The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-05-02
MILITARY RANK FOR
w. s. ARMY NURSES
DEMAND TO BE MADE ON az
HALF or HEROIC WOMEN WILL
BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.
REASON FOR THEIR POSITION
Question Of Efficiency Enters Largely
into the Matter-canadian Nurses
in the Great War All Were Com.
mssioned.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

" "'sA.AAiS eSA- --t4AiitlIy THIN ID W UC
asked for American army nurses.
Ella Phillips Crandan, secretary of the
committee of nursing of the council
OF national defense, goes so far as to
say that in future wars women will
refuse to serve as nurses unless they
are given commissions.
There is reason, although 1t may be
that the military authorities will deny
that it is an adequate one. for the po-
sition which the women nurses take
in this matter. There have been re-
ports of many cases in which the
women have been unable to get GER
tain things done in the hospitals near
the front because they did not have
the insignia of rank which entitled
them to give orders TO service men act
ing supposedly under them.
IT is understood that an attempt
will be made to get at the demands
from the viewpoint Of absolute justice
IN the case. and II it shall be found
hat efficiency will be bert served by
granting the nurses wishes the thing
probably will be done.
In 1915 ] was IN EurNpe as CORE
spondent. and stayed some time in Eng
and before leaving for the French
FONT. I was stopping at hotel in
he English metropolis when 70 Cam
Han young women army nurses ar
lived They were to be distributed to
lie various Canadian hospital camps
n the field Every one Of these wom-
N was. an army officer to the extent
hat she held a commission as second
lieutenant This gave her the right
within certain restrictions to issue or
iers to noncommissioned officers and
Enlisted men of the Canadian service.
Canadian Plan Worked Well.
Afterward / was told that this plan
worked for the good of the service.
Each Of these young women was
rainctl in her profession and this
meant that in nine cases cut Of ten at
east She would know better what to
10 in certain cases in the hospital than
would the only partially trained man
II noncommissloned officer on duty
With her. 1t Is known that in some
.ases soldiers disiiked and OCCASION
lily even refused to take orders. even
n emergency cases, from women who
lad no emblem save that given them
,y badge Of nursing which they
wore. the outward and visible sign OF
raining.
The women nurses of the United
States who went abroad to serve their
country did a heroic work. They not
my served frequently under fire, but
sl,ey were compelled time after time
To do body-breaking and heart-break.
ing work. because In war there are
times when all thoughts of self must be
gfven oyer and all limitations OF hours
81 work and kinds Of work must be
act at naugIt.
Anarchy and Annericanisnl.
Anarchy under the. gulse Of boishey-
sru has been treated constantly in the
press from the viewpoint Of possible
,ction by congress TO avert Its dangers
& ana nfle United States,
EI,af congress may do or attempt
Is dh sfil3 Is predetermined. The sub
les.t & charged with T. n. n net Sc
n,ucl, because men 10 Washington be
tjava Il really Is q potential danger
MS because they fear that IN geffina
after what they tIsirk y anarchy they
may "a getting after something whicf
q harmless ana which has been mis-
t,,ternrefetl. Consequently It Is eas'
s..' ss.1 g. e $50 that there are whal