The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-01
SICKNESS N THE CAMPS.
Disregard of the Laws of Health the
PRINCIPAL Cause.


Jacksonville. Fla. July S1.-After a care
full observation Of the camps in Florida
and Georgia-the good. bad and indlIer-
emit / am satisfied that much of the ty-
phold fever in all the camps has resulted
from a proper enforcement OF discipline
ana personal disregard OF the laws of
health So long as soldiers and officers
are allowed such freedom as they have
enjoyed, especially after pay day, TO go
where they please, east whatever ,hey
want and sleep to suit their fancy, lot
so mention reckless bathing, malarial ara
typhoid fevers are sure to result.
A great deal has been said about the
inetltciency of the young stam officers
both In the regular army and the vOlun-
toer service. The fault, however, lies
with the war department, in that II neg
lects the proper training of staff officers
IN time of peace and when war comes
green quartermasters. commissaries, sur
geons. inspectors. etc, are put into the
leld almost wholly incompetent, at first
TO discharge their duties We have had
this trouble in all our past wars, although
not so bad as at present
And yet as far back as 1918, John C.
Calhoun then Secretary of War, sought
to remedy this growing evil mo part of
our military organization" he said, re
quires more attention in peace than the
general staff. 1t is ia every service lnVa-
rab.y the last in attaining perfection; and
if neglected in peace, when there is leis-
ure. ii will be impossible, in the midst
Of the hurry and hustle of war, 70 bring
It 20 perfection. In this country paruc-
ularly, the staff cannot be neglected with
impunity." Secretary Calhoun opposed re-
duclng the general staff on this ground,
although the other branches of the army
might be put ON a peace footing.
There seems to be a persistent purpose
to mix the regular army with the volun-
teer forces. Maj. Fl. II. Carlton Is said TO
be in the United States army, and even 50
distinguished a soldier and jurst as Col.
j. S. Gambler signs himself as in the ~.
S. A." Rev. Dr. White of Augusta also
speaks of his son as appointed leuten-
ant in the army. All these officers are
simply in the volunteer service for the
war and not in the regular army for life.
Nearly all the generals are only volunteer
officers ana Liable to fall back to their Old
rank when in the regular army as cap
tains, majors or colonies when the war Is
over.
Some persons have been censuring our
government for its kindness and liberality
TO the spanish prisoners taken on land aud
sea. They seem 10 forget that all Chris
tan nations recognize The duty of kindness
and hospitality to prisoners of war. Here
4 sample case early Ia the civil war Of
one of Maj. AndeIsou's soldiers who so
bravcly defended their fort 10 the last:
Headquarters Provisional Army, Charles
ton, $. G., May %, lS6l.-The bearer, George
Fielding, was a soldier of Maj Robert
Andersons command I'm Fort sumter, and
was WounCd on the 18th of April by tho
premature discharge Of the cannon while
saluting the United States flag. He has
been taken care of by the state authorities
in the hospital, and has been provided with
the means by the Confederate States 20
take him 10 Washington 1t Is hoped that
he will be allowed TO pass unmolested.
G. r. Beauregard,
Brigader General Commanding.
The last volume ffty-three. being serial
No. III, of Official Records of War of
the Rebellion" just issued, contains the
following item of interest to Savannah
readers OF the News
Headquarters Provisional Forces c. s.
A., Charleston, S. c., May IS, 1S6i.-Col
l.. NJ. Hatch, Quartermaster General:
Colonel The origadier general command
ing desires that when Col. Ripley forwards
to you two pieces of the flagstaff from
Fort Sumter that you have It delivered 20
Adams Express Company, who have vol
unteered 10 transport II free of charge to
Mrs. Francis S. Barlow, at Savannah, Ga,
with whose name please have II marked
am. very respectfully your obedient SER
want, A. r. Chisholm
Lieut.. Col and Aidede-Camp.
The healthfulness and desirability Of
Fernandina as a military camp depot Of
supplies and naval station. were settled
as early as 1861 when a special board of
inquiry visited and inspected the sea coast
in search Of such place, one being then
desired. This board was unanimous in
the selection OF Fernaudina over any
other point, and It's extreme healthfulness
and good supply Of water were especially
commended. The officers of the board
were Mai Gen. John G. Barnard u. S.
A., an eminent engineer, Commodore A.
ID. Bache superintendent Of coast survey,
and Rear Admirals s. f. DUPONT and
Charles II. Davis, u. S. N, whose report
has just been published in the "Oficial
Records" Sidney Herbert.