The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-05-02
AMERICAN NURSES
NEED ARMY RANK,
GANAHANSADWSE

Should American nurses who are to
serve in the base hospitals in France
be given army commissions?
Il "Yes? is the answer Of two Cana
dian nurses, both commissioned lieu
tenants in the Canadian army, who
are today in Washington on furlough
from the front. where they have been
nursing at Canadian base hospital
| No. for the last two years.
They are Lieut.. Isabelle Gordon
| McElroy and Lieut.. Blanche Levalle.
whose brilliant blue, red and gold
uniforms attracted the attention OF
even uniform-accustomed Washing
| tonians on their arrival here. They
are addressing meetings OF women
war workers, urging them to work to
the utmost to meet the needs OF the
men at the front.
Their visit to Washington brings
iforcibly to the attention OF legisla
tors the demand for commissions for
American army nurses. A bill to
grant commissions to women in nurs.
ing service is before Congress, but
has not been reported out of com
mittee.
Nurses Orders DisObeyed.
Why should nurses have military
rank?
Lieutenants McElroy and Levalle
ind no trouble in explaining. They
tell Of the shrug and nonchaIant reply
of the hospital Orderlies when nurses.
finding some order of theirs dis
obeysd, hear the orderly say:
"Obey your order, madame? Why
You are only a nurse. Why do you
expect me to obey your orders?"
Disobedience has cost many lives
In the hospitals over there, these
nurses declare. For instance, In one
case an orderly was told by a nurse
to bring in first for treatment those
soldiers who had been Eassed, and
whose chances OF recovery grew dim
mer as time passed. The nurses or
der was not Obeyed. The soldier
brought in the wounded and gassed
at random, and as a result more than
one brave man who had been over
come by gas breathsd his last before
aid reached him. when prompter ac-
ton might have saved his life.
I'VE needed commissions" explained
Lieutenant McElroy, land American
nurses viii soon hnd that they need |
them"
Canadians Act Quickly.
Military rank was extended 20 the |
Red Cross nurses Of Canada in 1914. |
shortly after the war began. Parlia-
ment passed a bill providing that Red |
Cross nurses serving on a military |
stan be incorporated in the army and
navy medical corps and given mill
tary rank.
The reason for the order at that
time was explained as follows:
Nurses served in military hospitals
where Orderlies held the rank OF SER
geant and corporal, and in order to
have their orders carried out the
nurses needed authority at least
equal, II not superior, to that OF the
men.
American nurses hold no military
rank whatsoever. Even women ply
sicians aiding in war work are not
commissioned, although they work
under a form OF contract which gives
them a rank equivalent to that OF
lieutenant in the army, It is explained
by the surgeon generals office.
Raker Bill Urged.
The Raker bill now before Con-
gress. to give military rank to nurses
In the United States army, introduced
by John L. Raker, California Con-
gresham. is in the hands OF the
House Military Affairs Committee.
The bill has not yet been reported,
and has had only one hearing. At this,
Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, chair
man, Miss Sophie Loeb, Mrs. George
Mcclellan and Mrs. Lewis Nixon, all
OF the woman's committee Of Mayor
Hylan's committee OF national de-
Tense OF New York city. urged pas
sage OF the bill. They also appear
ed before Secretary Baker, urging
passage OF the bill.
Lieutenants McElroy and Levalle
are on a tour Of the Eastern part OF
the United States. resting from their
work over there. For even nurses
must have rest" they say. CQmbin-
Ing practical patriotism with their
rest. they are speaking in different
cities urging women to do more war
work. and give more for Red Cross
activities
Last night they addressed the Y.
". c. A. at a meeting in the hall OF
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church.