Evening star., 1948-09-05
Fifty Years Ago

The Star On August 20, 1398 Sad For the
first time in the history of the American Army
woman has been appointed
Womun - member of the medical
SURGEON staff. DR.. Anita Newcomb Nc
Gee. wife of Prof w. J. MCGEE
and daughter of Prof. Simon Newcomb of the
Naval Observatory, was regularly sworn in as
an acting assistant surgeon. This, according
to Secretary Algers general order, would en-
title her to the uniform of second lieutenant
without designation of rank 1t is not likely
however. that Dr.. MCGEE will avail herself Of
this privilege. The appointment, while
novelty from technical standpoint. is not the
beginning of DR.. McGees service with the War
Department Throughout the war she has
been in charge of the selection of the woman
nurses and of the 700 or more now in the field
most have passed muster at her hands. Assist
ant Surgeon MCGEE goes to New York tonight
to select 80 graduate nurses for service in
Puerto Rico"
Commenting on the proposal Of universal
disarmament put forward by Nicholas H.
Gear of Russia, The Star for
Disarmament August 80, 1898, declared: THE
Proposed Cars suggestion may have
the practical effect of checking
the competitive increase of military expendi-
lures among the European powers, and by call
ing attention forcibly to the burdens Of prepa-
ration for war and to the horrors Of actual
war, 1t will doubtless have wholesome though
limited influence in promoting the worlds
peace" But The Star was not too optimistic.
There are millions of savages in many of
the worlds yet untitled corners" it recalled
and "barbarous hordes" it warned would sweep
over "the civilized nations II they disarmed
Reopening of the famous Dreyfus case was
foreshadowed by dispatch from Paris printed
in The Star Of August 81 1885,
Dreyfus telling Of the arrest of one OF
Sensation the alleged traitors accusers on
the charge of having forged q
letter largely responsible for his conviction
II the document referred to actually was shown
to be fraud. then the evidence of several Inn
portant witnesses would be dscredited and the
whole complaint against Dreyfus irreparably
injured. The challenged letter was supposed
to have been penned by the German Military
Attache to the italian Military Attache in 1896.
It was submitted to the court-martial secretly
and was believed by Dreyfus friends to have
been the chief evidence against him. The
man now alleged to have committed the
forgery was quoted as having said that he was
prompted by "the absolute necessity Of finding
proofs" of the guilt of Dreyfus-and the difn-
Guilty Of discovering them.
On September 2. 1893, The Star published
detailed account of the Washington aspect OF
the 50th anniversary meeting of
AAAS the American Association for the
Jubilee Advancement OF Science neio at
Boston. The local community was
represented by the third largest delegation In
attendance Among the past presidents of the
organization registered were Prof. Neweomb
and Prof William Harkness. Others mentioned
were: Prof. ]. r. Eastman. president Of the
washington Academy Of Sciences; DR.. L. o.
Howard, DR.. r. w. True. DR.. Marcus Benjamin,
Dr. Frank Baker, Prof Charles E. Munroe.
Prof Peter Fireman Prof. Thomas Wilson. w.
q, Dali, Marcus Baker. John Hyde and Miss