The Battle of Boston Common: From a Surgeon's Journal. Ii

BOSTON, Monday, March 19, 1917
Saw Mayor Curley this morning at 12.30 by appointment. Put before him the possibility of temporarily mobilizing the three local Red Cross Base Hospitals on the Common, partly to give them needed experience, partly to help on the Red Cross, interest in which might thereby be stimulated. He took the fly eagerly, but favored the Fenway — would look into it immediately and let me know.
A meeting of the Unit at 4.30 in my rooms — nearly all there. Officers’ roster about completed — also the nurses — also fifty students enrolled. Took a typhoid inoculation No. 1, as an example to the others, much as I dislike being punctured for any purpose.

Tuesday, March 20
The Mayor is out with it in the papers this morning — unfortunately giving the impression that the encampment may be permanent. Pituitary operation. Executive Committee meeting. Dictating laboratory notes in afternoon. At 5 P.M. to a Red Cross organization meeting in Brookline.
Fever, backache, and herpes from my inoculation; so a milk-toast supper and then to the Medical School to persuade the artisans who have volunteered for the Unit formally to enroll on the Red Cross blanks. Most of them refused — only 36 signed up (to qualify we need 150). Others wanted to know about wages — and what if we should be called out? This is patriotism.

Thursday, March 22
Summoned at twelve to attend a meeting of the Park Commission to discuss the best place for the hospital mobilization. Mayor Curley has acted quickly. This means letters to Washington for advice and information. Long conferences during the afternoon with various committee representatives — Algernon Coolidge in to say that, though sanction had been given for their enrollment, the University has now formally advised all students not to sign any papers!

Friday, March 23
Usual morning’s struggle with a pile of mail, followed by a tumor operation. Conference with Burlingham over the adjutant matter. He is going to St. Louis and so is obliged to withdraw. Captain Reynolds, our volunteer quartermaster, here at 4.30. A long powwow followed with the second-year students who have enrolled, but now have cold feet. ‘ Can they not serve their country best by continuing with their courses?’ I am to strike all the names off and take those who re-apply — only want men who are sure they know what they want to do. I am taking the same gamble they are. They took it very well.
The Germans seem to be making a stand on the so-called New Hindenburg Line, destroying everything in their wake.

Monday, March 26
Afternoon in the wards till five, when a meeting at Colonel Peabody’s office with the directors of the other tw o local Base Hospital Units, who do not look favorably upon a practice mobilization. Even a week’s tour of duty would demoralize their hospitals and be an unnecessary drain on Red Cross resources.
We decide to buy the perishable goods for our three outfits — even though the specifications advise waiting till the last minute. The three ‘mother’ hospitals can draw on them for their everyday needs and thus keep the supply for the units freshly replaced. Seems a simple solution of the problem, but the administrative mind does not take kindly to it.
Telegram from Washington asking if we can send muster-in rolls on or before March 30. Kean strongly favorable to proposed mobilization. To gathering in evening at Opera House under auspices of Greater Boston Ambulance Committee, with music, speeches, and French war films. An appeal for more cars for use in France.
Leonard Wood appears to have been demoted to the Department of the Southeast, with headquarters at Charleston. New England is likely to be pretty mad. The St. Louis is reported as having reached England — our first armed merchantman. Her sailing was kept secret. ‘Armed neutrality.’

Saturday, March 31
After two operations, to lunch with the Saturday Club. Much war talk and passing of resolutions, on the nature of which it took us long to agree — also, it may be added, on the value of them. Mr. Lowell from his end of the table: ‘If you wish to drive him [the President] to Dublin, he will try to go to Cork,’ and so on. However, there was a final compromise and the document was worded at the end according to Mr. Storey’s version — ‘a state of war exists and should be prosecuted with vigor. . . .’ Cameron Forbes, James Rhodes, President Eliot, Edward Forbes, Roscoe Thayer (who was ill satisfied with our compromise version), Major Higginson (who read letters just received both from Mr. Wilson and from his silent partner, Colonel House), Farlow, Howe, Professor Pickering, Dr. Walcott, George F. Moore (who left after giving his vote to Mr. Storey), and a few others perhaps. Doubtless the same thing is being done over the entire country. What Mr. Wilson will do, he alone knows.
Back to the hospital for a busy afternoon with Captain Reynolds over our enrollment blanks, which we finally got off to Washington lacking the minor personnel. The students have been advised to withdraw, and I am ashamed to send the lists with so many scratched names. It is ‘difficult to secure the cohesion of important mediocrities’ at a time like this, and we are going to see a lot of pulling crossways before we are through.
So far as I can see, one must fix his eye on what Washington desires and keep to that whether one likes it or not. Theoretically people in this community are bubbling with patriotism; practically many of them spend their time scolding the government because they think it is n’t doing what they want — while it may be. After all, it’s their government. They laid the egg and now are doing their best to addle it.
Late home. Asked Gus on the way if there was any news. He said: ‘No, but it looks as though they might monopolize [sic] the militia any minute.’ In evening another patriotic mass meeting at Opera House under auspices of the National Security League and sixteen other organizations — including Mayflower Descendants, Sons of the Revolution, Colonial Dames, and so on. Of all the speakers Paul Revere Frothingham alone was inspiring. He should be used oftener.

Monday, April 2
Meeting of the local Committee on Public Safety called at eleven at the City Hall. Stirring speech by the Mayor and then by the various chairmen of the eleven subcommittees. Resolutions to the President and to Congress. Rumor that Senator Lodge and a pacifist have had an altercation — that Mr. Lodge ‘has put the fist in pacifist.’ We parade to the Common, where pundits in tall hats on a platform wave flags and utter voiceless addresses to some 25,000 people. Strong and I escape with difficulty in the wake of a burly policeman and go to the Harvard Club for a meeting of the Committee on Hygiene. Base Hospital trial mobilization brought up. Colonel Williams alone supports me. Telegram received from Washington offering to detail officer and detachment to assist the project.

Tuesday, April 3
The President asked Congress yesterday to declare that a state of war exists with Germany — the message a great document. He has said effectively what we have all long felt. It is to be hoped that the German people may be given a chance to read it.
Letter from Red Cross Headquarters promising tents, but advising portable structures for operating room, mess, and administrative offices. States that there will be plenty of time: ‘the creation of an army will have to go on in a leisurely way.’ They are now making plans for 33 base hospitals like our own. Many of the directors already writing here to ask advice. Learn from Baltimore that the Hopkins Unit is enrolling students.

Wednesday, April 4
Clinic day. Appeared before the Administrative Board at the School to protest their action concerning the students who had reënrolled with the Unit. Find that someone has privately misquoted the action of the Board, causing about half of them to withdraw their names.
The Senate has voted for war, 82 to 6. The group of ‘willful men’ has held out.

Friday, April 6
Left the meeting of the Committee on Hygiene, Medicine, and Sanitation early to attend faculty meeting. Succeeded in getting the Administrative Board vote, as recorded, rescinded. The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted for war 373 to 50. Wilson has signed the declaration.
To ‘The Club’ at seven without time for dressing. Full gathering — even George Moore. Sat between him and Mr. Crafts. Free talk about war — the coming one, and the one of a half century ago, which is only too well remembered by all of them. A long talk with Mr. Higginson and Dr. Walcott about the Base Hospital mobilization. ‘The Major,’ as usual, is fired with a spirit of coöperation, and Dr. Walcott will see what he can do at the Massachusetts General.

Easter Sunday, April 8
Much telephoning in regard to a meeting with Eliot Wadsworth at the Mayor’s office to-morrow at ten. The Mayor calls off a funeral for the sake of it — rather, his attendance at the funeral. Colonel Peabody, C. F. Weed, the three Base Hospital directors, Colonel Williams, Commissioner Dillon, and John Saltonstall. Chief arguments for the plan were outlined briefly as follows: —
‘The Red Cross has already raised circa $100,000 for the equipment of three local base hospitals which are to revert to the army when called upon. As yet they are paper organizations wholly unfamiliar with army formalities. They need the experience of a mobilization no less than raw troops need it. Only in this way can imperfections and omissions in their equipment be disclosed. Their emergency requirements can meanwhile be supplied by the local “mother” hospitals. A further object is to attract public interest and thus to facilitate the enrollment of the 150 minor personnel each hospital must have to meet army regulations.
‘Of the several sites suggested, the parade ground of the Common is strongly favored. It is central and convenient to the source of most of the accidents cared for by the city. Moreover, it is associated in people’s minds with patriotic demonstrations of all kinds. It is turfed, has a good slope for drainage, and could be easily policed. Gas, water, and sewer connections could be installed with but little expense.
‘Apart from a few portable houses for operating room, administrative office, and kitchen, the hospital would be in tents. These could be floored by using the winter board walks taken from the public parks. The encampment would cover only six to eight acres of the Common. It could be made attractive and interesting with its flags, military guard, bugle calls, drills, Sunday service — and perhaps once a week a concert by a military band.
‘ It is proposed that the city accident cases be reported by the police to the Red Cross, whose ambulances would route patients to the Common instead of the Relief Station. The question of legality of treating city patients under these circumstances could probably be easily met. They would doubtless receive better care than under usual conditions in view of the standing of the medical officers and nurses to be in charge. As soon as the patients are able to be moved, they, with their records, would be evacuated by Red Cross ambulances to the City Hospital or elsewhere.
‘An estimate of expense for a two weeks’ service for the first of the three hospitals would be circa $15,000. Many requirements such as uniforms, laundry, fuel, electric light, and so forth, might in all probability be donated. A continued service for the other hospitals using the same equipment would add little to the cost. ‘

Monday, April 0
To the City Hall at ten after getting through morning’s mail and many interviews. The programme was again outlined and Major Higginson warmly supported me. After he and Eliot Wadsworth had left, the Mayor came in, whereupon strong opposition to the proposal was made by the directors of the other two hospitals. I finally offered to go it alone. It will be a big job. Many will be glad to see it fail.

Tuesday, April 10
Ward visit at Children’s Hospital, Laminectomy for spinal tumor. Busy with preparations to go to Washington by Federal Express for a meeting of the recently organized Standardization Committee for Medical Supplies.

Wednesday and Thursday, April 11-12
Two very busy days in Washington. Much shocked to find regular army officers in ‘civies.’ ‘Not the thing for the officers to wear uniforms.’ How can they expect people to enlist? Called on Colonel Kean and General Gorgas. Visit to latter interrupted by entry of Senator Bemdash;, from a side door, with a young lady. The General bows and scrapes. The Senator’s young woman would like a secretarial position. I escape. However, it appears that both these men — that is, Kean and Gorgas — will help in so far as they can. But are there any tents to be had?
Meeting of Committee. The standard chests are antiquated, with instruments dating from the Civil War. Much work to do in passing on army and navy and base-hospital kits. Instrument manufacturers in trouble. Men have long since left to enter munition shops, where better paid. By Wednesday night most of the Committee had faded away, leaving a few of us to make the final decisions — not so easy.

Friday, April 13
Busy, early till late, on the proposed mobilization. Mr. George Cutler, Jacob Peabody of the Red Cross, Colonel Chamberlain of the Army, and young Kettell, the architect. Plans for portable houses, and conspiracies to raise money. Mr. Rice in after luncheon, and we find he has made similar plans for a hospital at Quincy. At it until late in afternoon.
Evening spent in writing letters for Richard Strong, who sails to-morrow on the Chicago, with some physicists and chemists, for abroad. Joe Ames to be one of them.

Saturday, April 14
The Mayor to see me at his request at 9.15 — does not come. Fear there is some legal entanglement about taking patients. Brain-tumor operation — took longer than expected — missed lunch with Messrs. Cutler, Peabody, and Chamberlain, but joined them later to see portable houses at Dover. Mr. Hodgson guarantees to have four 22foot-wide buildings by May 15. All his other work to be put off. Depressing dinner with a friend who says, ‘What’s the use of all this hysteria about preparedness? We’ll never be invaded.’

Monday, April 16
The usual morning rush before operating. Ward visit and then Captain Reynolds about his commission. To the City Hall to sec Corporation Counsel Sullivan. The legal mind! Fears we may have someone get out an injunction against us for putting up structures on the Common! Necessary to go to the legislature. Our conference interrupted by an urgent telephone from his wife that their house was burning down. So I took him home. It was n’t.
Evening spent in arranging for our next step — Kettell and Colonel Chamberlain to plan out the encampment so we can have something to show on paper at least. I feel to-night that we have bitten off more than we can chew. People say, ‘There is n’t going to be any war for us.’

Tuesday, April 17
General Wood and a commission are in town — appointed to meet Balfour, Joffre, and others, ‘when and where they may land.’ The idea occurred to me that he might settle all doubts as to the base hospital, and, though these people are incommunicado, I found where he was at lunch and pursued him there. He will be glad to do anything we ask — would have liked to get one of the hospital units mobilized at Plattsburg. Long talk with him about his demotion.
To the City Hall, where Mayor Curley orders off 150 invitations to people to come to-morrow at eleven. I finally ran down poor Major Higginson at 1 Ashburton Place, looking very tired and showing his eighty-three years for the first time I have ever seen him. He gives me suggestions in the way of names, and I go back to help the Mayor’s secretaries get out their list — women included.
Tea at Guy Murchie’s with L. W., ‘Jimmie’ Williams, and the two young officers who are training the students at Harvard. The General says he has ordered officers to appear in uniform. High time. Discussion about the socalled ‘commission’ to meet the foreign guests and the absurdity of its having no high government official. Wood the only real figure. Lucky they have him. Says he knows Balfour — met him at dinner first in 1902, when he came back from the Philippines and after his Cuban governorship. Balfour asked him what the United States would do for him on his return — mentioning what England had done for Kitchener and Cromer. Wood replied that he would have difficulty even to retain his commission in the army.
Evening spent in telephoning people to come to-morrow; most of my friends and supporters, alas, are out of town.

Wednesday, April 18
Rainy day and unfavorable for our meeting. Called at the Copley Plaza for General Wood. They denied his existence. The carriage flunkey finally told me that he had gone off ‘for a ride.’ I bribed him to put the General in a taxi and send him to the Mayor’s office the moment he showed up. A small group finally gathered from out of the rain — practically those alone to whom I had written or telephoned. Good old Mr. Cochrane, Major Higginson and his brother, Allston Burr, Mrs. Sears, Robert Winsor, Mrs. Blake, John Saltonstall, Cameron Forbes, and a few others — perhaps thirty in all.
We were ushered into the Mayor’s office and, General Wood not being there, I had to make the appeal myself. General Wood and Jacob Peabody finally came in — had been detained at Cambridge. The General in his straightfrom-the-shoulder manner said some very appropriate things. Mr. George Cutler was made treasurer and said he hoped the necessary sum could be raised on the spot. I estimated it at $20,000 for the four buildings and completed equipment and said that I would give $1000. The Mayor followed suit. The amount was promptly underwritten.
Unhappily we were then captured by the Mayor, who insisted on a photograph — Mr. Higginson, Admiral Bowles, General Wood, the Mayor, and I! The man had difficulty with his apparatus and I hope it was a failure. Apart from this episode it was a satisfactory and rather exciting meeting.
In the evening to hear Gerard speak at the National Defense dinner at the South Armory. Much smoke (tobacco) and little fire. The presiding officer worked himself into a fervor in answering the question (several times repeated), ‘What can we do?’ Answer, with outstretched arms and eyes on the rafters: ‘We can only watch — and stand — and pray — while our great leader . . . ’ and so forth. L. W. spoke briefly and much to the point as usual.

Thursday, April 19 (Patriots’ Day)
Many business varia at hospital until ten. Numerous visitors. Account of yesterday’s meeting in morning papers brings many telephone calls — for example, from Miss Curtis expostulating on the proposed use of the Common; and finally a Mrs. Brown of the Boston Common Committee (!!) was announced, a little old lady who said she had given birth — in other words — to the Common Committee when there was a question many years ago of putting a pump on it. The Common would be preserved with her blood if need be. To have people ‘operated’ (sic) in public on the sacred Common was a sacrilege, and so forth.
I have read about such people, but have never seen anyone quite like her, and equally misinformed, except at the antivivisection hearings. She said it was an advertising dodge of Mayor Curley’s — or mine! But we parted the best of friends — ‘I must see the Common Committee and tell them just what I had told her — in the same way — so nice of me — busy man — give her so much time — come and have tea with her.’ An experience out of a novel.
Later, messages galore from other people who don’t like our project. Cutler and Kettell here working on plans. Washington is growing dubious about tents. May need all they have themselves.
‘The Auxiliary Medical Committee for National Defense of Boston, Massachusetts ’— all that — met this P. M. to appoint a new chairman to take Strong’s place. Meanwhile it gives origin to eight subcommittees! Committees breed like rabbits. We’re digging up our front lawn to plant potatoes.

Saturday, April 21
Busy day — tumor operation — felt ill afterward — hope I can pull through the next few weeks. Captain Reynolds, Kettell, Cutler, Roger Lee, and others in at 3 P.M. Allston Burr with a letter to Mr. O’Brien anent the unfavorable Herald editorials. A telephone from the Mayor’s office saying that he was going to put an appeal for more funds in the papers to-morrow. Lucky thing his secretary read it, for it contained statements that would, I fear, have ended the project. Begged the secretary to cut them out and hope he understood. Late afternoon spent over plans and specifications at the portable-house place in Dover.

Sunday, April 22
More telephoning from people — evidently ‘sicked on’ — who do not want to see the parade ground desecrated and who fear that Mayor Curley has ulterior motives. Attempt to answer letters of protest requiring a personal reply: for example, ‘The building of a hospital on Boston Common would be a menace to the health of the hundreds of children of the vicinity who throng the ball fields and parade ground all summer and on every holiday. Last Thursday, April 19, there were ten games of ball going on and crowds watching. . . .’ Streeter comes in and donates $500 plus a Ford car (on demand) for the hospital’s use!

Monday, April 23
Meeting of the Unit in my rooms this afternoon. A discouraging letter from Washington that no tents can be had for this or any purpose. All looms in country called upon to manufacture duck for Quartermaster’s Department. They suggest trying the state militia. So to Colonel Williams, who says no tents available here. So much for promises and our fine bird’s-eye view of the encampment — just completed by Mr. Kettell.

Wednesday, April 25
Meeting with the uncommon Common Committee at 4.30 in Mr. James A. Lowell’s office. Finally persuaded them — I think — that this is to be a purely military procedure in strict accordance with the Common’s best traditions. Very funny — if it had not been so serious. Individually they stepped outside and wrung my hand — ‘Good thing’ — ’Push it along’ — ‘I’m with you, though did not like to say so in there.’ Just why I can’t imagine, but this is Boston. It took nearly two hours. Mrs. Brown wanted to know why we could not have our encampment stretched along the mall on Commonwealth Avenue.
Stopped at Mrs. Thayer’s to ask how she’d like it — also for a late cup of tea. Base Hospital No. 5 plans evidently the talk of the town — particularly of ‘sewing circles.’ Comment mostly unfavorable through misunderstanding of our objectives.

Thursday, April 26
Feeling the need of stemming opposition, to the Thursday Evening Club at James J. Minot’s, and heard Osterhout ‘On the Biologist’s Interpretation of War.’ Also Mr. Eliot, informally, on the good things that are showing up through the war — they seemed somewhat microscopic; and finally Chadwick and a group of young musicians gave some delightful seventeenth-century music accompanied by a harpsichord !
Then I began to get it. ‘ You the fellow who is talking about putting a hospital on Boston Common?’ I finally began to make some progress with William Thayer, Wallace Goodrich, and one or two others. Hope it will do some good. We plan for a meeting of the N. E. Surgical Dressings Committee in the Brigham amphitheatre next Wednesday in the hope of getting some tongues to wag in our favor. An encouraging telegram comes from Colonel Kean, saying don’t be downhearted.

Friday, April 27
To J. C. Warren’s to see, from his Beacon Street balcony, the Harvard Regiment march by, escorting the French officers who have come to train them. A fine sight, but the bystanders showed little enthusiasm. People interested, of course, but no cheering or waving; and I saw no one salute the flags. Fifty-odd years ago, from those same windows overlooking the Common, anxious eyes saw troops pass by to something that was real.
Back to the hospital, where Kettell is a little dubious over his bird’s-eye drawing of the encampment about to be released for to-morrow’s papers — it will do, I’m sure. Remainder of the day spent trying to turn the current of public opinion. To the Tavern for tea, where they all said ‘a fine idea’ when they learned what had been done and of our real purposes. ‘Had the French officers seen a military hospital on the Common this morning, they’d have thought we meant business.’
Then to the Doctors’ Club dinner at Taylor’s, where it came up again, and I think I temporarily convinced most of them — best of all, Fred Shattuck, the last I had expected to come around. Mr. Lowell had telephoned in the afternoon to say that the matter had been brought up before the Corporation — that they were unanimous in saying they could not give the movement their support — that it was not their project!

Saturday, April 28
My dander has been up like Dr. John Brown’s little mongrel when a bigger dog exhumed his buried bone, and I’ve been hitting out at these stand-pat Bostonians and their Common. A Mid-Westerner’s traditions of the old parade ground and its noble history need be no less patriotic than theirs. Boston for two years past has been 75 per cent talk and kick, and 25 per cent action. Massachusetts is the thirty-third state to complete her quota of militia, instead of the first, as she once would have been. Curiously enough, they don’t seem disturbed about it.
A busy morning; started a pituitary transfrontal operation an hour late. Good case — congenital suprasellar cyst — best operation of the kind I have ever done.
Councilman joins me, and so to the Saturday Club luncheon — for more work as a publicity agent. Let off some steam on him and easily aroused his indignation at the opposition. An unusually large gathering — Haskins, Roscoe Thayer, Mark Howe, Ellery Sedgwick, Pickering, Dr. Walcott, President Lowell, Dr. Emerson, Sturgis Bigelow, Richards, and several more, with one or two guests — one of them Major Azan in his horizon-bleu uniform, a fine type of young French officer such as I remember two years ago.
Before we took our places Mr. Eliot quite unexpectedly said, ‘I should like to have you sit by me to-day.’ This I did — where some guest usually sits. We began with the oysters, when he turned, saying: ‘A friend telephoned to me this morning to use my influence to have this hospital of yours kept off the Common.’
With that I was off with the familiar story. ‘Have as much respect for the Common as anyone — the Harvard Regiment parades down the principal streets behind a band — if they mean business a good many of them are going to get hurt, and someone had better begin to learn how to take care of them in an army hospital under something like field conditions — hospitals as necessary in war as troops — we don’t propose to be put somewhere on a back street — deserve the most prominent place for the mobilization that the city can find — seeing some people in uniform actually at work will increase Red Cross subscriptions and encourage enlistments. More important than all, will give us invaluable training with army procedures and forms. Anyhow, it’s only for a matter of six weeks, even should the other two hospitals join in.’ Well, he got interested and finally indignant.

(Later, Written on May 3)
Too bad I could not have finished the above while I was warmed up to it. It was an extraordinary occasion. I saw no food after the oysters — only something red. Told them I thought little of their regard for an historically dead instead of a living Boston Common. Got Major Azan with his splinted arm to explain what military hospitals were for, which he did movingly; slammed out at someone who wanted to bet that there would be a stone annex of the City Hospital on the Common before the summer was over; chided Henry Higginson and Dr. Walcott for not having stood by me at the Corporation meeting.
Jim Curtis, who has been in Washington long enough to understand that we are supposedly at war, quietly said, ‘Funny, when I got to New York this morning the first thing I heard was: “Boston has the jump on us at last; they are going to get one of their base hospitals out on Boston Common, and we are only talking about ours.‘” This provided a glimmer of hope. But someone bustled up saying he would personally defend the parade ground (on which his bedroom windows look down) against this sacrilege; and I, that he typified those who, to protect a plot of grass, would ignore the country’s unpreparedness — the Common could be reseeded.
Well, in the midst of it all, — getting more and more ‘het up,’ — I was called downstairs to the telephone: telegram from War Department, Washington — ‘Wire this office earliest possible date that your unit can be mobilized for duty abroad. All expenses borne by Government. (Signed) Gorgas.’
The grass will continue to grow on Boston’s famous parade ground.

Sunday, April 29
Yesterday afternoon and evening a whirlwind trying to get in touch with members of the Unit scattered for the week-end. At it again all to-day trying to complete our enrollment. Many changes necessary. Frequent exchange of telegrams with Washington. Wonder what they will say about these eleventh-hour withdrawals. May lose us our chance. Decide to go on to-night with Cutler for inside information and authority to advertise for personnel.
Visit to General Edwards for a few minutes. Will do anything — everything— for us. ‘First thing Leonard Wood told him was to get behind our base-hospital mobilization.’ He and Mrs. Edwards both very cordial — very cosmopolitan — very unprovincial. Just what is it? They will shock Boston. Fine to see him in his uniform, though he is not to be officially in charge till Tuesday A.M.
Mr. Storrow on the train — much interested. Offers us, for the Committee of Public Safety, $5000 for incidental expenses.

Monday eve., April 30 (Federal Express)
A good thing to be ‘Johnny on the spot.’ After a snatch at breakfast we got to the Red Cross Building about 8.30, before anyone was there. As we were planning our campaign and reviewing the countless questions we wished to ask, Eliot Wadsworth came in and, knowing our mission, planted us in Colonel Kean’s office. There much telephoning from all parts of the country, though the Washington exchange is poor and the lines overbusy — people wanting to know if they can be guaranteed against submarines, and so forth.
Meanwhile we gather information regarding the other five units that have been approached, Crile evidently the only one approximately ready, thanks to his mobilization last autumn. We finally learn who the other four are to be. Much business also on our own account. ‘How much luggage? Nurses’ aids? Secretaries? Commissions? Passports? Can we draw on the other Boston units for personnel? What shall we do with our portable houses? What with our Red Cross equipment?’ And I don’t know what else.
Finally we were sent for from the War Office — Colonel Goodwin, the R.A.M.C. representative on the Balfour Commission there, also Kean and Gorgas. Everyone very pleasant. Joke me on being a Major. Congratulate us on our selection. Due solely to the Common mobilization activity — looked as though we meant business. Two immediately urgent needs of the British Army are more medical officers and more engineers.
Long talk with Colonel Goodwin — very fine in his staff officer’s uniform, with its red facings, such as I saw in St. Omer two years ago. Whole thing his idea. Thinks we shall go to England first and later to France to join our first Expeditionary Force when it goes over. Knows Percy Sargent, Herringham, and the rest. Called from France to go on the Commission. Left his horse standing by the road, got a motor, fifty miles to Boulogne, barely caught the boat. Not a moment to outfit.
General Gorgas evidently tired, but cordial as always. Piles of unopened mail on his desk and still answering his own telephone, which is not even in reach of his chair.
Back to the Red Cross Building for further conferences. Major Patterson to go with us as our commanding officer. Very lucky, and he is delighted. Reynolds, alas, can’t qualify — need a trained army quartermaster and one will be sent with us — terrific job. Lunch with Kean at the Army and Navy Club. Joffre and Balfour have stirred things up. People at last getting into uniform. A very different Washington from two weeks ago. An occasional French officer on the streets. Goodwin said we shall have much in store for us when we get over under the American flag.
A lively afternoon at the Red Cross Headquarters — finally given permission to send messages through to Boston with carefully worded advertisement for morning papers: ‘Wanted: 100 volunteers — cooks, orderlies, clerks, carpenters, electricians — to enlist in Medical Corps for early service overseas. Report Harvard Medical School between 4 and 9 P.M.’

Sunday, May 6, 6.45 P.M.
Quiet for the first moment since we got back Tuesday morning. Such a week! We feared the attempt to get ready for the Common by May 15 might break us down, with three weeks’ time and a chance to borrow needed things; but to do it all in seven days! Well, we turned loose. Cutler was indefatigable. Captain Reynolds worked like a dog. The tailors put off all other work to make our uniforms; the Committee of Public Safety sent cars; the Special Aid Society, food. Secretaries appeared out of a clear sky. Mrs. Wendell presented us with our flags. Additional telephones installed and going all day long. Towne and some others giving physical examinations and inoculations for the volunteers, who began to appear in large numbers in answer to the advertisement in the newspapers. Lieutenant Villaret — a young artillery officer from Fort Banks — detached to us by General Edwards. Helped us a lot, and with the aid of Sergeant Hepburn even began to whip the motley crew into shape in the lane outside my rooms. Contradictory orders from Washington — one day one thing, the next day another. Poor Patterson in a panic there about our commissions. Last-moment shifts in personnel and even officers! New physical-examination papers requested for deposit in Adjutant General’s Office. Harry Forbes’s glass eye was a stickler, but we assured P. he could see through it. Gracious, how we need universal training!
Every morning at 8.30 things would begin with a rush, ease up a little by late afternoon, and by evening some fearful problem would present itself to disentangle — usually there till midnight with Reynolds; very little food, very little sleep, and incessant cigarettes. A bad combination, but somehow it went along.
Went out twice for an hour — Tuesday to the Tavern annual dinner. Could n’t bear it, though ‘the Major’ gave them a straight talk about alcohol. W. L. at the close, raising his glass to me: ‘God Almighty intervened to keep you from putting a hospital on Boston Common.’ Ah, well! This at least was an admission that we might have gotten on.
Friday night at ‘The Club’ dinner was much better. Tom Perry, Morse, Storey, James Rhodes, Bigelow, Duncan, ‘the Major,’ and George Moore, and we talked freely. But not this time, as so often, about the bloody corner at Gettysburg and just what happened there. It was largely about prohibition — Sturgis Bigelow protesting that it would be very injurious for men, long accustomed to alcohol with their meals, to give it up. He was effectively slain. Sturgis’s whiskers have had a sort of surprised look ever since I lashed out at him at the Saturday Club — only a week ago, though it seems a year. They were all very nice to me, however, and when I got up to go before the usual time were a little teary in their good-byes. I knew well enough what they were thinking of.
Endicott Peabody dropped in — Friday afternoon, I think it was — to see me about Malcolm. My mind was racing, and before he had had a chance to say anything I fired him with the idea that we must have a service Sunday so the Chaplain could talk to the enlisted men on their responsibilities abroad. He rushed off to see Bishop Lawrence, and the Bishop cordially took to it.
Late Saturday evening our sailing orders came — ‘ from an unknown port to an unknown destination’; and this morning our C. O., Major Patterson, with Harmon, the adjutant, and Rund, the quartermaster who is to supplant good old Reynolds, all arrived from Washington in time for the service.
The enlisted men, with our big sergeant carrying the flag, marched across the Common to the Cathedral in the cold rain. A pew for K.C. and me with the children. Curious, our reactions. Most of the people were teary. We, stony. We have just been expressing our surprise, and believe it was because we were praying that the audience would feel it — that the people would wake up — and had little thought of our own small affairs.
The French officers were there, General Edwards and his staff, the Governor and his — and Mayor Curley came, though late. Very decent of him to come at all, and I think he has played a fine, manly, generous, unpolitical rôle in all this, despite what people say of him. I’m beginning to believe those say the most who know the least and are least to be believed. Malcolm Peabody was a fine boyish Chaplain. The Bishop did himself proud. The singing was excellent. And our flags were blessed. My only moment of distress came when one of the children reached over and put a little warm hand in mine, while ‘America’ was being sung just before we filed out.
Then back to my rooms at the Brigham. Orders issued to entrain to-morrow at 9 A.M. — everything — everybody. Enlisted men to be outfitted and mustered in at Fort Hamilton — nurses ditto by the Red Cross in New York City. Such meagre operating equipment as we have had time to get together boxed, labeled, and carted off. A last-minute flurry on learning that the Chaplain and the five ‘civilian employees’ — secretaries and dietitians — must have properly executed passports accompanied by birth certificates! Many will have had no time for farewells — so be it. Better than to drag along in Boston for another five days before we embark. Patterson, Harmon, and Villaret for Sunday dinner, and then to the Hospital once more for a final afternoon’s work.
So here we now are, as nearly ready as circumstances permit, and for almost the first evening in weeks really alone and in peace.

(To be continued)