of Johnson City, Tenn., a United Spanish War Veteran. His address was full of patriotic fervor and his efforts commanded the close attention of all who heard him. He presented for their consideration those ideals that United Spanish War Veterans are seeking to inculcate in the hearts of all of our people.

In the afternoon a baseball game proved very interesting to all who attended.

To sum up, I am able to report that our comrades are receiving every consideration and careful treatment. The veterans are well pleased with the services rendered by all the officers in charge.

I am sure, from my general observation, that Colonel Townsend and his excellent corps of officials are using every means to make life pleasant for our unfortunate comrades, and doing everything they can to bring into their lives the happiness and comfort that are desired by the men of our great patriotic organization. Respectfully submitted.

WILLIAM L. GRAYSON, National Patriotic Instructor.

REPORT OF ASST. INSP. GEN. DANIEL A. MacNEILL OF INSPECTION OF THE NATIONAL SOLDIERS' HOME, TOGUS, ME.

CARMI A. THOMPSON,

AUGUST 6, 1926.

Commander in Chief, United Spanish War Veterans.

MY DEAR SIR AND COMRADE: Upon receipt of Order No. 62, detailing me to inspect the National Soldiers' Home, at Togus, Me., I immediately took the necessary steps to perform that duty.

I arrived in Augusta, Me., July 31, 1926, in company with Past Department Commander Charles A. Flannagan. We were met by a delegation from the Tiffany Camp, headed by Chief of Staff William T. Wade, Department of Maine, and also the commander of the Tiffany Camp, both of whom received us loyally and gave us all the respect that a comrade could wish for.

There

We arrived at Togus the same day, and found it an ideal place for a national home. The reservation comprises over 1,800 acres. are 50 buildings on this reservation, and inhabiting these buildings are about 1,000 comrades, embracing veterans from all wars.

On August 1, which was Sunday, I met Major Perkins, who is a wonderful soldier and gentleman, and is also, I understand, a great friend of the Spanish War veterans.

Hospital.-Accompanied by the head surgeon, Colonel McLaughlin, I inspected the hospital from roof to cellar. I found there all that could be wished for by any patient. Although the building was built in 1868 and is out of date as a hospital, I found everything clean and in good condition, the best of food and care being provided.

Kitchen. I found the kitchen well kept and clean. The cooking utensils were the same.

Barracks. The barracks is a large building, well ventilated and sanitary. While the plumbing is of the old stye, it is in good condition. The beds and bedclothes were clean and neat.

Recreation. The comrades have a great deal of recreation. There were 445 band concerts. They have a wonderful theater

on the grounds, in which they had 121 movie shows and 10 theatrical performances. They have ball games on a well-kept ball field, to the number of 40 a season. They also have a wonderful clubroom where pool, card games, and other indoor games are indulged in. The camp has its meetings in the same building. In the winter time I understand that they have hockey, basket ball, and other healthy winter sports.

Spiritual.-There is a beautiful chapel, where Catholic and Protestant services are held.

Discipline. In speaking with Colonel Ryan, who is governor of the home, and, by the way, is a very nice man to talk with, tells me that in the past three years the conduct of comrades has increased wonderfully. In the fiscal year of 1924-25 there were 304 governor court cases, as compared with the report of 1925-26, in which year there were 179 cases, which shows an increase in good conduct, and which speaks well of the way the home is conducted. I had no complaints from any comrade, which is another remarkable feature.

Library. The library is a good-sized building, well supplied with the best reading material that can be procured. There are 14,000 volumes, war relics, and other objects of interest. It is in charge of a librarian who is a Spanish War veteran.

Cemetery. One of the most wonderful sights that I ever gazed upon is the cemetery. There are 4,400 graves, each with a regula tion Government stone and a flag on each grave. The grass on the graves is well kept, and everything around is in perfect condition. It, also, is in charge of a Spanish War veteran.

Recommendation.-I recommend a modern, up-to-date, fireproof hospital, as the one already there is old and out of date and apt to be a fire trap. I also recommend a modern plumbing system, and extra shower baths for the comrades in the barracks.

DANIEL A. MACNEILL,
Assistant Inspector General.

REPORT OF PAST DEPARTMENT COMMANDER CLARENCE W. BRINKLE OF INSPECTION OF THE NATIONAL MILITARY HOME, DAYTON, OHIO

In compliance with Special Order No. 63, series 1925-26, I have made a careful inspection of the National Military Home, Dayton, Ohio, and my report is as follows:

Hospitals. The new tubercular hospital is a very modern structure, finished January 21, 1923, at a cost of $839,947.60, and has a capacity of 306 beds for tubercular patients. It is controlled entirely by the board of managers of the National Military Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. There are sufficient physicians for this hospital who have had special training for the treatment of tuberculosis. There is a sufficient number of nurses and attendants to care for all patients. The food served is of good quality, and the hospital in general was found cleanly, leaving no room for complaint along this line.

The main hospital. This building was erected about 1867, and has been added to from time to time and improved by the installation of

electric wiring and an elevator. This building, which houses helpless patients on the second and third floors in considerable numbers, has been inspected by the inspectors of the fire department of the city of Dayton and by the inspection service of the State of Ohio. There is an open stairway and uninclosed elevator shaft of wooden construction in this building. There is also plaster broken away in the basement and loose wall board near the electric wiring. The storing of repaired furniture and laundry and hospital equipment and a check room with shelves of wooden construction, which constitute a serious fire hazard. Should any defective electric wiring come in contact with the wooden shelves it would soon cause a fire. Almost a thousand major surgical operations are performed in this hospital yearly, and many of the patients are confined to their beds and would be helpless in the event of a fire. Many of the fire hazards pointed out by the inspector were promised correction, but the building is old and of such construction that it is dangerous and a serious risk to the lives of the patients. This building should be replaced with a modern fireproof hospital. An appropriation by Congress of a million and a half dollars will do this. The building has practically all the latest appliances and is kept very clean and under the best of management. Our comrades who have received treatment are high in their praise of the work and the kindness shown them by the management of the hospital. No complaints were found with regards to the other units of the hospital.

Library. The library is one of the best equipped in the United States, and is under efficient management. The building is old, but kept in the best of repair. It is neatly decorated; floors and furniture spotless and clean.

Theater. The theater or memorial building is of the old type. It is in a good state of preservation and well equipped. The soldiers are entertained with two picture shows a week in the winter, with added attractions from time to time. In addition to these amusements they have outdoor concerts each night in the summer season. They are also entertained by paid baseball teams, they having their own baseball field. The home has the best equipped quoit courts that can be found anywhere.

Churches.-There are two churches on the ground, one Protestant and one Catholic, both of which are well equipped. These churches should have convenient toilet rooms for the worshipers.

Culinary departments. The main mess hall is large enough to feed 800 at one sitting. The kitchen is well equipped and has good refrigeration for meat and dairy products. They also have their own ice-cream plant and a good bakery with new ovens, which provides the home with bread and pastry that can not be excelled anywhere. I can not find words to praise and compliment the home officials upon the cleanliness and the manner in which the kitchen and bakery is handled. The ice boxes are spotlessly clean and the food of the best quality.

etc.

Club house.-There is maintained a veterans' club, where the residents of the home may enjoy themselves playing pool, billiards, They have a lounging room, and on the second floor there are lodge rooms for the veteran organizations. This building needs interior decorating.