Memorandum for John Franklin Hardesty - July 16, 1917

Transcript

WAR OFFICE LONDON, S.W. 24/America/5. (F.1) MEMORANDUM FOR: - Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, France, General Officers Commanding Egypt, Salonika, and Home. Copies to all Financial Advisers, Local Auditors and Command Paymasters. 1. The following decisions have been reached governing the general incidence of the expenditure in connection with the American Medical Personnel lent to the Imperial Government and serving with the British Forces in the United Kingdom, France, etc., and also allowance, etc. issuable. INCIDENCE. 2. It has been agreed with the American Authorities that Army funds should bear all charges except pay proper, clothing, and personal equipment, and any necessary issues of stores or supplies should be free. RATES Of ALL’CES ETC 3. It has been also agreed that these troops, including nurses, shall as far as possible be given the same treatment in respect of Accommodation, Allowances, etc. as would be given to similar ranks of the British Army. Thus when they cannot be accommodated in public quarters or under canvas, or receive issues of rations in kind, they will receive the usual cash allowances in lieu at British rates. They will also be entitled to Field Allowance under usual conditions. 4. In the case of American Medical Officers serving in London and not accommodated in public quarters, it has been decided to grant a special detention allowance at the rate of 7/6d. a day in lieu of all other allowances. If other similar cases arise in which American Medical Officers placed on the lodging list at stations in the United Kingdom are necessarily put to material extra expense for accommodation over the ordinary scale of allowances their cases should be considered by the General Officer Commanding on detention allowance lines (the maximum being 7/6d. as for London) and detention allowance granted being in lieu of all other allowances. 5. As the allowances issuable under Army Order 501/14 are outside the ordinary scheme of Army Allowances they will not be issuable under these arrangements, and it is not contemplated that any cash allowance should be issued in lieu of servants. 6. As regards travelling, warrants and travelling allowances will be issued under the same conditions as to corresponding British personnel. The rate of traveling allowance issuable in France is being arranged separately. 7. Any questions which arise, and which cannot be settled under the above instructions, should be reported at once to this Office. PROCEDURE. 8. Local arrangements should be made for the most convenient procedure for the issue of these allowances. Where the Medical personnel have their own paymaster, it will doubtless be found most convenient procedure for the issue of these allowances. Where the Medical personnel have their own paymaster, it will doubtless be found most convenient for the claims to be prepared and rendered by the Officer. In all cases British Paymasters (and Royal Army Medical Corps Officers with whom the American troops may be serving) should give every assistance that may be necessary in the preparation of the claims. (Sd.) J.S. Ross. For the Assistant Financial Secretary.