strictly within the meaning of the term "sanitary services" It was for that reason that the War Department wished to amend the language. The CHAIRMAN. In other words, the sanitary services heretofore have been construed to mean aid to the wounded and lani you want to cover the scope of this authority to take in the recreational facilities, and so forth! Mr. MITCHELL. That is right, the amendment is intended to provide for all personnel engaged in services which have been requested of the Red Cross by the War Department. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. Mr. MITCHELL Captain Wilkerson has stated the case. I think, correctly and quite clearly. I do not know that I have anything further to add. I will be very happy to answer any questions, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. I have all the information, personally, that I care to ask for. Senator, do you care to ask any questions? Senator WILSON. NO. The CHAIRMAN. Otherwise, we are very much obliged to you. Mr. Mitchell. Colonel Prosser of the Red Cross. Colonel PROSSER. I have nothing to add. The CHAIRMAN. You concur in the statement made by Captain Wilkerson and Mr. Mitchell, do you? Colonel PROSSER. I do. The CHAIRMAN. Colonel Partlow. Colonel PARTLOW. I have nothing further to add, sir. The CHAIRMAN. It has been suggested to me that we might make an inquiry as to some of the duties being performed by Red Cross representatives. As a matter of fact, the duties performed would cover the nursing, aid, and nourishment to the wounded, the construction of recreational facilities for the benefit of the armed forces, and the work incident thereto! Mr. MITCHELL. At the present time. Mr. Chairman, the Red Cross has outside the United States, in insular and foreign areas, including such areas as Hawaii, approximately 2,000 people serving the armed forces. The CHAIRMAN. Did you say outside the United States? Mr. MITCHELL. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. They have approximately 2.000? Mr. MITCHELL. At the present time. The CHAIRMAN. Serving directly with the armed forces? Mr. MITCHELL. Serving directly with the armed forces. That number is constantly increasing, of course, but at the present time it has in the neighborhood of 2,000 people. Approximately one-fourth of that number-and I dare say the relationship will continue-are serving in the hospitals. In other words, that type of personnel which we would construe as being completely and without question under the term "sanitary services." The rest of the personnel is serving on the Army camps for the welfare of the enlisted men, the maintenance of communications between the men and their families at home, and all of the various problems for the solution of which the officials of the Army may seek Red Cross assistance for the welfare of the individual members of the enlisted personnel. The second phase of service is the establishment and the maintehance of leave centers, recreation centers, or the provisions for the comfort and welfare for the men on leave or away from their post command or active combat duties. That consists of the establishment of what we refer to as clubs and leave centers, which may be either in such areas as London, where there is a very large congregation of men on leave, or it may consist of certain club facilities, as in the case of north Africa, where we have a small facility which may be as close to the front as 50 or 60 miles. It also may consist of the creation of such facilities as mobile clubs, in which case a mobile unit goes as far as possible to carry certain comforts and recreational facilities to the men. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Hill, this is Mr. Mitchell of the Red Cross. We have had testimony of other witnesses here. This is a bill proposed by the War Department doing away with some of the limitations upon the Red Cross work directly with the armed forces of the United States and providing for the payment of the traveling expenses of Red Cross representatives doing active duty with the Army, and also eliminating the payment by these representatives of the Red Cross of visa fees. It is recommended by the War Department. Senator HILL. I have read the bill. So far as I am concerned, I am ready to vote now, and vote for the bill. The CHAIRMAN. All those in favor of reporting the bill signify by saving "aye." (The motion was unanimously carried.) The CHAIRMAN. There being no objections, the Chair will designate Senator Hill to report the bill. (At this point, the committee proceeded to the consideration of other matter.) X HEARING BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS UNITED STATES SENATE SEVENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. 440 A BILL TO PROHIBIT THE DEFERMENT OF PERSONS MAY 5, 1943 Printed for the use of the Committee on Military Affairs |