New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-03
BLACK,s IDEAS ON CAMP LIFE.
TROOPS SHOULD, BE MOVED FREQUENT
LY. HE sAYs-coNDfTrONs BETTER
THAN HE SUPPOSED

LIZ HE SAYS-CONDTTIONS BETTER
THAN HE SUPPOSED.
Washington. Sept 2--Governor Frank 8.
Black and his party arrived in Washington late
this afternoon from trip IN which the mobiiiza-
ton camps ut Chickamauga Park. Lexington
KY. and Huntsville. Ala. were visited. Gov
ernor Blacks idea In visiting the camps was
to ascertain their condition. particularly win
reference to the New-York troops locatedItn
He desired from personal observation 10 De
able to recommend to the War Department
what New York regiments should be mustered
out OF the service al once.
As result Of his investigation. he will suggest
to the War authorities that the 9th and l4th
New York regiments, located at Chickamauga'
be relieved from service as soon as practicable.
The 18th New-York. located at Lexington, and
the Goth New-York. located at Huntsville, are
In excellent condition, and while the men OF both
regiments would be glad to receive an order
mastering them out. there Is no pressing need,
In the opinion Of Governor Black, for their leav-
ing the service at this time In addition to his
recommendation that the 9th and 14th be dis
charged 1t Is likely that Governor Black Will
suggest to the Department that the Sd New
York, now at Camp Meade. Penn, also be
mustered out Of the service.
The conditions Of the camps we visited SAID
Governor Black this evening, in epitomzins the
results Of his trip, were better really than
had expected to find them. That is, they were
better than they had been pictured In the
newspaper reports I had read before visiting
the camps. Many things, doubtless. could be
remedied. but, on The whole. found the
camps not to be In bad condition. Those at
Lexington and Huntsville are in excellent shape
"a 70
1t. upon the length Of time the troops are kept
there The camp at Chickamauga is the worst
of the three II such a comparison may be made
That has been occupied for four months by
many thousands Of troops, and the very ground
has become infected with disease
MY idea is that the camp ought to be aban-
doned-or. at least. the regimental camp sites
ought to be moved frequently. The whole OF
North America Is ribboned with railroads, ana
troops can he moved eesily and quickly from
ono camp-ground TO another With the thou
sands OF eligible camp sites in this country at
the disposal of the Government 1t Is not neces-
sary that the troops be kept In one place so
long that they become III from the enects OF
polluted water
ply. and such food as | know the men in the
camps visited are receiving there Is no reason
in the world why a well man should not con-
tinue in good health and actually thrive the
food furnished the troops is ample ana OF ex-
cellent duality They get fresh beef. ham,
bacon. plenty Of vegetables. bareback and bread
In addition they have coffee three times a day.
There is no reason why well man snouid NOT
live and thrive en- that diet That the 1000 is
good and well cooked l know, because a'e
some Of it myself.
THE CHICKAMAUGA HOSPITALS.
AT Chickamauga the regmenta hospitals are
IN good condition" continued Governor Black
They are we'll provided for. and the patients
are receiving careful attention. In the Second
Division hospital the conditions are not good In
that hospital there are about two hundred pa
TENTS While do not speak as an expert 40
saw that the hospital s not we'll managed or al
equately supplied. either with stores or WIN
help A large majority Of the patients are SUI
fering from fever yet when we were there tney
had neither ice nor milk-two requisites IL
seems to me in the treatment OF fever cases
The blame for this condition OF analrs. II
blame is to be attached. do not pretend to nix:
Criticism OF the Secretary OF war for TINS auu
similar conditions in other camps and hospitals
is not I take It, proper becoming He can
not be familiar with the condition OF every SICK
soldier In the United States or be In persona!
touch with all the minute details OF camp ana
hospital life When attention IS directed to
cases like the one I mentioned the Secretary
applied remedy My idea is that some man:
I do not say who. who Is nearer TO the scene OF
the conditions complained OF. is responsible TOT
them He ought to apply the remedy. and II ne
does not then his head should come on
ADVISES INCREASE OF THE ARMY
This Is a vast problem the country Is now
so,ving-a problem not Of war. but Of life and
personal security. 1t requires the most careful
and considerate attention. We must MT be
hysterical in our comments or oblivious to pat
ent facts Withal. must be just to ALL. This
war has taught this country lesson that II
has needed for a long time. That is, with all
our immense resources OF wealth ana popula-
ton, cannot put into the field great army
in a few weeks without serious consequences
We ought to maintain an army commensurate
in some degree with our size. With sucn
force at the Governments disposal. we should
be able to meet emergency, because We
would be prepared for 1t"
Governor Black will call upon Adjutant-Gen-
eral Corbin to morrow morning. and will then
return to New-York.