Evening star., 1944-09-18
6. W. u. Session Told
OF Navy's Medical
Problems in Pacific
Vast Distances Make
Evacuation Difficult,
Admiral Chambers SAYS

Vast distances in the Pacific have
made evacuation and treatment of
the wounded problem never met in
the European war theaters, Rear
Admiral william Chambers Of the
Navy Medical Corps pointed out
today in an address at the opening
Of the 121st academic session of the
George Washington University Med
ical School.
From Saipan, where he witnessed
the attack, it was about 1900 miles
to the nearest base hospital, Ad-
miral Chambers explained.
Returning recently from two
years in the Pacific to become
medical officer in command of the
Naval Medical Center at Bethesda,
Md, Admiral Chambers said he
found the people, particularly on
the East Coast, with their eyes CEN
tered on the European fighting, and
they probably did not realize how
different was the war in the Pacific.
Sanitation Is Problem.
Yet. despite all the difficulties, an
efficient record was made in the
prompt treatment Of the Pacific
wounded, he told students and
guests. The wounded are first
evacuated from ship to ship and
finally by air to the nearest base,
and hospital ships accompanying
task forces often have a grandstand
view Of the entire attack.
On small islands like Saipan and
Tarawa, Admiral Chambers said,
sanitation was one of the most
serious problems. Yet the Ameri-
cans on Saipan did not have a sim
gle case of tetanus, while the enemy
had a great deal, with enormous
casualties resulting. Fly and mos
quito control proved as essential as
first aid, he indicated, and screen
wire supplies must follow the assault
boats.
Admiral Chambers, who few from
one combat zone to another inspect
ing naval bases, air and amphibious
forces, said the control OF malaria
and other tropical disease had been
made easier by long research. The
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, he
explained, had been preparing for
a long time for war in the Pacific.
DR.. Marvin Speaks.
DR.. Cloyd Heck Marvin, president
OF George Washington, welcoming
the students. told of the widespread
war activities in which the university
had been engaged, including the
important contributions which sew
eral research laboratories had made.
DR.. Walter A. Bloedorn, dean of
the medical school, presided at the
exercises and afterward gave a
luncheon at the Mayflower Hotel for
guests of honor. The guest list:
DR.. Cloyd Heck Marvin, Col. Henry
P. Erwin, DR.. Luther H. Reichelder-
fer, Walter r. Tuckerman, Joshua
Evans, Homer Cummings, Vice Ad-
miral Ross r. Mc1ntire, Mai. Gen.
George F. Lull, Rear Admiral Luther
Sheldon. DR.. R. c. Williams, Com
missioner Guy Mason, DR.. Hugh S.
Cumming, Rear Admiral Harold w.
Smith, Maj. Gen. Merritt w. Ire
land. Brig. Gen. James s. Simmons,
Rear Admiral Perceval S. Rossiter,
Rear Admiral Charles w. Bunker,
Capt. William Agnew, Capt. John
Harper, DR.. George C. Ruhland,
Col. Francis M. Fits, Comdr. Louis
M. Harris, Maj. Paul o. Tucker, Col.
Joseph Siler. Dr. Robert H. Harmon,
Capt. E. M. Williams, Col. Philip w.
Huntington, Maj. John w. McCrea,
DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger, Theodore
Wiprud. DR.. Sterling Ruffin, DR..
Huron w. Lawson, DR.. William B.
Mason, DR.. William J. Mallory, Rev.
Dr. Albert j. Mccartney, Col. James
Phillips, Capt. Ebert Moses, 1t.
Raymond B. Pinchbeck, 1t. Edward
c. Jones, Harold G. Sutton, Fred E.
Nessell. J. Russell Mason, Henry w.
Herzog, Lester A. Smith, DR.. Ralph
G. Beachley. Dr. Radford Brown.
DR. Roger M. Choisser, DR.. Coursen
B. Conklin. DR.. George w. Cres-
we'll, DR.. Paul F. Dickens, DR..
Harry F. Bowling. DR.. Walter
Freeman, DR.. Charles R. L. HALEY,
DR.. F. A. Hornaday, DR.. c. E. Leese,
DR.. c. M. McFall, DR.. P. A. McLen-
don, DR.. John L. Parks, DR.. D. B.
Young, DR.. D. B. Moffett, DR.. L. w.
Parr, DR.. T. M. Peery, DR.. H. P.
Ramsey, DR.. John A. Reed, DR.. F. A.
Reuter-, DR. Joseph H. Roe, DR.. G. B.
Roth, Comdr. w. w. Sager, DR.. E..
Sheppard, Dr. E. w. Titus, DR.. James
w. Watts, DR.. T. C. Thompson.