New-York tribune., 1922-07-31
State Commander Deegan
Joins in Fight to Have DIR.
Sawyer Removed From
Board of disqualification
Veterans Bureau Informs
Ex-Service Men That Aug.
9 Is Last Day for Filing
Claims for Compensation

tho coming state convention AS 'si"-
euse.
Commander Deegan sent a telegram
on Saturday % Colonel a. a. sprague'
chairman % the American Legions
rehabilitation committee, assuring MN
tha, the New York department is SOLID
iy behind him In his hght against III
Sawyer. and informing Colonel sprague
that the department has absolute PROOF
tbst The SAWYER committee killed the
proposal 20 build n hospital on the LIN
erfv site. while Colonel Forbes was in
.bc West. rs a result Of which hospi-
falization ia this state will probably
be set back two years.
Commander Deegan recently stated
his belief that President Harding
would be unable % resist the pressure
81 the united American Legion IN the
SAWYER matter. and said that he hoped
that the action against the Presidents
personal physician which he intenos
10 initiate az Syracuse would DC loI-
lowed up vigorously throughout the
country. 20 that man VINO mas hha
var experience and an opportunity 70
see some Of the other hospitals OF tne
country in addition % Walter Reed
Hosnital in Washington. will be found
for the important position now held
by Dr. Sawyer.
Says lie Blocked New Hospitals
Commander Deegan vigorously criti-
cizcd the Sawyer regime IN the HOS
pitalization Board earlier last week.
when he addressed two hundred mem
bers Of Woodhayen Post, ll6, and rs
women's auxiliary. Al that time ne
said that many hospital sites had been
anuroved and recommended not only
~ New OTE
State but by the veterans burcau'
and that In every instance II had been
General Sawyer who had blocked the
progress OF these recommendations.
ii want % say 90 you and 90 every
other good American he added, that
n ie about time General Sawyer was
relieved Of his duties in the national
Administration. The full hospital pro
grem as provided in the Langley bill
will not be carried out until he gets
out"
That President Harding and the gov
eminent officials 40 Washington resent
any interference in the matter Of hos
pitalization and that they viii support
Dr. Sawyer against the proposed Le-
gion drive were shown by recent
statement emanating from the White
House 20 the effect that government
INMIIiNIH aNN NNN treatment WA " va t.t
War veterans will not be located az
places dictated bv spokcsmcn Of the
American Legion or any local interests.
Harding Opposes Dictation
On that occusion Sc was pointed out
that the Presi lcnt was known % (, j
himself perfectly competent 70 judge
the mtrit- Of the various localitie. 4e-
string government hospitals, and .hat
be was stanchly opposed TO dlctatic'
from any sources outside the govern
ment on the subject. 10 was intimatcd,
moreover. that Congress had passed
legislation specifically directing the
prcsidcrt 20 select the hospital sites,
and that Mr. Harding was determined
20 pursue "a course that viii ben no the
wounded soldiers involved IN pref
erence 90 meeting the wishes Of any
organization or commr-lty interest.
Accordingly. DO seems probable, say
leaders of the Legion here, that in diff
fcrcuccs Of opinion between DR.. Sawyer
and officials Of the New York or any
other department as 20 the proper sites
for hospitals the chief co-0rdinat0r
will have the White Houses sympathy
and backing, and that therefore, 81 the
American Legion is TO do anything IN
the matter 10 must arouse the whole OF
SIS membership TO the situation and
bring the whole force Of disinterested
public opinion 20 bear on President
Harding as well.
Last Date for Filing Claims
A communication from George T.
Jams. district manager OF the Vet
Grams Bureau. 90 which an ex-service
men are requested TO call the attention
81 any disabled former service men
they may know. on the ground that II
IS vitality important % them, points out
that the last date ON which soldiers
discharged from the army after Octo
her g. 1917, may claim compensation
Tor injuries received in the serlce or
may apply for certificates Of injury Is
august @ 1929.
a claimant to-day may have no ap-
preciablo disability, the announcement
explains. but he may have been injured
or may have contracted some disease
which will lead az some future time 20
disability or death in this class OF
cases. I'm the event that he desires 70
protect his future rights, 70 IS essential
that hc apply FOR ard obtain from the
bureau within year Of his dlschaIge
or within q year after August y lszl
whichever Is the later date, q ecrtih-
cate Of injury showing that at the
time of his discharge he WAS suffering
from an injury likely 20 result IN dis
ability or death
New Hospital Sites Announced
The selection Of s.. Cloud, Mimi, as
site for a new 81 .000,00O hospital Tor
service men, with facilities for between
$50 and $50 mental cases, has been an
rounced BIZ Director Forbes OF the vet
erans Bureau.
Decision has a,so been made 20 es-
tallish a si.5O0.0O0 hospital, with IA
cilties for 500 mental cases, at Camp
Cnster. Michigan, instead Of 90 the
Great Lakes naval training station,
near Chicago. The bureau had decided
10 construct the institution at the
training station, but was requested by
President Harding 10 reconsider Us
rlans because Of the number OF hos
pitals already in Illinois and 20 bear
(, mind the claims Of Michigan for
facilities for caring Tor former service
men.
Martin 20 DoX Roper
Roxing Is 20 be a feature OF the
American Legion Olympic games az the
rational convention az Now Orleans. A
decision bout between Bob Martin, who
won the heavyweight championship IN.
tbn tournament staged by A. +. I.
fighters after the armistice but Car
tam Roper, heavyweight champion Of
the service men who remained in
America. will be one Of the leading
events on the card. The two big ex-
soldiers have never met in the ring be-
f0re