Evening star., 1943-04-12
Coast Ahead Of East
In Hospital Readiness,
Mrs. Roosevelt Saws
Speed and Imagination
Used in Preparations,
She Found on Tour
By MARION WADE DOYLE

Dy IVf1n1oIN "ADE DO Il LIE
West Coast hospitals are better
prepared to care for war wounded
than East Coast hospitals, Mrs.
Roosevelt said today.
She told her press conference that
the West Coast had used speed and
imagination in deciding what type
of facilities would be needed for war
casualties.
Perhaps it is because they had
TO-" she commented. The East
Coast hospitals are coming along
better than she had expected, Mrs.
Roosevelt said, but still are not as
advanced in preparation" as in the
West.
Mrs. Roosevelt had just returned
from a tour Of hundreds of hospital
wards throughout the country,
where she had spoken to Il don't
know how many thousands" of boys.
Long hours of walking on hospital
floors induced the Presidents wife
to spend her No. II shoe coupon
for sturdy pair of brown oxfords,
with a walking aid in the sole.
Comments on History Row.
Touching on the controversy
about poor history teaching in the
United States, Mrs. Roosevelt de-
elared better preparation Of history
teachers is the crux of the situation
Adequate pay for teachers Is a
prime requisite she said but
teacher needs inner qualities and
GOOD training most Of all.
The current system of including
history and geography in general
social scheme" course is all right.
Mrs. Roosevelt explained. but more
time should be allotted to the his
oory section. The recent survey of
The history knowledge OF college
freshmen did not disturb her I'M
duly. she said, because she felt such
startling ignorance could not pos
sibly be general. Quick questions
often make her forget history facts
with which she is quite familiar, she
said.
Reporters asked Mrs. Roosevelt
whether her hospital tours had de
pressed" her. The Presidents wife
insisted. however. that the terrific
inner exhaustion she felt after her
tours was due to her effort to be
personally encouraging to each boy,
rather than what she saw.
II don't think you think whether
or not you are depressed she said.
you only try to do as much as you
can for the boys She said the ad-
miration she feels for the gallantry
of the wounded men gives her a
lift rather than saddens her. She
rarely saw boy who complained of
his lot or wanted pity. They almost
feel sorry that you didn't have the
chance to do what they did," she
concluded
Stands Up for Women Doctors.
Mrs. Roosevelt took issue with the
Assistant Surgeon General who de-
clared that women doctors could not
stand "the gaff" of overseas service
Army nurses have proved that
woman can stand anything man
can, If she wants to, the Presidents
wife declared.
She said women doctors had better
be satisfied with the provisions Of
the pending bill to let them serve
with the Army and Navy in this
country, because even that con-
cession only has been made in
recognition of real need rather than
because the women had complained.
She reiterated her belief that each
American boy and girl in the future
should be required to give a year Of
service to the Government. But the
whole year need not be military. She
also praised men in prisons who
have bought $4,000 worth of War
honds with cigarette and candy
money sent them by friends.