k
OUR NEW LEADER
MERRITTE W. IRELAND BECOMES
SURGEON GENERAL.
(Special to The Caducous.)
Washington, Nov. 8.—Major General
Merritte W. Ireland took up the reins
of office as Surgeon General of the
Medical Forces of our Army last
-week, the day after he returned from
France, where he spent almost a year
and a half as Chief Surgeon on Gen
eral Pershing’s staff.
He enters upon his new and diffi
cult task with a knowledge of condi
tions overseas as they pertain to the
Medical Department of the Army, sec
ond to no man. General Ireland suc
ceeds Major General William Craw
ford Gorgas, who was retired upon
reaching the age limit the early part
of last month. The name "Gorgas” is
so well known, in fact is almost a
household word in this country and
abroad, that it is perhaps needless to
refer to what he accomplished in up
building the Army Medical Depart
ment, while he was its Chief. How
ever, it may not be out of the way
to reiterate that despite the tremend
ous expansion of the Department, not
once was it called upon to serve or
minister to the fighting forces, and
found lacking in any respect.
Before the vv^ar. General Ireland
was assistant to Surgeon generals
O’Reilly and Torney. In this capacity
he spent a number of years in Wash
ington, so he is entirely familiar with
the work at the staff heaijquarters.
The wisdom of selecting him for his
present post, as each succeeding stage
of his military career is taken into
consideration, becomes more appar
ent. He combines the rare attributes
of a definite, thorough knowledge _ of
medical needs along the fighting
fronts and in the rear areas, with a
practical experience and an under
standing of conditions at the hub of
the Department.
General Ireland is 51 years old.
Those who have been closely associ
ated witn him, characterize the new
Surgeon General as one of the most
active and vigorous personalities in
the Army, a leader and an executive
in one.
Regarding his early training and the
military positions he held prior to
this War, he graduated from the De-
'troit College of Medicine in 1890 and
from the Jefferson Medical College in
1891. The same year he entered the
Army as an Assistant Surgeon, and
has been in the service ever sinoe.
He served in Cuba and the Philip
pines in the Spanish-AmeriCan war.
In the battle of Santiago his work
was of such a nature as to receive
special commendation. From 190U to
1912 he served as a Major in the Sur
geon General’s. Office here. He was
promoted to Colonel in May, 1917 and
ordered to Fort Sam Houston, Texas,
under General Pershing. A year later
he was appointed Brigadier General
and Chief Surgeon of the American
Expeditionary Forces.
In some quarters there seems to be
a slight misunderstanding as to just
what are the duties and responsibili
ties of the Surgeon General of the
Army. There is also some confusion
THE CADUCEUS
regarding the difference between the
Surgeon GeWrals of the Public Health
Service, the Navy, and the Army.
At the present time there are three
.men in this country entitled to the
rank of Surgeon General; one is
Rupert Blue of the Public Health Ser-
vicie. His work has to do with the
supervision and safe-guarding of the
health of the civil population of the
country. Since the war, the Public
Health Service has co-operated with
the Army in many instance, but only
in extra-cantonment, campaigns of
health, education and protection. The
Public Health Service is a part of the
Treasury Department. From this it
is evident that Surgeon General Rup
ert Blue has no connection with the
Army Medical Department.
The Surgeon General of the Navy,
Rear Admiral Braistead, is the second
man entitled to that rank. His job
is to take care of all cases of sickness
of enlisted and commissioned men in
the Navy; also to heal those who have
been disabled in battle. All his work
lies within the , naval establishment.
He is held responsible fo.r maintain
ing the fight efficiency of the men in
the Navy.
The Surgeon General of the Army
is charged by military regulations
with the same task as regards our
commissioned and enlisted forces. He
is chief of the Medical Department of
the Army. Under his command, come
more than 200,000 enlisted men and
30,000 commissioned officers of the
Department.
From the time a man is picked up
wounded, until he is discharged or
returned to the front as an effective,
he remains in the charge of the Army
Medical Department. Hence, it is evi
dent that all military hospitals estab
lishments here and overseas are under
General Ireland’s control.
GETS SHOWCASES
By the addition of several glass
showcases, the Base Hospital Canteen
is now able to display its merchandise
in a very atttractive manner. The
cases are now arranged in horseshoe
form and the clerksvare able to quick
ly attend to the wants of the many
customers.
Sgt. 1st Cl. Cameron who has been
in charge of the canteen for the last
year, has accomplished much in build
ing up the business. From one small
counter, and a very limited stock of
goods to the present equipment, stock
and fixtures, is a remarkable achiev-
ment and Sgt. Cameron deserves a
great deal of credit lor his untiring
efforts which made all this possible.
Over 1000 customers are waited on
daily and the rush at noonday fills the
canteen to overflowing.
The canteen carries a complete line
-f overseas equipment for officers and
nurses.
Medical Men !
When in town going
from Square to Sol
diers Club for dancing,
stop and see
BAXEVAND
S CHARLES
Next to K. of C.
The former owners of
the company street
canteen. In their new
FRDIT STAND
You will find
Fancy Fruits Cigars
Soft Drinks Cigarettes
Candy Caches, Etc.
Besides
RIGHT TREATMENT
AND
PROMPT SERVICE
Announcement is made of the ar
rival of the following secretaries at
Camp Greene; William Schroeder,
from Detroit, Mich.; John Stanziola,
well-known pianist, of HazeltoQ, Pa.,
and Louis Potts, of Pittsburg.
•L ^ ii
t. . "1.,,
f’
lii
The Phoenix Hotel
231 North Tryon Street
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
THE SOLDIERS HOME
The Hotel that did not ad
vance prices when Camp
Greene was established.
We will appreciate your
patronage
K ATItS
$1.00, $1 25, $1.50, Single
1.50, 2.00, 3.50, Double
Dormitory Rooms, 50c
FELIX HAYMAN
MARKET OF QUALITY
Full Fine
OF
Delicatessen
Phone 151-152
33-35 N. Tryon St.
charlotte; - n. c.
^ I Jl