Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-29

is possible to be obtained in any other
manner.
Should ever be responsible for
hospital management during another
camp. | shall insist this custom.
This plan is at present better carried
out in the 1st Regiment than in the End;
The ration furnished to the National
Guard is all that could be desired. 1t is
| ample wholesome. contains a good vari-
ETY.. and for 6 per cent. of the men is
better than they obtain at home. If it Is
not well cooked it, is largely the com
| manders fault. The merits of a COM
pany cook should be we'll understood be
| fore going into camp. If for any
reason Il poor one is obtained he should
| he discharged as soon as possible. for i'm
properly cooked food will lay the founda-
| ton for Il large amount of sickness in q
| few hours. When men are allowed eN-
tras upon the table, great care should be
exercised in their selection. Hot baked
beans and bananas as an illustration,
| would be unwise. still that ration was in
dulged in during the camp of 30, and as
| 4 result a men We're on the sick list
| from one mess house the following day.
| The midnight lunch, except to men in ac-
| tive duty. should be handled with great
tact and care | would not deny hungry
| man food Neither would | attempt to
make him undergo hardship. I would not
oVer-discipline any man, but the fact
/ still remains, when men are massed to-
gether they need watching and directing
| and when q large amount of money Is
| appropriated yearly for military disci-
| pine and education. a strong at
tempt should be made TO make the most
| are like scholars in school. a good per-
| centage of school children are always
well behaved. have their lessons daily.
1 and simply need directing. another per
centage need dragging. coaXing. threat
| ening, and oftentimes some form of dis
cipline. And so it is with the soldier. he
needs oftentimes discipline that he may
| learn.
| Men should be warned about the COM
| mitment of nuisances in and about the
| sinks and water closets. 1t is sometimes
| surprising to see how depraved men will
| be regarding such matters. while way
! from home. and when other peoples
property than their own suffer detile
ment. A stronger effort than ever before
| made win be instituted by the medical
| department in subsequent encampments
regarding this matter. in order that bet
ter sanitary and hygienic conditions may
| prevail From medical standpoint |
believe that the western boundary of the
guard line of the camp should be re-
moved % feet further away from the
| water closets. ! also believe that a good
guard line should be maintained every
night between the mess houses and water
closets and stables. 1t is here where men
of captious and hilarious intent collect
| and carry on practices which enervate
| their physique and impair their useful
ness. from a medical as well military
standpoint If we can enlist your CO.
operation in this direction. our camp will
gradually approach an ideality. which
will rebound to your credit and be
worthy of emulation. In leaving camp
for long distance travelling. some pre-ar
ranged and well-perfected plan should be
adopted for the proper feeding of the
men. as on entering camp. They should
be returned to their homes with the same
care as on entering camp. An effort
should be made to return men in such IA
physical condition that they will be
ready to resume their usual avocatons
at once.
IT is no easy matter to discinlipe man
who enter camp but once a year. Still
improvement should be made each year
inasmrch as a large percentage of men
are returned year after year. can see
no reason on, general principles. why an
able-bodied soldier cannot go through Il
tour of duty of a weeks duration and be
better physically for the discipline 1t is
, il fact that the men are not disciplined
whereby the mischief creeps in. Masses
; of men left to themselves invariably in
dulge in eXcesses Now. gentlemen | do
not mean to say that discipline is lack
ing. in a military sense. in the National
Guard, that is well known to be of high
) order. 1t is only regarding hygienic sense
that / wish to appeal to your co-opera-
ton in making good soldiers from a med
: ical standpoint at our encampments.
: Your surgeon-general. whom we all love
and respect. has made earnest endeavors
| to improve the hygienic conditions of our
annual camps. Let every commander
give q helping hand. and thereby raise
, the standard still higher In initiating
the soldiers life, let the ideal be high
, and strike as near the zenith as possible
This training is to prepare us for real
, military experience should occasion arise
| know that he will receive your fullest
I cooperation. from my knowledge of
$ your sagacity and desire to excel. I have
e great confidence in your unselfish devo-
ton to duty and of your superior abili-
ties. Let every commander endeavor to
r enter camp each year with healthy men.
: ana encourage such habits as will hold
Il sickness to minimum, and the useful