000
are on active duty. The Army Medical
Nurse Corps now includes more than
Completed Army hospitals in this
,,sSountry today have a bed capacity OF
:. nearly 10000. while extensions which
will bring that figure up to $1,000 are
$4,000 beds is contemplated. which will
make the bed accommodations reach
the 100000 mark.
The accomplishments of those twelve
months between the two sets Of figures
made one of the most important chap
ters in the history of American partioi-
.SpAtion in the world struggle for democ-
racy. Men gathered from every walk
of life may. in a relatively brief time,
--Upder competent instructors. be drilled
into efficient soldiers But to establish
ito care for the vast Army building
1-necessitated erecting an establishment
OF the finest medical timber the country
.omen whose word In their respective
: fields of medical endeavor would carry
- the weight of conviction. 1t meant
bringing under a single roof in every
camp where American soldiers were
training, specialists in every line Of
medical work. and of providing such
: equipment and appliances as would per-
rendered.
The establishment and eouipping Of a
base hospital at each Of the National
camps. many Of them inaccessible from
the standpoint of transportation, is per-
: haps the greatest single feat under
,ss ssea ar, and suessssf1liy Sa1 aecoWpiishsd by
visitor at a base hospital. none of which
- =, has been in operation more than few
months. and all Of which are hundreds
Of beds larger than the average civil
hospital fnds q thoroughly system
-atfzed organization, running with the
precision and ouietness of q city insti-
s1stution of long standing.
.--'Ep to April, 1917, there were but seven
= Army hospitals. aside from post hospi-
tals. Today there are sixty-three.
~~Ewenty-nine are equipped to care for
more than 1000 patients each; seven
teen will. when extensions now under
-&ay are completed. be capable Of ac-
-.oommodating 1000 patients each. Three
Of the hospitals are located at ports
from which troops embark for France,
two are permanent base hospitals, three
are at camps where specialized training
is carried on. twenty-three are senerala
hnRntfoIQ a n -krx-> 49,