The Washington herald., 1921-02-07
TELLS HOW DEPLETED
REGIMENT FOUGHT ON.

ONs
After the fighting had continued
Tor several days, Col. Bearss called
Col. Lewis into his headquarters one
night and instructed him to advance
with his regiment the following day.
We have two officers and 400 men
left out of my regiment" said Col.
Lewis, "but we will advance"
And they advanced" said Col.
Bearss last night, recalling the in
cident.
Not only his friends in Indiana,
but his former fellow officers here.
since his return to Washington,
nave been urging the selection of
Col. Bearss for appointment as an
assistant secretary of war under the
harding administration. Col. Bearss
is IN excellent standing as a Re-
publican, for after he retired from
the Marine Corps to private life he
look an active part in the political
campaign OF last year and made as
hiGh as htteen speeches in a sin
gle day for the party candidates
his military record. his political
record, and his personal standing
would all prove assets in case he
desired such an appointment, his
DuN OOl- bGdTSS ldSI
night authorized the statement that
ne would not accept any position in
the War Department or the NAVY
Department, for which he has also
been suggested.
Col. Bearss insisted that he haa
come to Washington as a private in
dividual. his only public position
now being commander of the local
post Of the American Legion at
Peru, to assist in any way that he
could in seeing that justice is done
to former service men and women.
INTERESTED IN FIGHT
To ASSIST VETERANS.
Col. Bearss cited the case of A
woman of Peru who served through
out the war in France as an army
nurse. She is now incapacitated
from disease and is in a private
hospital, not only without army
hospital attention. but absolutely
unable to collect even her pay as an
army muse from the government to
assist in caring for her now that
she is in need of attention.
This case in particular was
brought to the attention of Senators
Watson and New by Col Bearss, and
1t is believed the nurse will receive
proper attention from now on.
Il favor the passage of the pend
ing Langley bill providing for the
erection of five army hospitals at
cost of S13.000,444," he said. These
will be placed in the most advan-
tageous localities to care for the
sick and disabled service men whose
numbers are increasing steadily as
the effects of the war are being felt
not only in those cases where actual
wounds were received, but where
tuberculosis and other diseases have
since developed, due to the hard
ships of the campaign"
SEEKS TO END RED TAPE
FOR HOSPITAL CASES.
Col. Bearss believes that the law
should be amended SO that it would
not be necessary TO have a permit to
get a sick soldier into a govern
ment hospital. There has been rar
too much red tape in the past" saio
the colonel 81 believe that upon
presentation of a certificate of sick
ness from a licensed physician for
mer service men should be admitted
without delay to any Federal hos
pital. In the event that it is dem
nnstrated by subsequent observa-
tion and treatment that he has no
right there it is an easy matter TO
put him out. The many men who
will apply to hospitals in urgent
need of treatment should not be
subjected to what is too often fatal
delay because of the comparative
few malingererS who attapont IN
take advantage of the govern
ment."
Gel. Bearss had conferences with
Senators Watson and New and is of
the opinion that both Senators are
eager to do all in their power to
assist former service men and is
confidently counting on their aid in
putting through measures in their
interest. He expects prompt action
in several cases in Indiana where
government assistance is consider
ed essential F. w. G.