no. l.] PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY . 15 



Official report of December 6 gives the following totals for groups examined: Enlisted men, 

 18,021; officers, 1,197; individual examinations, 1,148. 



From this time the strength of the psychological staff was rapidly reduced because of needs 

 elsewhere, and attention was devoted primarily to the preparation of reports on special aspects 

 of methods and results and to the completion of the study of the status and military value of 

 men reported as "E" (mentally low grade) or as "m" (medical attention) cases. Lieut. Wm. S. 

 Foster, chief psychological examiner, was ordered to the Office of the Surgeon General, Wash- 

 ington, on December 13, for special duty in connection with the revision of methods and Lieut. 

 John E. Anderson was designated acting chief psychological examiner in his place. 



In all approximately 20,000 soldiers were examined at Camp Devens between October 15 

 and December 1. The work was facilitated in every possible way by the commanding generals, 

 the division surgeon, and the commanding officer of the base hospital; but it was nevertheless 

 conducted under seriously adverse conditions which at once lessened its value to the division and 

 made it extremely difficult for the psychological staff. 



Psychological service in this camp was officially inspected for the medical department late 

 in November by Col. Henry Alden Shaw, M. C. 



Camp Dix. — Although the psychological staff reported for duty at Camp Dix late in Septem- 

 ber, 1917, survey of the camp could not be initiated until late in November. This delay was due 

 to the desire of the commanding general to have organizations brought to full strength before 

 being examined and to the delay in the completion of the hospital wards in which the examinations 

 were to be made. During November, while awaiting the opportunity to make examination of 

 all available soldiers, the psychological staff busied itself with individual examining, with efforts 

 to perfect methods, and with the intensive study of a single regiment — the Three hundred and 

 third Engineers. Nine days were devoted to this organization alone, and, as a result, excep- 

 tionally detailed and valuable reports were made to the Surgeon General. 



The first week of December Maj. Yerkes reported at Camp Dix to inspect psychological 

 work. At this time almost no examinations had been made aside from individual cases and 

 the Three hundred and third Engineers. Arrangements were then made, with the approval of 

 the commanding general of the division, for the immediate examination of officers. All those 

 below the rank of field officer were ordered to report for examination, and the remainder were 

 invited also to attend. 



On December 15 the chief psychological examiner, Lieut. Joseph W. Hayes, reported 

 that 1,151 officers had been examined, and in addition 5,462 enlisted men. There were in the 

 camp at this time 19,000 soldiers. 



Between December 10 and December 22, when suitable facilities for examining had been 

 secured, the psychological survey was rushed. More than 160 groups were examined and the 

 number of examinations per day reached 1,500. By January 1, 1918, about 14,000 men had 

 been examined in this camp. 



Apart from the unfortunate delay of examining at Camp Dix, conditions were favorable 

 to the service. 



Both the division surgeon and the commanding officer of the base hospital exhibited keen 

 interest in the work and effectively facilitated it. The delay of the general survey until organi- 

 zations were well filled undoubtedly greatly lessened the value of psychological reports to 

 company commanders. Consequently the results obtained in this camp are not of comparable 

 significance with those obtained in Camp Devens. 



Camp Lee. — From the very first the psychological service succeeded in Camp Lee. The 

 success was due in the main to the appreciation of the possible value of psychological examining 

 by the division surgeon, the commanding officer of the base hospital, and the commanding 

 general of the division. There was practically no delay in the initiation of work and the survey 

 of the camp was completed according to schedule. 



Examining was initiated most fortunately on officers. On September 30, 1917, all regimental 

 medical officers were ordered to report for psychological examination, and the following week 

 practically all officers of the division and camp took the examination. The psychologists were 



