Evening star., 1941-12-16
Graduate Nurses Seek
Full Mobilization Of
Volunteers in D. T..
48 Squads Now on Duty;
BoIIes Warns Meeting
Of Possible Air Raids

Modified for national defense, a
gathering of about l,400 nurses at
Departmental Auditorium last night
heard several speakers outline the
latest plans for provision of nursing
services by the military forces, the
American Red Cros and especially
the civilian defense agencies or
ganiZing to treat casualties in pos
Sible air raids here.
The meeting was called by the
Graduate Nurses Association in an
effort to enlist further support from
the nursing profession, and explain
details of the public service for de-
fenSe.
Cards were passed among the
group at the close of the session, on
which the nurses were asked to list
their names. addresses. present posi-
ton, special training or experience,
and the days and hours they may be
available for volunteer nursing"
DT. nctu outlIIiCS
Dr.. John A. Reed, chief medical
officer for civilian defense. outlined
the setup for emergency service in
case of an air raid. 1t would be
centered on hospitals. he explained.
with squads of doctors, nurses and
aides working from field stations, to
route casualties back through cas-
ualty stations to base hospitals. Ex-
planning that the original plan calls
for 240 nurses here, DR.. Reed pre-
dicted that eventually he hoped
there would be many more CO.
operating in the program.
o. K. Fike, assistant chief medical
officer in charge of hospital mobiliza-
ton. said last night that Washing
ton had organized and on duty 48 of
these squads. He predicted that by
the end of the week all of the so
squads originally planned for would
be ready.
help stop any criticism of the civilian
defense program, declaring wash
ington is ready tonight for an air
raid. as ready as any city, for any
eventuality."
/ Col. Lemuel Bolles warned that air
/ raids might come when We least ex-
pect it. maybe tonight, maybe Christ
mas Eve. maybe not at all" But"
he declared. ''let all our work be
keyed to the possibility
Service Nurse Heads Speak.
Activities of the nursing corps of
the armed services were outlined by
Miss Florence A. Blachfield. assistant
superintendent of the Army Nurse
Corps. and Miss Mary Towse. assist
ant superintendent Of the Navy
Nurse Corps.
Miss Gertrude Banfield. assistant
director of the American Red Cross
Nursing Service. said the declaration
of war had had an Immediately
stimulating effect on enrolment of
nurses. She exhorted nurses to help
keep up civilian morale and reported
extensive recruiting of student
nurses.
Miss Annabelle Petersen. presi-
dent of the Graduate Nurses Asso-
citation, who is chairman of the
Nursing Council on Defense for the
District, presided.
Current List Essential.
Miss Edith M. Beattie. executive
secretary of the Graduate Nurses
Association and nurse represent
ative on the Medical Advisory
Council. stressed the importance OF
having a complete. up-to-date list
} of all nurses in the District.
Guests on the platform included
DR.. Roy L. Sexton, chairman of
Safety Services. D. c. Chapter,
American Red Gross; DR.. Read N
Calvert. assistant chief medical off,
Ger for organization of the Maryland
area of the Washington Metropoli-
tan Area; Miss Alma Haupt, nursing
consultant, Health and Medical
Committee on Council on Nationa
Defense; Miss Marion Randall
nursing consultant, Office of Civilian
Defense, and Miss Pearl McIver
nursing consultant, United States
Duh1ic Health Service