South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-30
OUR FLOATING HOSPITALS

emergency the soarium De used temporary
overflow from the contagious wards.
CHAPLAIN IMPORTANT.
The chaplain of hospital ship Is one Of its most
important officers To begin with. he is entrusted
with the of the spiritual welfare OF everyone
aboard But his duties 20 farther than that. He has
charge of amusements and entertainments of every
ship naturally provides very little opportunity
field sports but it is surprising the
outsider to discover how much athletic recreation Is
possible There Is, of course, boxing Tor those VINO
ar able indulge. and swimming. wrestling. and even
baseball All hands particularly encouraged 70
themselves proficient rowing sailing. and
swimming
Recreation of d lighter sort is abundanty oHered
the convalescent sailors. There is panola, gen
erously donated. a moving picture machine. and
number victrolas furnished 10y the Red Cross Rec
ords for the victroas freely supplied from the
welfare athletic funds of the fleet. and the films
for moving pictures are provided when the ship Is IN
United states waters. by the Young Mems Christian
association The cheering influence of these diver
sons and the soace of good music are no small factors
in speeding the recovery of the patients
Books and games furnished by the government.
Each ship fiction library which is increased
from time to time by contributions organza-
and private individuals. The especially APP
Dreciate receiving the latest books and read them
eagerly Games and jigsaw puzzles help to make the
time pass for those who conhr ed their hunks
and unable walk about the ward ship. The bene
fits library extend moreover and nurses
as we'll as to the patients themselves They equal
need of recreation and appreciate everything that
is done for them.
ON DUTY AT FLEET BASE
The hospital ships duty the fleet base.
They ordinarily separated the fleet itself
remain with II, It. TO attend 10 the daily
wants injuries of the seamen. The hospital ship Is
supposed transport sick and wounded from the
base hospital ashore that is the function Of
the ambulance ship Neither is it designed TO carry
sick an wounded sailors the that is the
work of a transport ship These transport and ambu-
ships similar the agencies OF transporta-
which BRING patients and from a land hospital
The shore infrmary has its ambuances and its rail-
road facilities The ambulance of a floating hospital
: a vessel of moderate size designed carry for a
few hours. 100 10 $50 surgical and medical a
brief fleet hospital ship from either
the nearest base. The railroad Ions distance
interuroan feeder OF seagong hospital is the trans
port ship arser boat than the ambulance vessel and
capable OF making transoceanic voyages with speed and
with the possible comfort the
With these three types OF service ships the hospital
service OF the United states Is almost complete
only further need is contagious disease hos
pita ship similar arrangements contagious hos
pital ashore This would release the pressure the
ABILITIES of the regulsr hospital ship enable
attention % be paid 10 surgical cases. besides max
possible unrestricted OF the vessel
While the boys OF the navy aboard great
floating hospitals they will receive all the friendly
they could possibly receive any hospital
ashore THEN homes. The mothers. fathers.
sisters brothers. and of those who lighting
IN this great well that when their
loved sick wounded they will have every
and comfort that medical sciAlce ana practced
hands administer. The thing That will
ing will hs the presence OF the loving rettiVes. and
that something which supply a. the sick
when they are fsr from home.