Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-04

Today's news dispatches concerning the
conference Of commanders at Santiago to
discuss the condition of the American army
OF occupation indicate clearly that it is the
imperative duty of the government TO act
at once to save the health and perhaps the
lives of the soldiers now in Cuba. Unless
there be powerful military reasons against
such a move. the great bulk of this army
should be brought Immediately to some
northern point to recuperate from the de-
bilitating effects Of the Cuban climate.
Col. Roosevelt's letter to Gen. Shafter IS
couched in plain, strong language, such as
those who know the man would eXpact
from him in like emergency. He does
not mince his words but states the case
frankly. The army is sick and weak acd
rapidly growing sicker and weaker. Ills
estimate that today not more than ten per
cent of the soldiers are fiji for duty may
startle the folks at home AMI may be 4
revelation TO the authorities here, BIZ It
cannot be doubted in the face of the cordl
tions as they are known to exist. Col.
Roosevelt's recommendation that the army
be moved Immediately is doubtless based
upon a close personal acquaintance with
the facts. He has a habit of finding OFT
things for himself. of going personally 10
look after details. to examine every item
that concerns him or his. and when he says
in an official letter. couched in refreshiugly-
unofficial style. that the army is in danger
of being swept away by disease, 1t is time
to act
The round robin" signed by the various
commanders is to the same effect. Three
distinct diseases are prevalent. typhoid.
malarial and yellow fever, and curiously at
present the least menacing of these is the
yellow fever. But the malarial and the
typhoid are surely undermining the consti-
buttons of those men who are attacked by
them and who escape from death and it is
believed that if the army be kept where it
now is when the yellow jack begins to as
sumo its more malignant phases nothing
can prevent terrible death rate.
The army's work at Santiago is done.
Nothing now remains but guard duty. such
as can be accomplished by a few regiments
Col Roosevelt estimates that the four
immune regiments now on the ground can
do the work satisfactorily If the contract
for the removal of the Spanish prisoners
10 Spain were promptly executed this duty
would be reduced TO a minimum. The first
batch of prisoners should have been sent
away several days ago. but as far as known
this has not been done. 1t is pertinent 10
ask why this is So
With proper precautions the enti-. army
OF sick and well men could safely be novel
TO some point on the north Atlantic coast
and there nursed back to health within a
few weeks, and instead of a wretched, de-
billtated force of half-starved half -nurseI
men, the government would have a splen
did corps of veterans, strong and ready for
any further duty that might develop
There need be no domestic fears of the
importation of the fevers from which these
men are now suffering. Rigid quarantine
measures are possible, and with the right
sort of Judgment in the initial location the
convalescent camp of the army of Santiago
might be as little of menace to the public
health as the average city hospital
The situation calls for prompt decision.
for delay means death to scores and per-
maps hundreds Of brave men. The ap-
proach Of the armistice preceding peace
and the completion of the campaign in
Santiago combine to reduce the military
necessities Of the case. in the public judg-
ment, to the vanishing point. Let the gov
eminent promptly act.