Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1912 — BRAVE NURSE WHO HOLDS TWO ARMY COMMISSIONS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BRAVE NURSE WHO HOLDS TWO ARMY COMMISSIONS

There is an American woman who was commiasioned in the United States array during the Spanish - American war and later in the army during tbs war witn Russia. She is the only woman who ever had a commission in either of these

armies. She borq a weight of responsibility that has been equaled by few men and acquitted herself with great credit to the service. This woman was Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee, surgeon in the army and head of the Red Cross nurses. Doctor McGee is a daughter of Prof. Simon Newcomb, the late eminent scientist, was thoroughly educated in medicine and had gained renown in her profession before the war broke out When hostilities had developed into a reality and fever and disease were ravaging the rank in Cuba and Florida, the war resolved itself into more of a fight for health than against the Spaniard. There was great need of nurses and of medical attention. It was the enlistment of an army of nurses, its whipping into shape, its right disposition, its commanding, that fell to the lot of Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee, first lieutenant United States army medical corps. Doctor McGee enlisted and commanded chiefly from f Washington, though some time was spent in Cuba. From all over the nation she gathered in women of high rank, of wealth and without it, but always efficient in the care of the sick. Doctor McGee placed her army in the field and fought disease. The battle went on long after peabe bad been’ declared. It followed the army to the Philippines and fought oftener than did the Moro or Negrito. It was with the army before the gates of Peking, still with the same oommanderf All the time the work was well doner There has never been any criticism of this work, which is more than can be said of certain man-commanded phases of these campaigns. The woman who moved them as pawns about the map of the world showed generalship of the highest order, comparable with that of any of the men in the service. She has many medals testifying to the regard in which she la held. The honors which Doctor McGee won at home were no less than those she won in the far east, where she went with her corps of trained nurses during the Russo-Japanese war.