Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-06-02

WONDER has been expressed as to what
w the Allied armies in Tunsia can do to
feed and care for the great host of over
900 enemy captives. To do this is
normal function of armies and is planned for
we'll in advance.
In army operations, there are two great
services that 60 on behind the fighting lines.
One is the forward movement of food, am
munition, reinforcements, requirements, and
it is called 1.-The service of supply"
At the same time, rearward movement
takes place, organized carefully and fully
provided for 1t is called evacuation 1t
is the daily transport from the fighting front
to positions far in the rear, of the wounded.
the sick of guns and equipment that require
repair, captive property that can be salvaged;
and it is the transport of prisoners.
The whole object of we'll organized sys-
tenn of evacuation is to free the lighting forces
of the impeachment of broken men and broken
material. 1t cannot be done too soon. 1t is
normally done every night following battle
WAR prisoners may be one of the largest
wv elements to be evacuated. In the great
reserves of supply that exist in the dstrlbu'
ton points and rail heads of an army, there
is food for all evacuated. Only competent
organization is needed TO distribute 1t.
The rearward movement of prisoners is
facilitated, of course, by truck transport, If
vehicles are available, and they usually are
available in the truck columns returning from
the front after discharging supplies. Normally,
the reception and custody Of prisoners falls
to the military police, a specially trained unit
Of soldiers.
The other rearward movement of personnel
are the casualties-the wounded, disabled, the
men too sick to continue This matter Of
medical evacuation is a whole subject in itself.
1t requires special organization and series
of different units working from the firing line
far back into the rear.
Accompanying every battalion into action
are surgeons and a small group of medical
corps men. 1t is their business to give prompt
aid to the men who fall. It's dangerous and
heroic work, done under fire.
The immediate care given TO a man who
is shot by bullet or torn by fragment of
a shell is temporary, only enough to stop his
bleeding, to apply tourniquet or an anisepuc
bandage Instructions may differ now, but in
the first World War, we were taught to leave
the wounded man alone until he recovered
from shock-let him lie quietly for awhile
provided that his bleeding be staunched, that
his thirst be slaked, and his position made
comfortable
COLDIERS today are trained not to fall out
y Of the ranks to take care Of stricken
comradc. They must keep advancing, and
keep up their fire. The old picture of soldiers
helping wounded comrade to the rear repre-
sents obsolete form. 1t impairs the attack.
It accomplishes no good.
From their position where they lie on the
ground, wounded men are carried on stretch
ers by special units called bearer companies.
They are carried short distance rearward
10 positions where field ambulance facilities
are met.
Here a mans injury is re-examined, the
bandage adjusted. if necessary. He may be
given stmuant, light food, an opiate an
anti-tetanus injection. Then he is moved back,
this time by an Ambulance unit" formerly
horse-drawn, now motorized. and carried some
a. IL. IL