The Washington times., 1922-12-15
FORBES To GIVE
OUT XMAS
CHEER
Veterans Bureau Hurriss to
Pay All cIaims-spscial
Celebrations Planned.
By KENNETH ". CLARK,
I,t~vu.t tS~nal NeUs eervSoe.


Intevnatisnal News Service.
To the $4,000 manned and wound
ed veterans OF the world war stili
In Government hospitals. Uncle
Sam this year win play Santa
Claus. spreading good cheer and
giadness.
This message was broadcasted to-
day by Charles r. Forbes. director
Of the Veterans Bureau. to the
fifty Federal hospitals throughout
the land.
The Governments gift to these
wards. Forbes announced, will be
checked and compensation In full
settlement Of outstanding Gains
and adjustments. In order that
there may be no disappointments
Forbes has ordered the bureau
force to work night and day, II
necessary, between now and Christ
mas. to conclude the settlements.
Comes % Godsend.
These checks to the mon who. in
1917 and 1918, were picked from
quiet pursuits OF life to bs rushed
to the battiefieids oe France, to be
returned physically disabled for
life. win come literally - . godsend
from some kind Providence.
Many then win BE- enabled to re-
turn to their former peaceful call
ines, to re-enter business, to take
up again that hfe which they %
gladly left during the nation's dark
est hours to be thrown unhesitantly
Into the turmoils. tribulations and
hArdships Of an overseas' battle
ground.
Il has long been the wish Of the
bureau TO adjust all claims for the
disabled. But the tedious necessity
Of thorough Investigation OF each
individual claim-and oftentimee
burdensome red tape-has delayed
settlement In numerous instances.
The result. In many Cases. has
caused untold harships; has asrrar
waited the anxiety and the anguish
Of the men who lost q lee, or an
arm, or were stricken with some
enduring, ravaging disease.
End In Sight.
Tho end Of the delay 10 nov In
sight. and that h Why ForbSS, e
the Governments Santa, win b
able to distribute checks througt-
out the hospitals before Christmas.
The crying appeal TO the burSAp
hAs ooon for oettlemsnt OF claims.
without funde, the veterans havo
waited patiently IN the hospitsls,
where even hops. often, has been
cruShed. With claims settloA, many
win b able 70 return, though per-
haps permanently MANNED ana die.
abled. ver1table caricAtures Of their
former selves. to home and loving
rest.
But the number who can be re-
leased ut this time, after claims
are adjusted. II was declared, Il
comparatively negligible. Thou.
sands. gasssd, suffering from tu.
berculosis. shell shocked, mere
shadows Of the personnel Of that
vsst army which America sent
abroad. must pass Christmas in
hoepitals.
For these. FORBES haa planned an
old-fashioned Christmas. with 3
royal feast, gifts, messages OF rood
cheer, and. quito above all, elit.
teging Christmas trees. This work
WIN Be entrusted to section tfivf.
sions Of the bureau. and to such
organizations as the American Red
Cross.
Rrsparatisns Conplata.
Already most Of the preparations
for the Day. have ben completed,
rorhss aid, and the disabled vet.
Grams win be made to know Shat,
Despite their sufferings and privA.
tions, the nation and the Govern.
ment have not forgotten their 60
rfficeo.
OF the patisnts being CARED FOR
hy the Government, the grsAtest
number. S,7e7 are being treated f6t
tubrculosls; 3.11S for nsuro-paychi.
Asrio ailments, and s,sss fer gsn.
srai end sursical disabilities. the
Approximately $1,000 partiAIly'
diabied are receivins vocational
training under the bursau's aus
paceA