Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-09
MUST AID WOUNDED
PERSH|NG ASSERTS
People Prone to Forget War
Sacrifices, General Tells
Press Club Veterans.

Officers Of the Army. Navy. Marine
Corps and American Legion last night
discussed the aims and needs of for
mer service men and spoke in behlf
of adequate provision for the wars
disabled at a meeting at the National
Press Club, held under the auspices
of the American Legion Post formed
last year by members of the club.
National Commander F. W. Galbraith
of the legion. was the principal speak
er, and he was preceded by Secretary
Pershing, and Maj. Gen. John A. Lee
jeune, commandant of the Marine
Corps. The French ambassador. NJ
Jusserand. was present and was given
an enthusiastic reception. but did not
speak.
A feature of the program was the
singing of the Belgian anthem by
lor of the Belgian legation. with Miss
Des Aulniers as accompanist. Other
musical numbers were given by the
orchestra from the Navy Yard Band.
The American Legion is in a posi-
ton to enhance the welfare of its mem.
bership and of the country at large"
said Gen. Pershins. People are prone
to forget the sacrifices the war de-
manded and the lessons it taught, and
this organization can serve good pur-
pose in keeping fresh the memory of
the men and women who made victory
possible
Must Relieve Distress.
We must see, also. that legislation
Is speedily enacted to relieve the dis
tress of those who are sick or wound
ed. Responsibility for their welfare
he ho hau
lected the trouble can be speedily
remedied. 1t is to be hoped that di-
Vided authority and legal technical
tiles will no longer prevent proper
care for these who have suffered"
Commander Galbraith said when the
nation was preparing for the war the
one thing overlooked was proper hos
pital room for the human derelicts
who were certain to return from the
great conflict. Referring to the thou
sands of disabled men who are getting
no medical treatment at all or only in
adequate care. he said he had no de-
sire to lay the blame on any of the
government rehabilitation officials.
Most OF those in charge, he said, were
doing all that they could for the men,
but held that the basic law was wrong
. The Navy Department has opened
rs hospitals to US to the fullest ex-
tent" he continued, but the same
cannot be said Of the Army. There are
Army posts where hospital facilities
are available. but the public health
service has not been able to get them
for the use Of the wars disabled Why
is this? l am sure do not know.
Vancouver Hospital Empty.
AT Vancouver barracks there is an
Army hospital that is closed ND, and
which We cannot get for sick and
wounded veterans. because technicali-
ties are allowed to stand in the way"
Gen. Lejeune expressed the hope
that the country would never drop
back into the state Of mind that
characterized it before the war.
We lived in rut then" he con-
tinued, but when the war came we
saw straight into the hearts of the
people. the fathers and mothers, the
wives and the sons and daughters.
Let US learn to carry on in peace
as We did in war. And may the
Legion be the link that
binds the people of the country to the
men who are responsible for its pro-
lection"
Avery C. Marks, president of the
club. called the meeting to order and
then turned it over to Capt. William
Wolf Smith, commander OF the Press
Club Post of the Legion. Commander
Galbraith was introduced by Col.
James A. Drain. commander of the
District of Columbia department Of
the legion