The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-09

The people have been very patient in
waiting for some statement coming from
official = urceS that would give the people
Of the United States a clear understanding
rs TO the result Of the great blunders and
Crueities that are charged in the manage
ment of the war on the part of the Of
believe that the hospitals are tolnhs and
the camps pest-hoes has been a mystery
from the hrst, for tombs have tenants
and pest-holes breed pesrlence, Some
body must have died IL SO many have sur
fered.
The deaths in battle have amounted TO
49,; the deaths in the various camps are
reported officially 10 be 75l. divided as
follows:
Camp WIkoff Observation-Disclosures. $50
camp Black Observation-Disclosures. 4
In and around Santiago ................ $50
acks 9nFl.Ie ..-.'..--........ --.....-.-... q
All other camps OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 149
JotaI ......--.. .--........ ............ toi
This gives Us a grand total OF Loss. out
OF an army OF 2sS 0t0 men four 10 each
1000 men, or less than half of per cent
This loss does not exceed the usual death
rate III most Of our cities. but II is not
the purpose to- make comparisons from
civil life.
In the Civil War.
The official tables published by authority
Of the war department. show that 1872 10
men died Of disease exclusive OF those who
died in prsonsl, being 50 per cent. Of loss
in the whole war. The proportion OF these
deaths due 10 army life was 1870, as
g. 80 would cover the loss in peaceful pur-
suits.
Add 10 those who died from disease the
$4,000 who were honorably discharged for
disability. you get a total OF 2i91D. being
an average loss TO the army for each day
Of the entire war OF 30 men. The reia tive
losses. il applied 10 the present war. allow
ing the present army 10 be one~fourth OF
the actual strength OF the Union army in
i a., sxs.~ -
fourth per day OF 40. or 50 per day The
troops having continued IN the field fully
three months, or NINETY days, the total loss
would have been SEQ; whereas II is accord
ing 10 the report OF the War Department
but SOC from all causes. No fair-minded
critic Will dispute the reasonshieness of
these comparisons. all Of which must prove
that the health and care OF toe present
army far exceeded that in the great civil
var.
THIS incident OF great mortality from dis
ease Is cited in proof Of the fact that SOL
dsers going from the north into the south
ern climate can not escape the ravages Of
disease The only mystery connected with
oar army is how many escaped. and that
SO few have died.
OF those, who died from disease in the
civil war one fourth died from fever (prfu-
Cip3ly TYPHOID. one-fourth from dlarrhea
one-fourth lung trouble and oue-fourt n
from rn1.~re! ianeous Gauss. From this fac,
IL will hs apparent that typhoid fever md
d5afFhea are not new diseases n the arruy
The EIffn army corps, comma nfed t,y
Major Gen. Shafter. was composed OF six
regiments Of regular cavalry. nine batteries
II regular artillery. eighteen regiments Of
regular infantry and three regiments ~
volunteer infantry. He had FOR duty a. the
tine % the attack 90 Santiago july
17s58 men and So officers Thess. were
engaged through "A series Of assaults ard
battles covering more than a week The
War Department officially reported the loss-
a. follows
Officers killed. 2: men killed ~: Officers
wounded. r. men wounded. f-Zs5
For purposes az comparison take Han
cocks division. COMPOSED % seventeen ree4-
Ynents If infantry and on. battery of arm.
Jerry. IN tfge hattle OF Freeiericksbt1rg. 1859
whIit. asssauIting Marys Heights. pscarr.
her = Tne follow ng losses are ott4clatfv
reported. Me7 engaged 4sl4. Killed al
woutds9d i.5st. missing. ga total OF > o2s
or IA per CEN. This iosS - far exceeds
tha. Of the troops engaged al Santiago sha,
one can not bat wonder that 10 grea, =
victory vas obtained with such srna Il Io@ss
The relative loss % an army can ofly -.
measured ~ tae number Of men engaged
The same - sr3e with reference 10 rsgf
rnents And companies. OAK % fAsentv- ~
regiments "a me Entpa army during a.
lat civE. waT from Hhoss rolls 4 ayaoial
report aas been made. The greatest loss Ia
killed Ia any one regiment was 1877 r4v
cent, this lowest Is Der cent, the "a via.