The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-04-03

Every Provision for Comfort Of Sol
disrs After Arrival Made In Advance
Many Organizations Help In the
Work-Army staffs Work Night and
Day In Handling the Returning
Troops - Great Difficulties Sur.
mounted.
For days there have been pouring
bnck TO our shores tens of thousands
OF khaki heroes. Their tales OF war
adventure have thrilled the hosts of
| civilian newspaper readers. In the
glnmor Of their heroism there has been
lost 10 sight the less romantic, yet
| equally essential. work OF other
branches OF military service, repre-
sentatives OF which have returned
with the warriors and have received
but scant attention. For instance
tied up at the army piers in Hoboken
nre two former Ward liners, now the
hospital ships Comfort and Mercy.
Each brought back TO port la one week
upward of 400 badly injured soldiers,
many OF whom were such desperate
cases that operations were necessary
while the ships were breasting terrific
seas on the way home.
The coast liners have been convert
ed from all sembance, except In out
ward lines, to passenger ships. Each
IL equipped with up-to-date hospital
apparatus, and each. so that expert
he do
on the topmost deck a farm yard"
tenanted by sheep, guinea pigs, white
mice, rabbits and chickens. There Is
an abundance OF available material for
dlasectlng and germ studying expert
ments.
Equipped ~ Hospital
The commandeered ships have lost
the scores Of magnificent staterooms
that delighted peace-time passengers.
Most OF them have been ripped out to |
make way for berths for wounded |
men. The dining rooms have been |
converted into wards. Reading and
smoking rooms have been made into |
and operating rooms,
dressing rooms, instrument lockers, |
chambers, sterilizlnR
quarters. bandage storerooms, etc.
On each OF the vessels liz a large
operating room on the promenade
deck, lighted with fully half n hun
dred bulbs aud equipped with six OPP
Grating tables. Adjoining is smaller
room where minor operations are per-
formed.
Separate wards have been estab-
lshed for eye. ear and nose cases. for
surgical patients, contagious diseases
md for minor ailments,
The medical personnel OF each OF
he hospital ships, an aggregate OF fer
y for both, comprises expert special
SITS who have volunteered for navy
service during the war and who have
'een doing superb work In emergen-
les on the sea.
Neither OF the ships was originally
Intended to transport wounded men
ZONE. Both were sent to foreign wa
ers as floating hospitals attached to
'ur fleets. to be In readiness TO re-
Give wounded cases Immediately az
er u naval battle or scrimmuge
With submarines.
Encountered Bad Weather.
II was with great difficulty that they
'eathered the severe December storms
hat lmpeded the progress OF such
hips AS the Mauretanla. the Adriatic.
he Lapland, the orca and the Mime
aida.
A sort OF sub-hospital ship has been
'orking at Hoboken for some weeks
/ conjunction with the arrival OF
'aimed and sick troopers. She Is the
hinnecock, under command OF Lieut..
ollins, which in peace times used to
~ between Moutauk Point and Block
Hand.
She. too, has been equipped for
edlcal purposes and reconstructed TO
Did many berths and cots. Every
sy. sometimes two or three times I
~, she edges against returning
ansport and takes away wounded n
en-. landing them ut the base hos n
tai on Ellis Island or the Fox Hills
,spltsl on Staten Island.
aOco oafNATiNanS
Not a small part of the work OF p
mastering the men has been looked
ter by scores OF Red Cross nurses
lder command of Col. Dorothy c. h,
nyley, head of the ambulance divis- W
n of the Red Cross. Her workers W
I'VE seen 10 IL. with the cooperation W
the National League for Women's Ia
'ryice, that casy-ridlng military am b,
dances have been at the piers In III
tticient numbers. Red Cross nurses OF
company each ambulance and re- IN
ain with the transferred patients be
III they have been safely placed on h
spltal cots. 10
A less vital. perhaps. but neverthe- IN
= Important work done by the Red H.
oss women has been In the greet
Is extended the returning troops.
ley have been at the pier edges
cry time transports have pulled in, d.
cd weather or bad, waving flags, &c
apping jests. flinging cigarettes 10
n naxarxnonprS hnar,1ipu tho ehf,,S | a..