The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1918-06-17
BY MILTON BRONNER

WASHINGTON. June Ito
all you patriotic American women
ranging in age from 81 and 35
and anxious 10 serve Uncle Sam
in this war-a message:
Mai Gen. W. c. Gorgas wants
TO build up in this country a great
reserve OF trained nurses capable
of taking care OF our boys over
there" and after the war of car
rying on civilian nursing in our
own country.
Il is, perhaps. needless to ex-
plain that Gorgas is the surgeon
general OF the American army,
the man who cleaned up Havana
and the Panama canal. one of the
most famous doctors in the whole
world.
And because he is approaching
the age of 81. there is some fear
that he may be retired from the
service. This. concerning sill
very-haired youngster who is Sc
full of the zip and pep that he
hides himself away in a small
room and does As hours work a
day.
Need 5000 Nurses.
American women are more
than anxious to do their full part
in this war" said Gen. Gorgas to
me today. They are not content
with saving food in their homes
and helping the Red Gross. They
want to translate their yearn for
service into something even more
tangible. something that has to dc
with the army itself.
1T happens that We have pre-.
cisely the opportunity for them
We have. working in the army
about $4,000 graduate nurses
Before the year Is over We will
need 5000 more. Next year we
will have to have at least 10000
more.
Now we don't feel that We car
afford to drain the country. and
especially the civilian hospitals
of all their trained nurses. That
would be bad for the country.
Also We don't want to follow
the British example where women
became volunteer nurses aids
The latter are not trained nurses
and do not become so. They are
merely helpers to nurses and what
they learn they pick up by expe,
rience. So We have determined
upon the plan of having an army
school of nursing attached tC
each Of our great military hospi.
tails. just as the civilian hospitals
have their training schools for
nurses.
Create Reservoir.
The advantages OF this plan
are three-fold:
"First-we create a great res
'eryoir Of trained nurses upon
whom we can draw IL the war Il
a prolonged one, and It is wei
to prepare for all eventualities.
Second-we make for efficiency
of service in the nursing corps
without gripping the civilian hos.
pitfalls.
'Third-we give great body
of women the chance to learn q
noble profession. IL after the wa,
they wish to continue at It. they
are assured OF a livelihood. If they
do not continue at 1t. they are
nevertheless better fitted when
they become wives and mothers
to care for their own little ones
and to help in the great work OF
fighting for sanitary conditions In
their community.
We expect to establish these
training schools at various points
in the country. The course will
be free and will be for three.
year period. Should the military
hospitals continue in operation
for the full three years all grad
nate nurses will receive diplomas
and will become members. of the
army nurse corps In the order of
the vacancies. Should the war
cease before classes are graduated,
pupils will be given certificates
whixh viii entitIe them to credit
at any civilian hospital training
school to which tAey may go.
The studeat nurses will DO
used largely in attending medical
aad surgical cases coming TO the
military hospitals in the canton.
ments- 1t Is the experience 81
the bslligsrents that 80 percent