Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
Troops at Camp Alger to Remain
Another Week.
STATEMENT FROM SECRETARY ALGER
Report of Commission on Fever
Conditions in Camp.
TRIALS BY COURT-MARTIAL
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

ment that no additional troops VIII be sent
nom Camp Alger to Santiago before the
Sth or 9th of the month. The reason for
this is that the auxiliary cruisers Yale and
Harvard, which were selected for the pur-
pose of transporting the troops to Cuba,
will not be ready to start on their next
trip for that island before the date men,
toned. This is a change in the original ar
rangement under which 1t was expected
that the Yale would be ready to sail from
Newport News by the Sd or 4th with a de-
tachment of General Henrys division for
the reinforcement of Skaters army in
Cuba. The Harvard Is not expected back
SO soon
The change was necessitated by reason OF
the fact that instead of returning direct to
Newport News it was found expedient to
have the Yale go to New York. Although
not so stated, there is reason for the be-
lief that the char ge in the program was
made in order to allow the Yale to take
a number of sick and wounded soldiers
from Santiago for treatment In the hos
pitfalls of the more northern cities.
In view of the delay in the return OF
the steamer to Newport News. the author
flies of the War Department have deemed
it best to have the troops of General
Henrys division which have been ordered
to Santiago, remain at Camp Alger until
the steamer is at Newport News ready to
take them 10 odullSSOs tAoS SuoJSNe
them to no unnecessary delay at Newport
News. General Henry has been in frequent
consultation with the officials OF the war
Department regarding the movement OF MS
division to Santiago. and has reported that
1t is ready to start on its journey at an
hours notice.
Complete arrangements had been made
for the departure of the troops from Camp
A.gcr today. and there was considerable
disappointment among them when II be-
came known that there would be delay
of several days.
The first result Of the typhoid fever In
vestigation in Camp Alger was manifested
this morning in the form OF report on the
sanitary condition around the New YORK
cavalry. AS the number of cases Increased
steadily until there were eight troopers al
fected by typhoid fever at one time, Col.
A. c. Girard appointed a commission to IN
uure into the causes of this epidemic. 1t
is this commission that has submitted a re-
port. The full text of the report is as fol-
lows:
The board, after investigating and look
ing into the source of the water supply OF
the cavalry camp, find that of the eight
cases of typhoid fever developed in the
command since its reaching here four were
contracted before leaving home, as they de-
veloped in few days after coming here.
The four cases contracted while in camp
are the direct result, without doubt OF
carelessness in drinking water while on
practice marches or doing orderly duty
about the camp. The board is prompted to
this finding because the water used by the
cavalry command while in camp is either
boiled or is water that has been shipped
from New York and certified to as being
pure
Attached to the report are the signatures
Of Surgeon Majors Cook, Phillips and
Amy.
This seems to dispose of the fear of fur
Their cases of typhoid among the New York
cavalrymen.
Doubt Still Exists,
Notwithstanding the document quoted
above the impression still prevails among
surgeons all over the camp that something
ought to be done to prevent further spread
of typhoid contagion. They insist that to
delay the Inauguration of proper preven-
tive measures is to invite a calamity that
will cripple the entire corps. Accordingly
Majors Parke and Divine have gone on
with an Independent investigation
Even professional courtesy, as 1t exists
in the army, they conclude, would not out
weigh the sense of responsibility felt by
every regimental surgeon on the ground,
and this sense of responsibility will not be
satisfied until these regimental surgeons
have done all in their power to avert the
disease. Eight additional cases were dis
covered today.
Work Of Court-Martial.
For its first days work the new court
martial Of the LIST Division disposed of two
cases. The accused men were Private Max
Freedman OF the LIST Division Hospital
Corps. and James Miller. Company K of
the It'll Ohio. Freedman is a regular nurse
and has been honorably discharged twice
during the period of his service. The
charge against him is sleeping while on
guard. He pleaded not guilty and submit
ted a lengthy statement in his own behalf.
The only witnesses introduced were Pri-
Yates George Allison and A. G. Ripple also
of the Hospital Corps.
In the course of his statement Freedman
explained that he had stood guard without
relief for 16S hours, or through the long
round of seven complete days. HIS smme-
date superior Is Acting Sergt. E. c. Fitz-
gerald. and it was by his order that so
long term OF guard duty was exacted.
Fitzgerald is a drug clerk from New York
city
Private Miller was charged with assault
ing an officer, but 1t was developed that The
assault was at the worst only technical
offense. 1t seems that the fault lay with
those who had instructed Miller of his du-
ties as a sentinel. Maj Irwin of the ID
Battalion, 7th Ohio. appeared in Miller's
defense.
Orders came to Troops A and C, LIST New
York Cavalry. this morning. from the War
Department, directing them to prepare to
leave at any minute. This command has
lacking only the khaki uniforms, which
ought to be here by next Monday.
No Drills I'm Heat of Day.
Drill HIS been suspended in nearly every
regiment in camp during tho heat of each
day. This action is quite voluntary on the
part of the colonies commanding. Among
the first to issCe such orders was Col. John |
T. Barnett of the 159th Indiana Others |
who have adopted the same course are |
Col. 8. M. WEIGH. jr., of the 9th New |
York: Col. E. M. Hoffman Of the Sd New
York; Col. D. Jack Foster OF the 9th ILL |
nois, Col c. v. Hard Of the Sth Ohio, Col. |
Woodward Of the 10th Massachusetts, and |
Col. H. N. Coursen of the 18th Pennsyl- |
vania- Col. Marcus Kavanaugh OF the 7th |
Illinois has had a space cleared in the
" Gods. where the men may drill in the /
shade.
Hearts Made Glad.
Paymaster General Stanton made glad |
the hearts of the boys in the I'd Brigade Of |
the 1st Division yesterday by sending them |
notice that II their pay rolls were made out /
in time one of the assistant paymasters /
would be on hand to pay them or today. |
Accordingly each regimental adjutant set /
to work and had the lists OF his battalion |
ready before o'clock last night. The 9Th /
Illinois is to be paid first. the sth Ohio Sec
ond and the 9Th Massachusetts last.
1t is the purpose of the department to pay /
all tha ma in xrvffh TN, he,