Evening star., 1946-12-13
Army BIaInes Legal
Benefits for Rise in
-VenereaI Disease
By Nelson M. Shepard

Army officials protested today that
veterans legislation recognizing We
nereal disease as service connected
disability incurred "in line of duty"
the same as jungle malaria or COM
bat wounds. was contributing to
failure to curb the rising rate among
overseas troops.
They referred to conditions in the
European and Mediterrean theaters,
criticized in recent report to the
Senate War Investigating Commit
tee.
The effect of what amounts almost
to the legal sanctioning of venereal
disease is so detrimental to disci-
pline and morals" said spokes-
man for the Surgeon Generals Of
flee, that officials are considering
the question OF calling an inter-
service conference to deal with It,.
Rate Rising Sharply.
The venereal rate was said to be
Still rising sharply" in the Euro
pean theater, since the average week
last month revealed 1t as within
one-tenth Of l per cent Of the
peak rate of July, 1945, which then
reflected the letdown from combat
discipline. Officials intimated it
probobly equals or exceeds the 1945
peak by now.
The November rate was quoted
as four-tenths Of ! per cent for
all troops, meaning that one out of
every $50 men were admission cases.
In the Mediterranean theater, the
rate in November was six-tenths of
/ per cent for all troops.
Field commanders were reported
by the Surgeon Generals ONCE as
complaining that the venereal dis
ease clause covering veterans dis
ability pensions has the effect of
constituting woman chasing" as a
form of authorized recreation" and
is SO regarded by the unconscien-
tious soldier.
Formerly Punishable.
The Army has no direct concern
with the making of laws govern
ing service disability. That is up
to Congress and the Veterans Ad-
ministration. But it was said the
Surgeon Generals Office is curious
to know whether public opinion sup
ports the venereal disease clause.
Officials claimed the venereal dis
ease clause was slipped into the
law" in 1914, and is responsible in
part for the Army's present policy
in dealing with control. Before
then, Army regula tions provided loss
of pay for a mans failure to re-
port his infection or failure to take
prophylaxis.
The venereal disease clause
already has cost the Government
81 900 900, 900, it was estimated. for
disqualification and pensions.
While officials assert the recent
Meader report to the Senate Com
mittee presents a distorted" sta
tistical picture of venereal disease
incidence IN the European theater.
they admit there are number of
factors which warrant both criti-
cism and remedial action.
Some Progress Made.
In the Mediterranean theater,
where there is large proportion
Of Negro service troops, six-tenths Of
per cent of all troops were. .ad-
mitted to hospitals during the aver
age week in October for yenereal
disease treatment. A racial break
down gave the Negro rate as IL
per cent as compared with five
tenths of per cent for white. The
Mediterranean rate has been NOV
ing up. q
Yet overseas commanders have
made great progress in suppressing
venereal disease since World War
I, it was pointed out. when the
rate for all troops in the American
Expeditionary Forces was three
times as great as the present rate.
The venereal disease rate among
white troops in the Army compares
favorably now with the civilian rate
in the United States, medical off,
cials say.