The sun., 1919-03-30

~ humane. A system that deals
in the mass and watches over
the individual. There are those who
might contend that there isn't any such
thing. But it exists here in New York
and has been functioning in such a
quiet, swift and efficient manner that
1t was only few days ago New York
discovered it,
1t is the debarkation and distribu-
ton system for sick and wounded SOL
diers OF course everyone is used to
seeing wounded men. They are fea-
ture Of the city life, and SO much the
heroic matter of fact that one gets In
the habit of thinking of them as per-
manent parts of the town. But it may
startle the average New Yorker to
learn that no wounded or sick man,
unless he Is In too bad shape to be
moved or needs treatment that he can
get only here, stays in New York port
hospitals longer than eight days. Gem
orally the period is less.
Coming $4,000 . Month.
The reason for this is obvious when
one realizes that about $4,000 wounded
and sick men are now coming into the
port every month, and IL they We're not
handled quickly and by an excellent
system the city hospitals would be so
ciogged that transports would be lying
down the bay waiting to unload or
going to other ports. And New York
has the distinction of receiving ninety
per cent. of the sick and wounded
who return from oven seas
The other day New York learned
that perfectly equipped hospital train
was leaving the Grand Central Sta.
ton with wounded men for Camp
kearny. California Army secrecy was
lifted for the first time and stories
were written about this train as IL it
were new thing to marvel at. A few
hours before a duplicate of this train
had left the terminal without a brass
band, and nobody knew about that.
AT intervals all through the day
trains left from the New Jersey ter
minals on the schedule laid out by the
medical department and the railroad
officials. and they were a mere matter
OF the days routine. This swift and
capable handling of disabled men has
been going on for months, until the
army medical men of the post contem-
plate with some excusable pride the
figure of 57.104 sick and wounded re-
ceived in and transferred from New
York without scratching a man."
Col. Kennedy's own System.
The reason for it sits in a dingy lit
tie office looking out over the Hoboken
railroad yards. He Is Col. ]. NJ. Ken
nedy, a man whose face shows the
trace of years in active army service,
but whose eyes are kind and twinkle
n captivating way, He has supreme
charge of every sick and wounded SOL
der who comes to the port. Under
him are thousands OF men. officers and
privates. the medical staff OF the port
His position is second in Importance
only to that of the Surgeon-Generala at
Washington or the Surgeon General
OF the A. L. +. His system is of his
own construction and i reflects the
mans personality.
The Colonel is telephoning to Camp
Mills, one OF the base debarkation hos
pitfalls of the port. A number of walk
ing cases" are to leave on train for
New York, where they will be trans
ferred TO a hospital train. Assigned
to go with them is a stretcher case
There is some doubt about the advis-
ability of this, for fear the transfer
unusual in stretcher cases, which usu-
ally go together In n special train
might tire the patient unnecessarily
So, according to Col. Kennedy's sys-
tenn. the question reaches him infor-
mally, and without the delay of an ex'
tire minute.
How is he, did YOU say?" he growls
sympathetically over the wire. Hum
well. think you had better not SEND
him then. Yes. that would be better"
And so the matter was settled. and
Private Blank on cot in a hospita
out in Camp Mills will walt few more
DAYS until more cases of his kind are
going out, because the kindly eyed but
extremely efficient gentleman in the
Colouels unborn doesn't want Private
Blank TO get so tired that it might re-
eard his recovery.
Care for the Individual.
There may be flaws in the army
medical service. but one cannot SEE
the work In New York or talk will
Col. Kennedy and his staff without
realizing that SO far as is humanity
possible in any large organization thu
men who come to this port are treated