The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-29

Washington. July 2S.-The war de-
partment tonight posted the following:
"Adjutant general. United States
army. Condition on the 9th: Total
sick. APP; total fever, 1913; new cases
fever. $50; cases fever returned to duty,
542.
Deaths: Private ]. H. Farrell. COM
pany H, Ninth Massachusetts volun-
teers, at Siboney, yellow fever
Corporal Thomas Rolston, company
d, Twenty-fourth infantry, Siboney,
yellow fever.
Private William H. Byers, company
d, Seventeenth infantry, cerebral apo
plexy. SHAFTER.
Major General"
Secretary Alger is deeply concerned
over the welfare of the gallant troops
under Skaters command. now en-
camped on the outskirts of Santiago.
The health report shows a surpris-
ingly large number of cases of sickness,
but army surgeons authorize the state
ment that these figures are misleading
in a certain sense, and that the situa-
ton may not be nearly so bad as they
would seem to indicate. The slightest
ailment, of the most temporary nature,
suffices to place a soldiers name on the
sick reports, which. in their present
shape, would not distinguish between
such a case and one of mortal illness
The inference is that many of these
cases in Skaters camp are of a triv-
ial nature, but go to swell its grand
total of sick and wounded.
Notwithstanding this mitigating fact
Secretary Alger is going to remove the
soldiers at the earliest opportunity to
a more healthful cline. The surgeon
general, under the direction of the sec
rotary. a few days ago inspected tract
of land adjoining MOntauk Point, l. l.,
belonging to the Long Island Railroad
company, which has been offered TO the
government as suitable for large en-
campment.
The tract is three miles square, con-
tains an abundance of fresh water,
considerable lake. a hill $50 feet in
height and many other sanitary advan-
tages. including salt water bathing
The necessary orders to equip this as a
camping ground viii go forward i'm
mediately, and every advantage VIII
be taken of the experience gained in the
formation OF the great camps at Chick
amauga and Camp Alger to make the
conditions as comfortable as possible
for the battle-scarred veterans in Shat
ter's army. The time for their removal
is left to General Shafter, the only
limitation placed upon him being that
he shall not delay the homeward sail
ing of his troops beyond the moment
when it shall be safe for them to leave
Santiago. having regard to the fever
conditions. Meanwhile details are be-
ing made of troops to supply the force
that shall garrison Santiago so long
as it shall be found necessary to con-
tinue troops there. This force will be
made up almost altogether of i'm
muneS.
Surgeon General Sternberg says that
it is the history of yellow fever that it
spreads rapidly, and having once got
started in the camp, is sure to infect
many soldiers. Speaking of the other
fevers, he said that not only in Cuba.
but in the camps in the United States,
there had been many cases, and it was
the history of all new armies that
fevers, especially typhoid, became quite
common. This was due to the change
of climate and mode of life of the SOL
Giers. Even where the water was fure
cases would arise. Soldiers bought and
ate many things not furnished by the
commissary, such as milk and other
things peddled about the camps. Often
these foods card sickness. Another
feature he me I )ned was the indif-
ferent care the men took of them
selves when they Joined the army. 1t
was his belle fthat as the army became
more seasoned there would be less sick
ness.