New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16
Army Nurses Ask
Congress to Accord
Them Official Rank
Bill Comforting Title and
Rank May Be Added to
Pending Measure; Need
of Change Is Explained
Speeial Correspondencs

Special Correspondents
WASHINGTON, Feb 15.-The Lewis
Raker bin providing rank, title and
insignia for army nurses, has been
referred to committee, but it is
expected that representative Shepherd
will move TO have the bin attached
as an amendment to the Military
Appropriations bill when the latter
comes before the House
An overseas nurse writes as follows
to the National Committee on Rank for
Nurses, which is trying to get it out
of committee and passed at this session
of Congress:
Because peace has come please do
not drop the effort 10 secure rank for
us. Now that the wounded no longer
are demanding our fullest attention
we are able TO put more time on the
general sanitation OF the wards. This
frequently brings us into close COM
bat with the hospital corps men. And
let me say right here that many of
these men have done a great work. 1t
is not with these but with the ignorant
and indifferent that we are Mt war. The
matter of getting utensils cloanSed and
disinfected is special problem.
"ln this day OF concerted effort TO
combat social disease no more effective
weapon could be devised than the in
ignia OF rank we are asking for. To
illustrate:
with great difficulty equipment Is
limited on the field managed to nave
placed in the lavatory a receptacle of
disiniectant. ] directed the orderly TO
soak utensils in it after use. Return
ing from a short period off duty L
found that my precious solution mad
been emptied out Upon inquiry as to
what became of it was asked by what
authority was interfering with the
care Of utensils. No recital Of army
regulations would have been necessary
/ if | had had q title and bar on my
shoulders"
Officer Applauds Nurses Spirit
"The spirit of our nurses" Says
recently returned army officer, has
! been beyond all praise They have
submitted to all the creature discom-
forts that the men themselves have
known, short of being in the trenches.
Their exposure to the fortunes of war
has been no whit below that of the
men. Under shot and shell when the
well-being of the wounded was in ques-
ton, they have shown magnificent
disregard of personal safety and have
I ever DeeU the lHSI TO seek cover
"They have worked INCREASINGLY and
always cheerfully against great odds.
They have endured long hours uncom-
plainingly. They have shivered in the
cold and wallowed in the mud of Elan
ders. They have stood the rigors Of
army life without grumbling. and many
of them are women dclicately nur-
tured.
Their spirit of helpfulness and
~
paraileled We arc proud Of their skill
and we are proud Of their spirit. They
ought to have recognized status. 1t
viii smooth out many q difficult situe-
/ ton. 1t viii heighten morale and it
VIII show their efforts have been
nized, even though rardily.
1T is a matter of great regret to
those Of us who have seen their noble
work that they have been subject to
humilatioDs that the nurses OF none
Of our Allies have had to endure"
Many Potential Edith Cavells
A distinguished French officer. in
speaking Of Edith Cavell, said: every
/ hospital in the war zone has its 20
tential Edith Cavell That magnif-
cent devotion TO duty. that unfailing
charity toward all, which she exempli-
fed in her death as in her life, is only
typical Of the whole nursing body. We.
in France, have no recognition worthy
Of them
Surgeon generals Of Australia and
/ Canada, as well rs our own General
/ Gorgas, have recommended rank for
nurses Miss Adelaide Nutting, Of
Teachers College, Columbia Univer-
sity, and Miss Anna c. Maxwell of the
1 Presbyterian Hospital, are ardent sup
/ porters of the bill. So. also, are Miss
/ Jane Delano and Miss Clara Noyes, Of
/ the Red Cross Nursing Service in
! Washington. as well as Miss Dora
Thompson, the head of the army nurse
corps.
They are all members Of the Ma
tional Committee to Secure Rank for
Nurses. Of which William Howard Taft
I is honorary chairman.
Nh Taft's support of the bill is
based upon his experience while
patient in an army hospital in the
I Philippines. It was there, says Mr..
Taft, that he became convinced chat
efficiency in military hospitals was i'm
paired and promptness interfered with
because Of the lack of the insignia Of
authority that could be seen and I'M
derstood Immediately by all concerned.
On the New York committee are,
among others. Mrs. Harriet Stanton
Blatch and Mrs. H. 0. Havemeyer.
Dignity of Service at Stake
The Army Nurse Corps, it is con-
tended by those who approve this
measure is a permanent service which
should be so attractive that it will re-
tain the interest of the high type of
women that came into il in the war
emergency They believe that it should
be made so dignifed that membership
in il, as a governmental service, would
be regarded as one of the highest
honors open TO the nursing profession.
A recognition by the army and by
Congress Of the defects Of the present
organization, willingness to correct
them BY thoroughgoing reorganization
on a sound basis. and generous ad-
mission of the fact that rank is es-
sential to such reorganization. it is
believed are the means by which the
best type of nurses can be retained
by the government for the maintenance
Of the Nurse Corps on the high plane
Of efficiency which it should occupy.