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Meantime, the Surgeon General of the Army had been establishing reconstruction hospitals for the intensive treatment of physical disablement. In connection with each of these medical centers educational work had been undertaken -- with three ends in view. The first was to provide to convalescent patients occupation for therapeutic purposes; the second to provide educational opportunities during the period of invalidism to men who would be returned to the front or discharged without permanent disability; the third to train disabled men whom it was desired to retain in the military organization for special or limited service. In carrying out the two latter aims, the educational departments of the hospitals have entered well within the vocational field.

Important links in the military hospital chain are the reception hospitals at Fox Hills, Staten Island, N.Y.; at Ellis Island, in New York harbor; and at Newport News, Va. At these institutions there are first received from hospital ships or transports all soldiers invalided home from overseas. The men are classified as to treatment need and district of residence, and promptly "cleared" to the appropriate institution.

During the period of hospital or convalescent care the soldier has advantage of physical and occupational therapy administered by a corps of trained workers known as "reconstruction aides" but more familiarly named "blue gowns" on account of their uniform.

Classes in the various military hospitals have already been established. The subjects taught at General Hospital No. 6, Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Ga., for example, are motor mechanics, telegraphy, wireless telegraphy, typewriting, mechanical drafting, cabinet-making, carpentry, harness repairing, poultry raising, reading and writing English, penmanship and bookkeeping, and printing.

When a candidate for discharge from the military forces is so disabled as to entitle him to compensation for disability, his case is discussed with him, while he is still in the hospital, by a vocational adviser of the Federal Board for Vocational Education. He is told that the United States Government will train him free of charge for a new trade. It is entirely optional with the man whether he take advantage of this opportunity for training or not, but every influence is brought to bear to make his decision affirmative.

After the disabled man is discharged from the hospital, he becomes a civilian and his dealings are with the Federal Board and the Bureau of War Risk Insurance.

If the man decides to take a course of training, he is supported during the period of re-education through payment by the Bureau of War Risk Insurance of his compensation for disability or his former military pay, whichever is the greater. During this period the compulsory allotments and allowances to his dependents are continued just as if he were still in military service. He is given instruction that is paid for and supervised by the Federal Board for Vocational Education in one of the schools approved by that body.

The Federal Board for Vocational Education has announced that its provision of re-education will be made, so far as possible, through the use of existing schools, or by placement for training, under a modified system of apprenticeship, with manufacturing or commercial establishments. Special institutions will be founded only where absolutely necessary.

The Board is establishing district offices to decentralize the work, is making training arrangements for current cases, and is following up to their homes men who were discharged from the army prior to the inception of re-educational activity, and who stand in possible need of training. Local offices are already in operation in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Washington, D. C, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle.

After training is complete, the re-educated soldier will be placed in a job by the Federal Board, acting, as provided by the law, in cooperation with the United States Employment Service of the Department of Labor. The Board also includes in its placement function any man physically rehabilitated in an army or navy hospital, whether he be a candidate for retraining or not.

The American Red Cross has offered to the government authorities the facilities of its extensive home service organization throughout the country. This service, directed by the Department of Civilian Relief, can help to align the family as an encouraging force behind the re-education program, can keep the family wheels moving smoothly during the period of training, can provide to the vocational officers much useful information on the home conditions and community record of any individual soldiers, can follow up the case after return to employment, and help in many ways to make the re-education permanently effective.

The actual work of putting the disabled American soldier back on his feet is still in its infancy, and many details still remain to be worked out in experience. But in principle, the United States has followed the best example of her Allies -- in accepting provision for the disabled soldiers as a national responsibility to be met at public expense, It is clear that no American soldier need be dependent upon the alms of charity for his rehabilitation.