Hospital Ships

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ships having as their purpose the care of the sick and wounded in time of war. It was provided by the Geneva Convention in 1868 that hospital ships should be allowed to proceed unmolested by belligerents on either side, if they fulfilled the necessary regulations. These regulations were to the effect that the ship should have no arms on board, should indicate its character clearly by flying the Red Cross flag, by being painted white with a broad green stripe on each side extending from bow to stern, if a government ship, and a red stripe if a ship not in the service of a government. It was to be permitted to belligerents on either side to visit the ship to see that these regulations were being adhered to, and immunity was only assured in each case. If it was discovered that the ship in question carried arms, officers and enlisted men unwounded and not in the hospital service, or military supplies, or was being used for any purpose other than those indicated, it at once lost its immunity and could be treated as a belligerent vessel. In most countries of Europe hospital ships are regularly in service as units in the naval service, but before the entry of the United States into the late European War such ships, apart from one ship, the "Solace," were not provided for by the United States, though the personnel capable of manning them received a preliminary training from the Medical Department. Since the European War a number of vessels used during the period of hostilities have been detailed for continued use in the service as hospital ships, and officers and men have continued to receive valuable training from the experiences gained during the war. In time of peace hospital ships are assimilated to hospitals on shore and are under the supervision of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery of the U. S. navy. Surgeons are usually in command, and they are supported by assistant surgeons and nurses, in addition to the personnel necessary for navigation and other purposes. An ordinary ship has about 200 beds, to which would be attached a hospital staff of 10 officers and 40 men. Hospital ships used for civilian purposes are permanent institutions. These are of two classes: those that work in conjunction with the merchant marine, and those used as floating hospitals for the poor and for the purpose of giving children in the cities the benefit of sea air during the summer. During the World War charges and counter charges with respect to the improper use of hospital ships arose constantly. The German Government repeatedly accused the British of using the ships for the transport of unwounded soldiers and military supplies, and, d, as a result, treated some of them as ordinary vessels of war.