The Medical Department Of The United States Army in The World War
CHAPTER III
LIAISON OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, UNITED STATES ARMY, WITH THE MEDICAL SERVICES OF THE ALLIES
LIAISON WITH THE BRITISH MEDICAL SERVICE
On June 9, 1917, the chief of staff, A. E. F., notified one of our medical officers, who had been serving as military observer, of his assignment as liaison officer with the Director General, British Medical Service, in connection with the administration of American medical units serving with the British.1 The necessity for such an assignment is indicated by the chief surgeon, A. E. F., who, on June 11, 1917, wrote the Surgeon General in part as follows, concerning his relationships with the above-mentioned units and with casual American personnel assigned to the British forces:2
* * * * * * *As already reported to your office, I assumed some weeksago an unauthorized supervisory control over American medical personnelarriving in England, for service with British forces.
My position was such I could neither act nor advise inany authoritative manner and my relations with the personnel and the Britishmedical officials has been purely advisory.
Many points had arisen which required decisive actionor opinion, and I laid the whole matter before General Pershing with myrecommendations and suggestions. These he approved and a memorandum hasbeen issued as the result * * *.
It is General Pershing's understanding that this medicalpersonnel with the British is not at this time under his control. If thisunderstanding is erroneous, information is requested by cable, for I willsever my connection with this personnel, and the British medical serviceon my departure for France, and as chief surgeon, A. E. F., will exerciseno supervision unless it is explicitly directed by the War Department.* * *
Before headquarters moved to Paris the chief surgeon wrote the liaisonofficer with the British as follows:3
Inclosed herewith is a copy of a memorandum prepared thisdate. Copies have been supplied to the following officers:
Commanding officer, United States Army,Base Hospitals Nos. 2, 4, 5, 10, 12, 21.
Director general, British medicalservice.
Surgeon General, United States Army,Washington, D. C.
Liaison officer, Adastral House, VictoriaEmbankment.
* * * * * * *
Adjutant general, American ExpeditionaryForces.
The Adjutant General, United StatesArmy, Washington, D. C.
Judge advocate, American ExpeditionaryForces.
Quartermaster, American ExpeditionaryForces.
This memorandum covers in a general way the results ofall that has been done in connection with this personnel.
In so far as the British War Office is concerned it isthe result of conferences with the director general and his assistant,General Babtie, and it has the approval of the commanding general.
There has been no word of instruction of any kind receivedat this embassy from Washington regarding this personnel. They have beenordered to report to Lieut. Col. A. E. Bradley, M. C., for instructionsand have all been reported by him to the War Office for duty.
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Lacking instructions and information, no office has beenorganized nor established for administrative purposes. The matter was placedbefore General Pershing on his arrival and recommendations made which areembodied in the accompanying memorandum.
It is suggested that you look to the base hospitals forsuch office enlisted personnel as may be needed for the administrationof the American necessities. No doubt some British assistance will be forthcomingon your proper representation of the necessity therefore.
Fifty-two medical officers, unattached to organized units,have reported up to date. Many of these have gone to France and some havebeen assigned here in England. Others are awaiting assignments. * * *
The Surgeon General has written me a personal letter thatbesides the six base hospitals already here, he proposes to send, in June,200 medical officers and 200 nurses, and similar numbers in July and August.
The commanding officer of Base Hospital No. 2 has madeinquiries as to promotion of men of his enlisted force, and steps shouldbe taken promptly to obtain the necessary authority from the Surgeon Generalto promote privates, and to conduct examinations for the making of noncommissionedofficers.
Personal reports have been forwarded, but some personnelreturns, etc., have been held until some check could me made by an authorizedcentral office which is established by this action of the commanding general.These held papers and some little correspondence have been left for youin the embassy office.
* * * * * * *
After the chief surgeon had received from The Adjutant General, UnitedStates Army, the letter quoted in Chapter II, which prescribed the scopeof his authority,4 he wrote our liaison officer in London onJune 25, as follows:5
Inclosed herewith is a copy of order making the assignmentof "Chief surgeon, United States forces in Europe," which has been receivedsince the preparation of memorandum and letter of instruction to you datedJune 11, 1917.
It will be noted that authority in all matters in Europepertaining to the Medical Department is vested in the chief surgeon, A.E. F., and you will be guided accordingly.
The instructions contained in the letter referred to aboveare therefore modified as follows:
(a) You will in future, in general, in your relationswith this office and the American medical units and personnel with theBritish medical service, act as would a surgeon of a department in theUnited States.
(b) All reports, requisitions, returns, etc., ofwhatever nature will be forwarded to this office. The number of copiesin each case will be that fixed by regulations governing under war conditions.
(c) It is directed that for all commissioned personneland all unattached enlisted and civilian personnel, you make, in your office,nominal monthly check lists showing the address and duty of each individual.After making these lists you may transmit direct to the Surgeon Generalthe personal reports received by you instead of forwarding them to thisoffice, sending only to the chief surgeon the check lists above referredto.
(d) It is desired that all United States Army hospitalunits make reports each month, through United States medical channels,of the work being done by them-a numerical report of all cases treatedby the organization in the hospital served by them.
All instructions contained in the memorandum and letterof June 11 conflicting with these instructions of this date are revoked.
The liaison officer with the British medical service, with office inAdastral House, kept the records, reports, and pay accounts, and caredfor the mail of all American officers, nurses, and enlisted men of theAmerican Expeditionary Forces on duty with the British.6 Hewas later assisted by two commissioned officers and four clerks. In dischargingthese duties he kept trace of the assignment of those members of our medicaldepartment who were assigned to duty
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with the British, assisted them in obtaining pay and allowances, procuringleaves of absence or sick leave, and promoted their interests in othermatters.6 For example, when any were taken prisoner, he reportedthat fact to the American Red Cross, which undertook to send them packagesof food and to communicate with them and their families in the United States.6He also reported to the chief surgeon, A. E. F., those officers under hisjurisdiction who were recommended for promotion and assembled the recordson which these recommendations were based. This was an important subjectin which the personnel concerned so interested themselves that there wasalmost constant agitation in connection with it. For this reason this subjectengaged a large proportion of the efforts of the liaison officer and ofthose of his office force.6 Another of his duties was to arrangewhen necessary for the transfer, to the direct control by the headquarters,A. E. F., of those members of the Medical Department under his supervision,who required discipline.6 He investigated such cases, procuredwitnesses, and reported them to the chief surgeon, American ExpeditionaryForces.6
Through the liaison officer for the Medical Department in London, themedical officers serving with the base hospitals assigned to the Britishwere in much closer contact with the chief surgeon's office than were thecasual American medical officers assigned to British units. As mentionedin the chapter on "Personnel," there was great difficulty at first in reachingthese casual officers, and because of their ignorance of regulations, generalorders, etc., they seldom reported changes of status. In many cases officersserved with the British for months before they became of record in thechief surgeon's office, A. E. F.
The liaison officer procured the records, statement of cause of disability,whether in line of duty or not, and other data required for our sick andwounded report in the case of each individual of the American ExpeditionaryForces, who became incapacitated while assigned to the British, whetherin France or Great Britain.6 A great amount of this work wascarried on in cooperation with the chief surgeon of base section No. 3(the British Isles), and after March, 1918, most of these data were returnedto him;6 but prior to January 14, 1918, the liaison officerdischarged the duties of chief surgeon of this base section, in additionto the others more properly pertaining to his office.7
The liaison officer cooperated in securing buildings and sites for hospitals,especially before July 1, 1918.6 He investigated and reportedupon properties which were offered to the American Expeditionary Forcesfor hospitalization purposes. It is of interest to note that in the courseof these activities he found it necessary to decline Windsor Castle, whichwas offered for our hospital purposes by the King of England; without extensivealteration, that historic structure could not be adapted to our needs.6The King, therefore, offered to build a hospital in the castle grounds,and this offer was accepted.6 The liaison officer inspectedother residences and estates offered us for hospitalization purposes, andhis reports led to the acceptance of a number of these.6 Sitesfor the location of our base hospitals were thus selected throughout England,and to these American casualties were sent6 until in the springof 1918, when it became necessary to send a number of them to British hospitals.7
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Another duty of the liaison officer was the selection of those portswhere American casualties from the continent would be received, the creationof machinery for their reception, and the determination of their destinationwhen placed on British hospital trains.6 The ports selectedincluded some of those in the Channel, on the Thames, in Scotland, andin Ireland.6
The liaison officer supervised the assignment in Great Britain of Americanofficers of the Medical, Dental, and Sanitary Corps for the study and treatmentof gassed cases, and of cardiac conditions, the study of the methods andstandards used in examinations of fliers of the Royal Air Force, of foodand nutrition, and of general, orthopedic and maxillofacial surgery.6He investigated the treatment and care during convalescence of injuriescaused by mustard gas, and the findings made in cases that came to autopsy.6He was liaison officer with the Royal Air Force.6 The chiefsurgeon, A. E. F., frequently asked that certain specialists who were onduty in our hospitals which were under British control, be transferredto the service of our troops in France, and the liaison officer was chargedwith transactions with the British authorities which would effect the releaseof the specialists.6 The needs thus created in British hospitalshe then sought to meet by assignment of untrained personnel.6Our six base hospitals serving with the British were constantly in needof specialists and replacements, and these needs were handled by the liaisonofficer.6
The liaison officer not only cooperated in effecting the transfer tothe American Expeditionary Forces of those American physicians who wereserving in the British Army and now sought transfer to ours, but he alsoadvised the director general of the British Army medical service, concerningthe many quacks, alleged physicians, and practitioners of various pathieswho went to England from the United States to enter the British Army.6
In addition to cooperating with the American Red Cross in its effortsto assist personnel under his jurisdiction who had been captured, the liaisonofficer cooperated with the representatives of that body in London.6He assigned medical officers to hospitals established by that society,and was designated by the commander in chief as personal adviser and aideto the director general of the American Red Cross, when that officer conductedan inspection tour through Great Britain.6
One of the duties of the liaison officer was the procurement in GreatBritain of supplies for our Medical Department, both before and after apurchasing agent for this department was assigned to service in Great Britain.6In this duty he not only promoted procurement from civil firms but alsoobtained large quantities of supplies from the British Government.6The liaison officer served as a member of the purchasing board for theMedical Department in Great Britain, from October, 1917, until the middleof December of that year.6
The British brought up for his consideration and action many questionswhich pertained to the British Expeditionary Force in France, and to theAmerican Expeditionary Forces as entities.6 The liaison officerwas the channel of communication between the chief surgeon, A. E. F., andthe chief surgeon, base section No. 3, on the one hand, and the Royal ArmyMedical Corps on the other.6 The chief surgeon's office, A.E. F., also transacted business with the British through the British missionestablished at Tours, and through the liaison
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officer pertaining to G-l, who represented the American ExpeditionaryForces at headquarters of the British Expeditionary Forces.6
Deaths occurring among American units or detached personnel servingwith the British were reported direct to the headquarters, American ExpeditionaryForces.8
After the base section No. 3 was organized and a chief surgeon was assignedto it, the liaison officer continued to be charged with supervision ofthe six base hospitals and casual American medical personnel assigned tothe British, but his activities did not extend to the medical organizationsof our Second Corps.6 That command which consisted of Americantroops serving under British control was provided with a corps surgeonwho was directly responsible to the chief surgeon, A. E. F., or in somematters to the latter's deputy at general headquarters.6
The average personnel of the Medical Department, A. E. F., constantlyon duty with the British Army approximated 800 officers, 600 nurses, and1,100 enlisted men.6 On November 23, 1918, there were servingwith the British, 888 officers, 1,311 enlisted men, 676 nurses, and 24civilian employees.6
American Medical Department organizations which participated in theNorth Russian expedition were under British command, but occupied, in referenceto the liaison officer with the British, a position comparable to thatof the base hospitals assigned to the British Expeditionary Force in France.6The official methods of the Medical Department organizations of the NorthRussia expedition were made to conform, therefore, to British requirementsin so far as they were relevant to British control, but other reports andreturns conformed to American requirements.6
LIAISON WITH THE FRENCH MEDICAL SERVICE
The increasing number of American troops which entered the lines, mingledwith the French, brought the two armies into very close relationship, untilMarch, 1918, when under military exigencies the two services operated asone.9 The chief surgeon's office had to have a clear knowledgeof the organization of the French Army and especially that of its medicaldepartment, from the Ministry of War to the field sanitary units, for Frenchmethods required that business be transacted only through definitely authorizedagents.9 Therefore, it was necessary that the Medical Department,A. E. F., maintain the closest contact possible with the French authorities,for their cooperation was essential in a number of matters including thedevelopment of our program for hospital procurement.9
The French realized more clearly than had the Americans, this necessityfor close cooperation and provided liaison officers for every branch ofendeavor.9 Very shortly after the arrival of the first Americantroops the French Government established at the Ministry of War the specialFranco-American bureau with subbureaus, known as sections, wherever needed.9It thus provided an agency through which all matters affecting the twoservices could be studied and handled. In the subsecretariat of state,French medical service, a subsection of this Franco-American service wasestablished.9 Also, in this subsecretariat a special technicaldivision charged with American hospitalization.
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was organized. The object of this latter division was to assist in everyway possible the procurement of hospitals, hospital sites, and medicalsupplies for the American Expeditionary Forces, and to facilitate the transferto our medical service of those existing French hospital installationsand buildings which our service needed.9
Owing to the shortage of medical officers, the chief surgeon, A. E.F., was unable to comply with the request of the French that he place oneof his subordinates as liaison officer in this Franco-American sectionbut he did direct the chief of the hospitalization division in his officeto effect close liaison service therewith, in addition to his other duties.9At this time when the great problems of the Medical Department were thosepertaining to the hospitalization and supply and were concerned almostexclusively with the Services of Supply, this plan worked very satisfactorily.9
On August 25, 1917, in anticipation of the movement of General Headquartersof the American Expeditionary Forces to Chaumont, the chief surgeon designatedthe purchasing officer for the Medical Department, in Paris, as liaisonofficer for the French medical service,10 and on the same daterequested that a French officer be attached for liaison purposes to hisown office after this had been established at Chaumont.11
Therefore, after the chief surgeon's office arrived at Chaumont an experiencedFrench medical officer was assigned to liaison service with it, but afterthis officer had reported the French commander in chief required that hebe placed under his jurisdiction.12 This the undersecretaryrefused to permit; and as the French commander in chief would allow noFrench officer to remain in the zone of the armies who was not entirelyunder his control, this liaison officer was relieved.12 Theresult was that the chief surgeon, A. E. F., lost a valuable adviser, andthe close and direct relations between his office and the subsecretaryof state, medical department, in Paris, were severed.12
On September 15, 1917, the chief surgeon and the chief of the hospitalizationdivision of his office visited the French headquarters at Compeigne, forthe purpose of making arrangements concerning the transaction of businessrelating to our Medical Department in the zone of the armies, and on the17th they held a conference in Paris to determine the manner in which theMedical Department should transact business with the secretariat, now thatour headquarters had moved into the zone of the armies.12
After headquarters, A. E. F., were established at Chaumont, the Frenchhigh command established there a military mission which was organized withthe same bureaus as the French General Staff.9 This organizationprovided a medical section under a French medical officer, who was chargedwith transaction of all business of whatever nature affecting the MedicalDepartment in the zone of the armies.9 The chief of the hospitalizationdivision in the chief surgeon's office was designated liaison officer betweenthat office and the French mission.9
As questions pertaining to procurement of hospitals and other facilitieswere of immediate concern to the Services of Supply, in whose jurisdictionbase hospitals and supply depots were being located in great numbers, itwas expedient that the chief surgeon of that command also be in close touchwith the
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French subsecretary of state, medical service.13 The chiefsurgeon, A. E. F., therefore, notified the chief of the French missionat Chaumont, on October 19, 1917, that he had designated the chief surgeon,Services of Supply, as his representative for all matters of Medical Departmentinterest outside the zone of the armies.13 He also asked thata French liaison officer be attached to the latter's office, which wasthen in Paris.14 This was done, and after headquarters of theServices of Supply moved to Tours in January, 1918, a French liaison officerwas attached to the office of its chief surgeon there.15
On February 9, 1918,16 in compliance with a request of thesubsecretary of state, medical service,17 a senior medical officerof the American Expeditionary Forces was assigned to liaison duties withhis office, and other officers to each of the 11 regions in which Americanswere then conducting their most important activities.16
The officer selected for this assignment as liaison officer with thesubsecretary of state, medical service, was the chief of the hospitalizationdivision of the chief surgeon's office, who was performing liaison dutywith the French mission at general headquarters.9 The cumulationof such duties upon one individual was necessitated by the shortage ofofficers and, in fact, worked out well, for the great majority of questionswhich required negotiations with the French continued to pertain to procurementof hospitals and medical supplies.9
After the chief surgeon's office, A. E. F., moved to Tours, in March,1918,18 it transacted some business direct with the French missionestablished in that city,19 but contact was maintained chieflythrough the officer referred to above, who remained with general headquartersat Chaumont as representative of the chief surgeon.20 Relievedfrom duty in the hospitalization division, he now in addition to his otherduties, maintained liaison between the Medical Department, A. E. F., onthe one hand, and, on the other, with the subsecretary of state, medicalservice, in Paris, and the French mission at Chaumont.9 Partof this duty was his supervision of the liaison effected by other medicalofficers assigned to that duty, whether for armies, corps, or divisionsin the field, or for regional subsections in the Services of Supply.9
In compliance with a circular letter from the Minister of War, datedDecember 30, 1917, Franco-American sections had been instituted in connectionwith the large French services.21 These sections were chargedwith the study of all Franco-American affairs transmitted to them and thesolution of problems incident thereto.21
Eventually, sections of the Franco-American service were establishedat each headquarters of the military regions (approximately 20) into whichFrance was divided, and a local medical officer of the A. E. F. was assignedto each, in addition to his other duties, as liaison officer for the chiefsurgeon.9 All matters of policy were determined between theFranco-American section in Paris, and the chief surgeon's office, but,when policies had been declared the execution of details conforming theretowas made a duty of the regional subsections.9 The activitiesof these regional officers are discussed at greater length below.
The matters which the liaison officer for the Medical Department conductedwith the office of the subsecretary of state, medical service, may be classifiedas follows:22 (a) Procurement of French hospitals forthe American Expeditionary
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Forces; (b) procurement of existing buildings, such as hotelsand schoolhouses, for hospital purposes; (c) all questions of standardmedical supplies obtained from the French medical service; (d) theexecution of contracts for the purchase of sanitary formations from theFrench medical service, such as mobile hospitals and mobile surgical units,etc.; (e) formulation of policies regarding the exchange of thenecessary data covering American patients in French hospitals and Frenchpatients in American hospitals; (f) formulation of policies regardingcontrol of communicable diseases, particularly with a view of protectingthe French civil population; (g) miscellaneous matters.
The above classification practically outlines the scope of duties whichdevolved upon the American liaison officer with the French medical service.22The matters which required the greatest amount of work were those connectedwith procurement of hospitals of the American Expeditionary Forces, andthe hospital supplies which could be secured better in Europe than in theUnited States.22 From the very beginning of our effort it wasnecessary that the American Expeditionary Forces take over from the Frenchcertain hospitals and their equipment, in order to meet the needs of arrivingAmerican troops, and this need continued until our barrack hospitals couldbe constructed.22 At first the procedure for taking over thesehospitals was by direct request upon the office of the subsecretary ofstate, through the liaison officer attached to his office.22Later this duty was performed through the regional liaison officers forthe Medical Department.9 Each of these officers acted on allroutine matters as an intermediary between the local American authoritiesand the director of the French medical service for the region concerned.9Matters of policy continued to be determined between the representativeof the chief surgeon, A. E. F., and the office of the subsecretary of state,medical service, in the Ministry of War, but the details conforming theretowere carried out by the regional liaison officers.9
As noted above, Franco-American sections were established as need aroseat headquarters of each of the 20 military administrative regions intowhich France was divided.9 A medical officer of the AmericanExpeditionary Forces in each of these regions was accredited to the respectiveFranco-American section established at headquarters of each, and, in hisliaison duties, which he discharged in addition to others, was under thecontrol of the liaison officer for the Medical Department.9
These officers were given definite rules concerning acquisition of hospitalsites and of buildings suitable for hospital purposes, the taking overof existing French hospitals, and the coordination of the medical servicesof the two countries in many other respects, but the greater part of theirduties was concerned with hospitalization.23 They were directedto maintain contact and cordial relations with the regional medical directorof the French Army, with whom they conducted initial negotiations for thetransfer of projects and installations; to exert every effort to avoidfriction; and to arrange with the medical director the local policies whichwould guide them in future liaison activities.23 In their instructionsthese officers were informed that the French had manifested a desire tocooperate in every way possible and already had given us many of theirbest hospitals.23 They familiarized themselves with all hospitalization
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prospects in their regions in order that in emergencies appropriaterequest could be made for their procurement.23 From time totime they were directed to inspect and report upon hospital propertiesmade available by the French, to conduct such investigations, as were prescribed,of certain projects or installations, and were given instructions concerningfurther development of the liaison service.23 Also, they wereguided by general orders concerning liaison.23 They not onlynotified the chief surgeon, A. E. F., of their liaison activities but alsothe chief surgeon, Services of Supply, until the office of the former absorbedthat of the latter in March, 1918, promptly furnishing the latter any hospitalizationdata he desired and assisting him in the acquisition of buildings.23Theliaison officer for the district of Paris was concerned with the properdistribution of American patients in that jurisdiction, for certain hospitalshad been designated for the reception of American wounded, and close cooperationwith the French was necessary in order that this distribution might bemade to best advantage.24
Liaison in matters pertaining to sanitation and epidemiology of bothcivil communities and military organizations was maintained, through themedical officers of the French military mission at general headquarters,A. E. F., and at headquarters, Services of Supply, and through the Franco-Americansections in each of the regions wherever American troops were stationedor through which they passed.25 The French mission at headquarters,Services of Supply, included a medical officer in direct liaison with thechief surgeon, A. E. F., and suitable French liaison officers were assignedto duty with the chief surgeons of sections of the Services of Supply,and with the commanding officers of a few of the larger hospital centers.26The chief of the French skin and venereal service of each region was directlyaccredited to the American medical service as liaison officer in all mattersaffecting his specialty.26 The technical chiefs at the Frenchheadquarters of the several regions, were directed to cooperate with thelocal liaison officers of the American Expeditionary Forces in mattersaffecting the hygiene, epidemiology, and prophylaxis of American troops.26They were ordered to effect technical cooperation in the following mattersespecially:26 (1) Study and survey of water supplies; (2) employmentof all bacteriological laboratories by American medical officers in theirefforts to confirm the diagnosis of communicable diseases, detect carriers,perform water analyses, etc.; (3) regular and constant receipt of informationconcerning incidence of infectious diseases among American troops and measurestaken to control their spread; reciprocal notification to the Americanauthorities of all epidemics of any importance among French civil or militarypopulations with note of preventive measures taken;26 (4) notificationto the Medical Department of the American Expeditionary Forces of localitiesquarantined and released from quarantine. Study in collaboration with thechief medical officers of hospital centers and of dermatovenereologicalsubcenters, of all questions concerning the treatment and prevention ofvenereal disease and information of the Medical Department of all regulations,circular letters, and notices concerning sanitation, epidemiology, andpreventive measures.26
In order to comply with these instructions the following reports weremade by the regional Franco-American sections:26 Report every10 days of all con-
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tagious diseases among American troops stationed in the region, includingall necessary precautions. Prompt notice to civil authorities of contagiousdiseases occurring among American troops.26 Monthly report bychiefs of dermatovenereological centers and subcenters, including in aspecial chapter all questions concerning venereal diseases occurring amongAmerican troops.26 Monthly report by the assistant chief medicalofficer of the region or the technical adviser. This was addressed to themedical officer of the French military mission at headquarters, Servicesof Supply, to be transmitted to the office of
the chief surgeon, A. E. F.26
The Franco-American liaison was of considerable benefit and importancein certain other technical professional matters; e. g., delivery of serato American medical officers by French laboratories, sterilization, andanalysis of drinking water in railroad stations.26
A French ministerial circular letter of October 18, 1919, provided forcollaboration of the American and French medical authorities in reportsrelative to the bacteriological and chemical tests of water supplies alongthe railroad lines traversed by troop convoys.26
Just as liaison was established between the American and French MedicalDepartments at American headquarters at Chaumont, at Tours, and at headquartersof the several French military regions, it was similarly maintained inthe field between the medical service of smaller organizations of Americantroops and that of the medical service of the command with which they wereserving. Medical officers of American corps or divisions operating underthe control of one of the allied nations were designated, in addition totheir other duties, as liaison officers for the chief surgeon, A. E. F.,between the medical services of the troops concerned.22 Thus,on May 21, 1918, an American medical officer was assigned as liaison officerfor the medical service of the 1st Division with whatever French forceto which that division would be assigned,27 and the chief surgeon,American First Corps, on July 13, was made liaison officer for the AmericanMedical Department with the French Sixth Army under whose tactical controlthat corps was then serving.28 Similarly, when French divisionslater served under American command, French medical officers of those commandsmaintained liaison with the chief surgeons of the American corps and armiesto which such divisions were assigned.9 This liaison effectedby our medical service with that of our allies in the field, the chiefsurgeon supervised through his deputy at general headquarters.22
VETERINARY LIAISON WITH THE FRENCH
On April 11, 1918, the chief surgeon, A. E. F., was directed to designatetwo veterinary officers who would form, with two French veterinary officers,a Franco-American veterinary mission which would be charged with investigatingand recommending measures to prevent or combat epidemics among animalsin France.29 A French veterinary inspector designated by theundersecretary of state was charged by the latter with keeping this missioninformed of all epidemics that might occur in the vicinity of Americantroops.30 The mission was to visit the organizations in whichcontagious diseases were reported and suggest all prophylactic measuresindicated by insanitary conditions.30
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The mission also was at the disposal of the veterinary inspector whowas to seek its advice and assign it to services in connection with anymatters pertaining to the French veterinary general inspectorate.30The undersecretary suggested that the following duties of the French missionwould be especially useful:30 (1) Visiting American remountdepots, both to ascertain the condition of animals bought and the stateof those places from a sanitary standpoint. (2) Enforcing glanders prophylaxisby systematic use of malleinization, as carried on in the French Army.(3) Furnishing the United States Army with every information as to howto deal with diseases due to acclimatization of young horses, notably stranglesand its complications. (4) Carrying on antimange defense on a methodicalbasis through the use of chemical products (sulphur and baths) and promptlyinitiating the construction of all installations needed. (5) Providingfor defense against the various sorts of lymphangitis, in order to preventspread of same, both in the United States and the French Army. (6) Suggestingall measures to be taken in connection with any other contagious diseasethat might be reported in the United States Army. (7) In regard to theanimal's food, the composition of rations, the use of substitute foodstuffs,the making of summer and winter horseshoes, and giving advice with a viewto facilitating the proper maintenance of horse strength.
It was understood the mission should report every week on the work ithad done to the high American and French veterinary authorities to whichit was attached and should point out in special reports the improvementsthat could be made in the organization and functioning of the veterinaryservice in each army.30
It was later proposed by the French that the instructions for the missionbe made more definite, that it be made mandatory that this mission be consultedin case of epidemics, and that when ordered to do so, or when it thoughtsuch action necessary, it visit the organizations where contagious diseaseswere reported and propose appropriate prophylactic measures.31
On September 30, 1918, the chief surgeon, A. E. F., notified the chiefof the Franco-American veterinary mission that the value of the mission,operating on the above lines, had ceased, but that it could be of greatvalue if its activities were directed into other channels.32He therefore requested that a French veterinary officer be assigned asliaison officer in the chief surgeon's office, A. E. F., and that one beassigned as liaison officer with the assistant chief veterinarian of theadvance, intermediate and each base section, respectively, and to eacharmy.32 The services of these officers were to be purely liaisonbetween the assistant chief veterinarian concerned and the local Frenchveterinary and civil authorities.32 In conformity with thisrecommendation one French veterinary officer was attached for liaison purposesto the chief of the veterinary service, A. E. F., at Tours and anotherto the assistant chief of the veterinary service in the advance section,at Nogent en Bassigny.33 Others were also assigned to the First,Second, and Third Armies,34 but the Franco-American veterinaryliaison mission with headquarters in Paris continued to operate until severalmonths after the beginning of the armistice.35
The last French liaison officer on duty with the Medical Department,A. E. F., was relieved on June 30, 1919.36
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LIAISON WITH THE ITALIAN MEDICAL SERVICE
Liaison with the Italian medical service was maintained through ourchief surgeon base section, No. 8.37 On November 23, 1918, 57officers and 1,010 enlisted men of the American Expeditionary Forces wereserving under the control of the Italian Army.37
PERSONNEL
(July 28, 1917, to July 15, 1919)
LIAISON OFFICERS
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY
Col. Matthew A. De Laney, M. C.
Col. William J. L. Lyster, M. C.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY
Col. Sanford A. Wadhams, M. C.
WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY
Col. Elbert E. Persons, M. C.
REFERENCES
(1) Telegram from the chief of staff, A. E. F., to Maj.W. J. L. Lyster, M. C., June 9, 1917. Subject: Liaison officer. On file,Record Room, S. G. O. (9795).
(2) Letter and memorandum from the chief surgeon, A. E.F., to the Surgeon General, U. S. Army, June 11, 1917. Subject: Americanmedical personnel serving with British forces. On file, Record Room, S. G. O. (9795).
(3) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to Maj. W.J. L. Lyster, M. C., June 11, 1917, Subject: Administration of Americanmedical personnel serving with British service. On file, Record Room, S.G. O. (9795).
(4) Letter from The Adjutant General of the Army, to Col.A. E. Bradley, M. C., American Embassy, London, May 28, 1917. Subject:Designation as chief surgeon of the United States forces in Europe. Onfile, Record Room, S. G. O. (9795).
(5) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to Maj. W.J. L. Lyster, M. C., June 25, 1917. Subject: Instructions. The administrationof American medical personnel with British in relation to A. E. F. On file,A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files (201, Lyster, W. J.L.).
(6) Report from Col. M. A. Delaney, M. C., liaison officerwith the Director General, British Medical Service, to the Surgeon General,U. S. A., February 18, 1924. Subject: Liaison activities with the BritishMedical Service. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(7) Report from Capt. Arthur Morehouse, San. Corps, tothe Surgeon General, U. S. Army, February 12, 1924. Subject: Summarizedhistory of Army activities in base section No. 3, England. On file, HistoricalDivision, S. G. O.
(8) Report from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to the SurgeonGeneral, U. S. Army, May 1, 1919. Subject: Activities of the chief surgeon'soffice, A. E. F., to May 1, 1919. On file, Historical Division,S. G. O.
(9) Wadhams, S. H., Col., M. C., and Tuttle, A. D., Col.,M. C.: Some of the early problems of the Medical Department, A. E. F. TheMilitary Surgeon, Washington, D. C., 1919, xlv, No. 6, 636.
(10) Memorandum from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to thechief of staff, A. E. F., August 25, 1917. Subject: Liaison officer, withthe French Service de Santé. On file, A. G. O., World WarDivision, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
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(11) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to Sous-Secrétariatd'Etat du Service de Santé, Première Division Technique,Hôpital Américaine, Minister of War, France, August 25,1917. Subject: Officer of liaison. On file, A. G. O., World War Division,chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(12) Memorandum from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to thechief of staff, A. E. F., September 23, 1917. Subject: War diary for theweek of September 23, 1917. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(13) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., by directionof the commander in chief, A. E. F., to the chief, French mission, headquarters,A. E. F., October 19, 1917. Subject: Liaison officer for the American SanitaryService in Paris. On file, A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon'sfiles (211.01).
(14) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to the chief,French military mission, October 21, 1917. Subject: Appointment of liaisonofficer. On file, A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(15) Letter from the Assistant Secretary of State of theMilitary Sanitary Service, to Col. F. A. Winter, chief surgeon, line ofcommunications, A. E. F., Tours, January 25, 1918. Subject: Detail ofofficer for service with chief surgeon, line of communications, Tours.On file, A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(16) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., by directionof the commander in chief, A. E. F., to the chief French Military mission,February 9, 1918. Subject: Appointment of officers of the United StatesArmy Medical Corps to act in liaison with French authorities. On file,A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(17) Letter from the Sous-Secrétariat d'Etatdu Service de Santé, to the Sous-Secrétariat d'Etat,Présidence du Conseil, January (no date given). Subject: Americanofficers to be attached to French American services on sections. On file,A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(18) War Diary, chief surgeon's office, A. E. F., March24, 1918. Copy on file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(19) Memorandum from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to theFrench mission, headquarters, S. O. S., June 28, 1919. Subject: Veterinaryliaison officer. On file, A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon'sfiles (211.01).
(20) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to Sous-Secrétaired'Etat du Service de Santé, Section Franco-Américaine,French mission, G. H. Q., A. E. F., March 8, 1919. Subject: Epidemicdiseases in the A. E. F. On file, A. G. O., World War Division chief surgeon'sfiles (710).
(21) Report on the general survey of communicable diseases,A. E. F., October 7, 1921, by Col. Haven Emerson, M. C. On file, HistoricalDivision, S. G. O.
(22) Report from the commander in chief, A. E. F., toThe Adjutant General of the Army, March 26, 1919. Activities of G-1, Appendix8, Report of liaison service (pages not numbered). On file, General Headquarters,A. E. F. Records.
(23) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to Maj.A. E. Schlanser, M. C., February 12, 1918. Subject: Appointment as liaisonofficer with French Medical Service; and letter from the chief surgeon,A. E. F., to First Lieut. F. E. May, Interpreter Corps, N. A., February25, 1918. Subject: Liaison with French Medical Service. On file, A. G.O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(24) Memorandum from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to Col.James A. Logan, jr., Q. M. C., February 24, 1918. Subject: Liaison officer.On file, A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(25) Report from Col. Haven Emerson, M. C., to the chiefsurgeon, A. E. F., May 31, 1919. Subject: Report of Division of Sanitationand Inspection, Medical Department, A. E. F., on file, HistoricalDivision, S. G. O.
(26) Reports and records of communicable diseases, October7, 1921, by Col. Haven Emerson, M. C. On file, Historical Division, S.G. O.
(27) Letter from commander in chief, A. E. F., to Lieut.Col. Paul C. Hutton, M. C., May 21, 1918. Subject: Liaison. On file, A.G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
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(28) Letter from the chief of the French military missionwith the A. E. F. to the commander in chief, A. E. F., Medical Department,July 13, 1918. Subject: Liaison officer. On file, A. G. O., World War Division,chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(29) Telegram from Col. James A. Logan, jr., Q. M. C.,to the commanding general, A. E. F., April 11, 1918. On file, A. G. O.,World War Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(30) Letter from the Undersecretary of State with PrimeMinister to the commander in chief, A. E. F., May 11, 1918. Subject: LiaisonFranco-American veterinary mission. On file, A. G. O., World War Division,chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(31) Letter from the chief of the directorate of the rearto the chief of G-4, general headquarters, September (no date), 1918. Subject:Franco-American veterinary mission. On file, A. G. O., World War Division,chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(32) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to chiefof Franco-American veterinary liaison mission, Paris, September 30, 1918.Subject: Franco-American liaison mission. On file, A. G. O., World WarDivision, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(33) Letter from chief of French mission at headquarters,S. O. S., to the commanding general, S. O. S., October 8, 1918. Subject:French veterinarians appointed to the A. E. F. On file, A. G. O., WorldWar Division, chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(34) Letter from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to the Franco-Americanveterinary liaison mission, Paris, January 24, 1919. Subject: Assignmentof French veterinarians to Second American Army; and letter from the chiefveterinarian, A. E. F., March 15, 1919. Subject: Liaison officers, firstand third Armies. On file, A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon'sfiles (211.01).
(35) Letter from the chief of the Franco-American veterinaryliaison mission to the chief surgeon, A. E. F., January 14, 1919. Subject:American liaison officer. On file, A. G. O., World War Division, chiefsurgeon's files (211.01).
(36) Memorandum from the chief surgeon, A. E. F., to theassistant chief of staff, G-1, S. O. S., July 1, 1919. Subject: Frenchliaison officer relieved from duty. On file, A. G. O., World War Division,chief surgeon's files (211.01).
(37) Report of the activities of the Ambulance Servicewith the Italian Army (not dated), by Col. E. E. Persons, M. C. On file,Historical Division, S. G. O.
