Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-19
Patterson Urges
Prompt Action
On Nurse Draft
Says Delay Moy Bring
Tragedy to Thousands
Of Wounded Troops

Undersecretary of War Patterson
today urged prompt passage by thu
Senate Military Affairs Committee
of the House-approved nurses draft
bill, declaring that delay in obtain
ing the additional nurses needed
may result in tragedy to thousands
of wounded soldiers"
Nothing has occurred since Janu-
airy 6, when President Roosevelt
urged legislation drafting nurses, tc
make the need less pressing or tc
give any hope that voluntary re-
cruiting will meet the situation, Mr.
Patterson told the committee.
During the last 10 months, the
Undersecretary said, patients in
Army hospitals have doubled ir
number, while the Nurse Corps has
increased less than 20 per cent
Army hospitals, at home and over
seas, now have $4,000 patients, he
added
Wounded Cannot Wait"
The wounded" Mr.. Patterson
said. cannot wait to see whether
the needs may be filled by voluntary
rec iitment. l urge prompt action
There is no time to lose The hare
fighting now taking place means
more casualties and more caSualtie:
call for more hospital and nursing
care"
Chairman Thomas, expressing
doubt whether speedy action by the
legislative branch of the Govern
ment would meet the situation OIL
was fair under the circumstances
asked the Undersecretary what the
War Department was doing mean
while to make up the shortage OF
nurses.
Mr.. Patterson replied that the
department had used every means
at its disposal to stimulate volun-
teers. Working through the Red
Cross, with its branches in every
community, the Army also has used
the War Advertising Council and
every other means of advertising
and publicity, he said.
Can't Rely on Volunteers.
You cannot safely rely on VOL
unteering," Mr.. Patterson added
THE urgency is too pressing"
Chairman Thomas asked whether
the War Department had organized
the campaign for nurses as well as
it had set up recruiting facilities
for WACS. Mr.. Patterson said he
thought it had, adding that the
WAC drive had not been any great
success, since the Army never had
obtained anything like the number
it wanted.
In response to questions by other
committee members, MIR. Patterson
said he was satisfied with the bill
as it was passed by the House, pro-
viding for the registration of nurses
between the ages of 20 and A and
for the drafting of those unmarried
or without dependents and not es-
sential to civilian health.
This bill" Mr.. Patterson told the
committee, will not only benefit the
wounded and sick soldiers who have
first priority on the Nation, but will
also benefit those devoted women
who have voluntarily become Army
nurses serving in this country and
wherever our soldiers are fighting
overseas. Unless the Army needs are
filled, these nurses will be called on
to work beyond the limit of their
endurance. They are close to that
limit now
Introduces Stimson Letter.
Mr. Patterson placed in the rec
ord of the hearings letter from
Secretary of War Stimson declaring
that 1.-The Nation owes many obliga-
lions to the soldiers and sailors
fighting in this war, but no obliga-
ton is more compelling than the
obligation to provide them with the
most thorough medical care wher
they become disabled and helpless
by wounds or by disease
Under the conditions facing the
Army. Mr.. Stimson added, 1T is Of
the most urgent Importance that
favorable action on this bill be
taken promptly"
Since the beginning of the year
Maj. Gen. Norman T. Kirk, Army
Surgeon General, told the commit
tee, the Army has succeeded in in
creasing its nurse corps from 42,255
to an estimated 47,500-a net in
crease of approximately $3.50
After a careful study of applica-
tons now being processed by the
Red Cross and the Army and the
best estimate of further volunteer
ing, Gen Kirk said it was his judg-
ment that on June l the Army still
will be short 5000 of its required
$4,000 nurses.
Psychological Factor.
eff the proposal for selective serv-
ice of nurses, which has had a good
deal of publicity, is now rejected, >
Gen. Kirk added, 1T is recognized
that voluntary recruitment will be
much less effective than it was be-
fore the Presidents message. The
psychological factor involved is that
the draft proposal is to meet an
emergency and if it is rejected, the
normal assumption on the part OF
the nurses will be that the emery
ency does not in fact exist and that
they are not badly needed.
This would play havoc with the
voluntary recruitment program
which, even without this handicap
has failed to bring forth sufficient
volunteers during the last year. OBJ
viously then if this legislation is
not quickly passed we are going to
fail our stricken combat soldiers"
Chairman Thomas observed that
Eve can't make nurses by fiat" add
Ing that just passing a Draft Act
would not produce more nurses
Gen. Kirk replied that he believed
there were plenty of graduate nurses
the Army could obtain If it had the
authority.