Evening star., 1939-05-10
Army Doctors
Discuss Data
On Casualties
johnson Makes Plea
For Peace, Proising
Fiqht on Disease

OAllIcu OIdlcS leu Oll WIFI SClcIl
tific treatises on the subject ane
were followed by representatives O.
other powers.
Assistant Secretary of War Loui!
johnson made plea for peace a.
the annual banquet of the Associa.
ton of Military Surgeons of thu
United States at the hotel last
night, attended by many of the
visiting foreign guests. He praised
highly progress by the medical pro.
fession, particularly in its gallant
fight against the spread of socia
diseases" and in the development
of serum to fight pneumonia anc
. vaccine against sleeping sickness
The Assistant Secretary omitted
o paragraph which had been in the
text of his speech as prepared fol
delivery. The omission of this para
graph, which had referred to some
unnamed nations who would rather
place their faith in the sword" was
interpreted as gesture of friendli-
ness on the part of the War Depart
ment official toward the scientific
delegates.
Surg. Gen. Thomas Parran of the
United States Public Health Service,
president of the association, was
singled out for praise.
Praises Chivalry, Charity.
"The guiding principles govern
tHn thu onfjuitinc of fhn nIino I
officers of all countries" declared
Maj. Brandt, ARE charity and
chivalry, expressed in terms of the
highest efficiency of well qualified
military medical service. The size
and functioning of this service is
contingent upon the probable num-
Der of casualties"
Calculation of probable casualties,
Maj Brandt pointed out, was the
first step toward efficient care of
the sick and wounded. Thus it
will be seen," he said, that COM
putation of war casualties is in line
with the objectives of the Geneva
Convention of the International
Red Cross. Therefore, even though
somewhat unscientific, such a COM
pilation of war casualties differs
from a purely military statistical
discussion and becomes a problem
with most important implications" +"
Col. Love presented a discussion
Of the American participation in
the Great War disclosing many
figures and estimating what pro-
vision of medical officers and medi-
cal department troops should be
provided.
"Of the 224,OO0 United States
soldiers who received war wounds
for which they received treatment
in our military hospitals" said Col.
Love. "3l 49 per cent we're injured
by war gases, 619 per cent by gum
shot missiles, 0.26 per cent by bayo-
nets and 235 per cent by other
agents.
16 Per Cent Died.
"Including those injured by war
gases, is per cent of total casual
ties were killed. OF those wounded
by gunshot missiles in all types of
fighting 20 per cent were killed, but
in open warfare only 1856 per cent
"Since the infantry branch usu-
ally occupies the most exposed area
meets the attack in defense and
leads the offense in the attack, it
had a higher casualty rate than
any other branch. Its rate was
eight times as high as that for the
artillery and much higher than that
for the other services.
Reporting in detail the figures of
casualties for various branches of
the service, Col. Love said the Amer
lean medical service has recon-
mended that provisions be made
for $50 per 1000 casualty day for
an infantry regiment. Further
more. he said that requirements
should be made for 80 per 1000
day for the Army corps when only
two-f1fths of the corps consists of
infantry.
The sessions of the congress were
to be taken to the Army Medical,
Dental and Veterinary Schools this
afternoon. Delegates will view an
equitation show at Fort Myer to-
night.
Tomorrow there is an excursion to
the Medical Field Service School
at Carlisle Barracks, with a stop
at Gettysburg for tour of the
battlefield.
Peace Plea Made.
. Assistant Secretary johnson made
q plea for peace at the banquet
last night. There are among you
At this meeting" he said, many
members of this association who
are citizens of foreign countries. I
beg each of you upon your return
to your native land to impress your
people with the spirit of peace that
permeates the American atmos-
phere.
4 There is not an inch of your
territory nor an ounce of your raw
material nor penny Of your riches
that we covet. With you and with
every other nation in the world we
want to live at peace. If differ
Nnces should arise between us, as
they often do even in the most
friendly families, I assure you that
We will be ever ready to sit down
1t council table beside you and
TO discuss our mutual problems with
you in peaceful, conciliatory man
Her"
l Italy's conquest of Ethiopia was
described to the gathering yesterday
Is an unprecedented medical tri-
umph.
n 1t. Col. Ugo Reitano of the Italian
Army Medical Service reported that
rs was the first time in the history
M tropical campaigns that fewer
Xeaths had resulted from disease
Man from wounds. He said deaths
Erom disease totaled 500 and those
from wounds, 1909.
aIoelegates to the congress paid
Qnnte to the American Unknown
soldier at Arlington National Gene.
1ary yesterday in solemn ceremonies