Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-17
MONDAY. JUNE l., 1918
Requirements of Red Cross Nurse

An editorial in the Sunday Star in
reference to the Red Cross movement for
$4,000 nurses for special servlce-in
which Delaware, as usual exceeded its
ouota-made some statements IN re-
spcct of requirements that are some
what misleading. These statements re-
ferred 10 certain requirements, the de-
STABILITY of which was questioned. and
IN manner that seemed 70 create
msapprchension.
One of the regulations set forth and
commented upon was III respect OF inc
non-eligibility Of married women, wives,
daughters or sisters Of soldiers in active
service. II is shown, however, hv special
orders from National Rcd Gross heed
quarters. that this prohibition applies
only 10 nurses and others who desire
sorvirc oversee with The American
Rcd Gross and other American organza-
,Ior. nov in France. under which condi-
non. Il i necessary to Obtain = passport
II does not however. apply 70 graduate
nurses Who enroll under the American
Red Cross for active service hey go
10 he cantonmCnt military hospitals
become part Of the military establish
men,. and Is such can be sent INTO
foreign service without passport, Just
the same as can the officers and men
Tho official ruling IN respect ~ Nus
subject j. as follows The Secretary
of War realizes and appreciates The
valuable and important work being
accomplished by women abroad. and after
due consideration and upon the earnest
solicitation OF the English and French
authorities and upon the rccommenda-
ton OF General Pcrshing, IL order 70
avoid. if possible, some Of the unfortunate
experiences Of our Allies has adopted
the following rules
Il nder no circumstances WILL the War
Department approve the issuance oi
passports 10 90 to Europe for the wives
mothers. sisters or daughters OF The
following classes Of persons. Officers
and enlisted men of the nitcd states
military forces: male civilians employed
with the Red Gross Young Men
Christian Association or other organlzu-
tions OF similar nature that may bc IN
Europe. civilians employed in or attached
to the American Expedluonary Forces
ANY OF the female relatives enumeraf-
ed in Paragraph who have recently been
TO Europe. but al the present are IN the
United States for any reason whatever,
are now included in the restriction i'm
posed by Paragraph /
1T is quite useless for anyone belong
ing to the restricted classes cited above
to request an exception in her case. as
no exception Will be made.
at is realized that this policy may
deprive the American organizations now
cooperating with the army in France Of
desirable material from time TO time, but
it is believed fairer and wiser 10 adopt and
announce a policy which will undoubtedly
be for the best interests Of all concerned
Experience has demonstrated that
the presence in the active field service Of
the wives, daughters sisters OF other
near women relatives OF. officers and
soldiers engaged IN active war work IS a
disturbing element, by reason Of their
natural anxiety about the condition,
or possibly fate. OF those in whom they
have q deep concern. The commanders
OF the European Allies aecertalned tins
fact long ago Hence the adoption Of
this rule.
But there viii be work il plenty
home defence work. for those who are
thus notified that they cannot participate
in the active field service abroad We
can use married nurses who have been
rejected for some slight disqualification,
says an official communication from
National Red Cross headquarters, and
We can also make use of our married
nurses in hospitals which are being
established by the Public Health Service
at various of the governments industrial
plants throughout the country. We viii
need ten nurses each month for this
service, and we shall be glad to have the
names Of any whom you can recommend
The salary is $62 30 month, with
maintenance"
The situation is set forth in an nter-
esting manner by Mrs William H.
Draper, in Il statement prepared for the
New York County Chapter, A. r. e.
"Nurses should be saved, she says,
wherever possible in civilian life for this
essential war work This does not mean
Of course, that the needs al home arc to
be neglected But these needs should
be met so far as possible BY the service
of nurses who would not be available
for military or naval duty We are
endeavoring to enlist SO far as possible
the services Of skilled nurses who have
married and retired from active service,
but who would De sble 10 give few hours