The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-02
cuta,. cllma,e 4, 4 IVA, Factor.

The statement Is made that Spain
hopes the yellow fever will pruye an.
effective ally for her In Cuba. The
S%panlards are counting on the inability
OF American troops to stand the climate
of the island, and expect that any
sized army the United States may land
will quickly yield to the ravages OF dis.
ease. This may be comforting to tho
spaniards over In Spain, but 1t holds out
little hope to those who are In Cuba,
who have discovered that Spanish SOL
oilers are not more free from climatic
effects In Cuba than they hope the
American troops will be.
1t Is a matter OF common knowledge
that ore Spanish soldiers have fallen
victims to yellow fever and other dis
eases due to the exposure to q climate
they are unused to, than have been kill
ed In battle during the three years pro.
Gress OF the insurrectlon. Upon this
point DR.. ". f. Drummer, formerly
United States sanitary inspector at Ha-
vana. has furnished this government
with some valuable information. The
doctor has in his possession the reports
from all the Spanish military hospitals
In Cuba. and they show that, out OF an
army Of 10000 men, from 80, to $4,000
Spanish soldiers were In the hospitals
daily. This Is the manner In which the
Spanish army has suffered and Is sui.
ferlng, but there Is no likelihood what
ever that United States troops will SUI.
fer in a similar way.
The reason for this state OF affairs, as
given by DR.. Drummer, is a good one.
The alarming sickness and large death
rate among the Spanish soldlery in Cuba
is due to the unsanitary conditions SUI
rounding them, insufficient medical at
tention and a lack OF wholesome food.
besides unclean habits. The condition
OF the Spanish army in these respects Is
much worse than the condition OF the
United States troops will be, IL an In
vading army Is sent to Cuba. II is the
intention OF this government to supply
It's troops with good food; they Will be
well clothed; they will be chosen only
after proper physical examination, and
not be gathered p~romiscuously from the
slums and pauper classes. as Spain has
recruited her Cuban fighting force, with
out regard to physical condition or age.
In addition, the government will furnish
supplies. arms and ammunition to the
Cuban insurgent army. which is native
to the soil and needs no accllmating.
II the Spanish government is depend
ing on the yellow fever to decimale the
ranks Of the forces OF the United States.
as It has her own ranks, she is doomed to
disappointment. The United States will
proceed with an Intelligent understand
ing of the conditions and q knowledge
OF how to combat them. spain's dodg-
Ing policy. and her cowardly attitude in
keeping out OF the way while she pleads
with sister nations of Europe to come
to her aid, is In keeping with her depen-
dence on Yellow Jack as q formidable
ally to the impotent fighting force she Is
maintaining IN Cuba in a sickly, half
starved condition. Superior intelligence
in knowing what kind OF troops to send
to Cuba, and knowing how to trea:
them when they are there, will reduce
any suffering from climatic conditions
to the minimum.