The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-12
CARE OF SOLDIERS IN CUBA
IMPORTANCE OF THE OUTFIT
IN SICKNESS
Simple Precautions Against MaIa-
rial and Other Fevers-Protcc-
tion Against Rain and Sunstrokes
a Dozen Rules Which All Good
Soldiers Will Observe-Practica
Hygfenfc Principles.

a Dozen Rules Which All Good
Soldiers VIII Observe-Practica
Hygienfc Principles,
From the New York Tribune
The proper equipment and care Of
American soldiers In Cuba are quite
as necessary and as vitality important
as is the steel turret which protects the
guns and gun crews of a monitor. I'm
less the war department officers are
careful regarding all details, the men
are liable to be landed in Cuba lacking
many things they should have. Ex-
perience. when extracted from the raw
material, always comes high, and Of
ten 1t comes too late to be of any use.
The surgeon general and adjutant
general have received much valuable
information from the Cubans now in
this country. The conditions under
which the Cuban army exists are we'll
known, but, If the equipment and care
of those hardy and thoroughly accli-
matized native Cubans are taken as the
criterion for judging the wants of our
cold-weather men-drawn chiefly from
offices and factories-it may easily re-
suit In much unnecessary hardship and
sickness, while extra attention to the
wants OF American soldiers in Cuba will
enable them to hold their own Many
Americans in the tropics have never
had the slightest difficulty in undergo
ing as much exertion and hardship as
native companions, but they have lived
on different basis.
In every campaign like that now be-
ginning the private soldier relies upon
those above him to provide for his ma
terial wants and for the means by
which he may keep himself alive and
well. He must take whatever of cloth
ing, food and camp equlpage happens
TO be issued to him, and If anything Is
wrong his comfort, his health or his
life will be the forfeit. For a campaign
In Cuba the responsibility of the man
VINO dictates as to the soldiers cloth
ing, food and sleeping arrangements is
much greater than that of the officer
who leads them into actual battle. For
successful campaigning in Cuba several
important changes are necessary in the
field equipment Of the seasoned reg
ulars, but this applies to the volunteers
with fourfold force. Any one who
camps on the ground in Cuba during a
week OF rainy weather will be convinc-
ed of this.
The idea seems to be gaining ground
tnat the volunteer soldiers will require
SIX months OF seasoning" before they
can be considered fit for a campaign in
CUBA. On the contrary, it is maintain
ed that if they are properly fitted out
and cared for the quicker they land in
cuba the better. A man who is fit for
sold1er can go to any climate on
earth, and In two weeks after landing
be ready to do his best work in the
held. IT he Is properly fitted out the
Northern energy" Of a good, sound
American will carry him through heat
or through cold, through humidity or
through dryness, for a number of
months Of hard campaigning.
FOES WHICH THREATEN TROOPS.
When the warships left Key West
for Cuban waters they we're stripped
Tor action" Even their color was
changed to meet the requirements of
new conditions. In like manner. the
basis on which the army enters Cuba
should be totally different from the re-
qu1rements of campaigning in the Unit
ed States. The English are wide-awake
to the requirements of soldering in the
tropics. The soldier who renders three
years service on the West coast of
AFRICA is credited with five. In Ashanti
ne was supplied with a hammock SO
compact and SO light that he could
carry 1t easily.
II the soldiers are put through a.
CUBAN campaign improperly equipped.
ohese are some of the foes thew will
nave to battle with every hour of their
stay On the island: Intermittent fever.
typhoid fever, diarrhoea, dysentery.
sunstroke. Surgeon General Stern
berg's knowledge of yellow fever is so
thorough that the troops will success
fully be protected from it, The chief
concern is regarding the other ills.
The clothing, the camp outfit, the
1000 and the rules of hygiene which
nave carried men through many Jungle
campaigns would probably carry our
soldiers safely through a years cam
paign in any part of Cuba.
1t Is a mistake to suppose that the
climate Of Cuba Is certain to prove par
t1cularly unhealthful to American
troops. Even in this country such epi-
demlc diseases as smallpox and yellow
FEVER can and do break out and com
init ravages until checked and con-
trolled. If properly equipped and pro-
v1sloned, any man of sound constitution
and temperate habits should be able to
go through a years hard campaigning
IN cuba with no more serious diseases
than fever and ague and diarrhoea.
Inc soldier who is properly equipped
should go confidently expecting to pre-
serve his health. The man who is con-
stantly expecting to become ILL., and
when Ill believes that he is going to die.
IS always the one most liable to be at
tackled. A determination not to become
i'll is half the battle; the rest is mere
detail.
IMPORTANCE OF HAMMOCKS.
In Cuba, except in cases of great
emergency. such as short forced
marches and actual engagement, Off
GERS should see to it that their men do
not sleep on the ground. This is for
the reason that in the tropics the
malar1ous eXhalations from the earth
and from stagnant water are densest
and most dangerous at the surface of
the ground. All troops landing in Cuba
should be supplied with comfortable
hammocks, of good strength, but so
light in weight and compact in bulk
that when rolled up the soldier can car
ry his hammock in his knapsack as
easily as he could carry flannel shirt.
Of11cerS should see to it that their men
are fully familiarized with the simple
facts which, when observed, make of
the hammock most restful and COM
Portable bed, means of keeping dry
at night in wet weather, the only means
by which it is possible for a cam
pafgner to escape mosquitoes, and,
above ALL. the only means by which the
sleeping soldier can be kept above the
malarious vapors that lie like a deadly
mantle upon the earth. AS a bed for
a sick man in a hot climate there is
absolutely none other so cool and so
restful as the hammock. 1t also fur
nishes the easiest of all appliances for
carrying sick Oh wounded man.
In using the hammock 1t should not
be stretched too tightly When hung
properly the sleeper can lie upon his
back in a comfortable curve. If he
wishes to lie perfectly straight, upon
side or back, he can easily do so, ly-
ing diegonally across the hammock
Where mosquitoes are plentiful many
persons are so easily annoyed by them