Evening star., 1945-01-23
Nurses
Continued From First Page.

pointed out, have such lists, but in
many instances have refused to re-
lease them.
She also warned that enough
nurses must be left outside the mill
tary service not only to meet essen
tial civilian needs, but to provide
teachers at schools of nursing un-
less the training of new nurses is
to stop entirely.
Figures Kept Secret.
Mrs. Bolton said the latest figure
made public by the War Depart
ment showed that 926 new nurses
had been accepted by the Army
since January /. The Army has
additional figures on the progress
of its urgent appeal for additional
nurses, she added, but she had
been instructed that she could not
release them to the press now. She
said she did not know when the
figures would be brought up to date
for release to the public.
THE War Department gave me to
understand that what it does is none
of Congress business. OF course,
that attitude is not new" she COM
mented.
Another congressional leader who
came out in favor of the principle
of legislation drafting nurses was
Senator Austin, Republican, of Ver-
mont, ranking minority member of
the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee
He explained that he advocates
conscripting every essential citizen,
man and woman, to serve where
need to win this war. No one able
to do any necessary job should be
exempt from his country's call at
this crucial hour, he feels.
''Everybody's War;"
1T should not be considered a
burden imposed on the people" he
added, "but privilege for them to
serve where they are needed. This
is everybody's war, and everybody
should be willing to do what he is
able to-"
Senator Austin said he had not
studied the bill pending in the
House to draft nurses. but would
support the general principle of
such measure. If the Army needs
the nurses, he agreed, it must have
them. so that our wounded may get
the finest care medical science can
provide.
When the legislation reaches the
Senate, it will be referred to the
Military Affairs Committee. 7
The House Military Affairs Com
mittee is preparing to renew hear
ings today or tomorrow on the
nurses draft bill introduced by
Chairman May.
Second Bill Offered.
Meanwhile. a second bill pro-
viding for the induction of graduate
nurses was introduced yesterday by
Representative Rogers, Republican,
of Massachusetts, and referred to
the military committee.
Mrs. Rogers bill declares that it
is imperative in order to provide
adequate medical and nursing care
for the armed forces in the success
full prosecution of the war to In
crease the personnel of the armed
forces of the United States by the
selection and induction of qualified
graduate female nurses"
Nurses between the ages of 20 and
As would be required to register and
be subject to induction, regardless
of race or color" Those women
would be given an opportunity to
volunteer at any time before they
were drafted. Each would be en-
titled to a commission at a grade
not lower than second lieutenant in
the Army and ensign in the Navy.
The act would be administered by
the director of se1ective service.
Rights Protected.
The bill protects the rights of
commissioned nurses to allowances,
privileges, care and retirement pro-
vided for other officers of the armed
forces.
Some members of Congress have
asked how it is possible to meet
both military and civilian medical
needs with so few nurses apparently
available.
To this the Army Surgeon Gen.
erals Office replies that there are
more than 100000 graduate nurses
registered in the United States, in
addition to the $4,000 serving in the
Army and 5000 in the Navy.
The Procurement and Assignment
Committee of the War Manpower
Commission has placed Al 900 of the
civilian nurses in Glass /, meaning
they are not considered essential in
their present positions.
This shows" said a War Depart