Weekly journal-miner., 1920-01-21
FORT WHIPPLE ID BE QUIT
 BY ARMY
Fran Fridays DaiIy.J

ing to formal announcement by Lieutenant Colonel Raymond w.. Bliss, commanding officer of U. s. Army General Hospital No. 20, yes terday.
 On that date, the war department will turn the establishment over to the Public Health Service for con- tinued administration as a sanatorium for former soldiers, sailors and ma rines, and others having claims on the government for treatment for afflictions of the lungs.
 Colonel Bliss was to have conveyed his information to the public through the medium of statement to the Yayapai County Chamber of Com merce last night, but at the last mo- ment the proposed meeting of the general membership was called of due to the inability of both the presi- dent, E. s. Clark, and the vice-presi- dent, Dr. C. E. Yount, to be present.
 It has been known for some time that the hospital would eventually be turned over to civilian health or ganization under government super vision, but the recent instructions of the surgeon general to Colonel Bliss constituted the first definite news as to date and manner. Ever since the contemplated 11OO-bed construction work was cut down, there has been a numerous brood of rumors concern ing the ultimate fate of the post Fol lowing the armistice, the rumor mar ket has been glutted. Some time ago, however, persons in a position to know were informed conhdentially that while the army would sooner or later relinquish the hospital, the gov ernment would not abandon the large investment, reputed at anywhere from $2,OOO,OOO to $S,OOO,OOO but would utilize the plant for very necessary rehabilitation work.
 Soldiers to Be Moved.
 It is definitely announced that the enlisted men patients will be cared for at Fort Bayard. New Mexico, and U. S. Army General Hospital No. 21, at Denver The commandant yesterr lay extended to officer patients an opportunity to express their prefer ences as to where they would like to be transferred for the remainder of heir convalescent periods. It is be- lieved they, too, will be distributed between the above institutions and possibly the North Carolina hospital
 All army control of the post will cease when it is turned over to physi- ,ians and surgeons of the Public Health Service a month from yester- lay. Medical officer and enlisted personnel will be removed to other commands, and the institution will be placed in the hands of officials of the ?. H. S., which is an organization unctioning under the treasury de- rartment. The hospital will then be on plane with the institution at Palo i Alto, California, as a sanatorium for ulmonary cases.
 There are rumors that some of the medical officers now on duty at Vhipple will be discharged as such nd re-employed as public health sur 3eons, to continue work here. Col onel Bliss believes he will be trans erred to the Denver hospital. If he to go to Siberia, as the street talk las it, he hasn't been told of it yet.
 Some History.
 Fort Whipple, abandoned and re- labilitated by the army as garrison post, following its early establish nent as one of the first military 'trongholds in Apacheland, was re- as Whipple Barracks nearly wo years ago. For many months, hundreds of men were employed building new barracks, wards, quar- CTS, offices, storehouses, heating and other mechanical plants and putting he place in shape for large patient personnel. At that time, the war was to last at least another year. Following the earlier-than-anticipated crmination of hostilities, and the dis overy that disabled soldiers of all laSses would not number anywhere lear what had been expected, the york was curtailed, which action gave ise to numberless gossips.
 For two years, however, the post las cared for men troubled with pull 1onary diseases or disabilities. in luding gas, and has been one of the hief sources of outside population Unusually cordial relations have been maintained between the soldiers and he townspeople, and much has been one bV pTescoff and o1Yt;cu1, riy jFs