Evening star., 1921-03-18
COMEBACK ISSUES
|TSF|NAL NUMBER
Journal Backed by Soldier
Patients at Reed Hospital
Suspends Publication.

The Comeback. published by and
| for the soldier patients at Walter
Reed Army General Hospital" is no
| more. The final issue was put to
press yesterday afternoon with prop
| er ceremony.
| One of the products of the world
war. the Comeback filled a novel
niche in the field of journalism. Leap
| ing into instant popularity and sue
cess, it was followed by the launch
| ing Of forty-two other hospital news
papers at the Army posts throughout
| the country. Maj. Gen. Merritte w:
! Ireland, the surgeon general. as well
| as the adjutant general of the Army
; and the morale section of the general
staff, repeatedly went on record as of
one of the most valuable morale
agents the Army possessed.
Reaches Circulation Of 10000.
Issued weekly, the Come Back at
the height of it's career boasted of
paid circulation of 10000. The mail
ing list for the final issue included
5000 names. The editorial and busi-
ness STATS were made up at all times
4: Of officers and enlisted men, but every
one of them possessed long newspaper
training. in civil life. The principal
idea was to make the paper bright
and cheerful. to carry sunshine to the
wounded and sick soldiers in hospital
was not allowed to appear in its col
umns in any FORM
The Come Back was the agency
through which the Army essay con-
test was conducted a year ago. APP
proXimately 5000, 900 school children
the essay subject being: What are
| the benefits of an enlistment in the
United States Army" The prizes
! were provided by the Comeback. 1t
also produced and distributed the
Official programs of the 1st Division
ington. and later issued a national
souvenir edition of the program.
Guests at Valedictory Ceremony.
Those invited to attend the vale
dictory ceremony yesterday afternoon
included Gen. Ireland, Col. c. r. Dar-
nall. his executive officer: Col. NJ. A.
De Laney, assistant executive officer;
f1cer at Walter Reed Hospital; Lieut..
Paul Foot, representing the wounded
men Of the hospital; Col. John Nc
Elroy. editor of the National Tribune:
Col. D. l.. Rice, business manager of
the National Tribune; Mrs. Isabel
Corps Of the G. A. R., and Mrs. Ethel
Irish. national president of the Ladies
Of the G. A. r.
The exercises were conducted by
Lieut.. Col. G. Fred Cook, infantry sec
ton. Officers Reserve Corps. who, for
more than a year following his re-
turn from France. was editor-in- chief
of the Come Back. and, az chief of
the section of general publicity. Of
flee of the surgeon general, super
vised the publication of the forty
two hospital newspapers.
Others participating were Capt. Will
| liam Wolff Smith. United States Army,
who supervised the issuing of the first
number of the paper, and who was
| one Of the first chiefs of the section
| of general publicity; Capt. Joseph P.
Gregory. in general charge at the
| finish; Capt. Ernest H. Pullman. and
Ira L. Smith. the editor for the last
! year and until the close.
The last number is devoted largely
| to biographical sketches of the busi-
| ness firms of Washington and else
where who, as advertisers. made pos
sible the publication of the paper for
more than two years. The Comeback
was first issued December 4, 1918. 1t
| has been published each week since,
making a total of 11s issues. The to-
| tai number OF copies distributed was
l,541,500.