The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-23
SICKNESS IN THE ARMY
SITUATION AT SANTIAGO AND PONCE
DESCRIBED BY DIR. Sem.
Hundreds of Cases of yellow Fever
Camp wikoG Hospitals.


olas Semi who went to Cuba as chief of the
operating staff of the army has just re-
turned from Porto Rico and is in this city.
Speaking of his experience, he said yester-
day: In Cuba our army met its most for
midable enemy, one of the most dreaded OF
all acute infectious diseases-yelow fever.
The Cuban invasion was characterized by
hasty action, lack of organization and in
adequate preparation on the part of the
quartermaster' department, for which the
medical branch of the army was in no way
responsible. In less that two weeks after
our army landed in Cuba yellow fever made
its appearance. In less than two weeks
from that time nearly five hundred fever
cases, most of them yellow fever. impaired
the lighting force and seriously taxed the
resources of the medical department. For
tunately for the army, the type of the dis
ease was mild and the number of deaths
was small in comparison with some of the
epidemics in the past. 1t was extremely
fortunate that Santiago surrendered at the
right time. Our army would surely have
met the fate of the Spanish forces. who
lost over so per cent. of their men during
TIE last year from sickness.
I'm planning the Porto Rico invasion,
General Miles made the proper arrange
ments for preventing a repetition of this
calamity. Thus far our troops in Porto
Rico have escaped yellow fever, but soon
after landing fever cases came into the diff
ferent hospitals at an alarming rate. After
landing at Ponce, on Aug. s. l found at least
$50 cases of typhoid fever In some of the
cases it was difficult and in others impossi-
BILE to make a different diagnosis between
malarial and typhoid fever without the aid
ZOE fna mir xzrni o6 mfr
tunately was not at hand. Following the
order of Colonel Greenleaf, chief surgeon of
the army, L investigated for two days all
of the fever cases in the hospital for the
purpose of locating the origin of typhoid
fever. A careful study of all the cases
showed without doubt that so per cent. were
genuine typhoid fever cases, and that the
infection in the army was brought directly
from the camps occupied in the United
States. / am firmly Of the opinion that If
the American army now in Porto Rico re-
mains there much longer the loss OF life
due to sickness will be as great as at SAINT
iago
the march towards San Juan made 1t neces-
sary to evacuate the division hospital. All
OF the patients We're transferred 10 the
Spanish military hospital in Ponce, which
caused the temporary oyercroWdlns. Inc
clubhouse of the city and school Tor girls
in charge of Sisters of Charity were also Of
fered to the authorities for hospital use and
were accepted. want to make especial
mention of the valuable services rendered
by Miss Chanler of your city, VINO night
and day, with untiring industry, mlnistered
to the sick and wounded soldiers. All of
the officers in the clubhouse became very
much attached tc Miss, Chanler.
Nostalgia, or homesickness, in a large
measure has added to the wretched condi-
ton of the soldiers, not only in Cuba, but
also in Porto Rico The Postoffice Depart
ment has shown serious neglect in forward
ing mail all ~ You give a man i1tf Know as
an actual fact that more than two hun
dred letters were sent to me while i have
oeH f Wo Of frp them we're IN
great demand, and were eagerly bought and
read.
great value of the small caliber bullet, and
has shown that IL is a est-humane weapon;
Contrary to expectations, put Jew surgical
operations were necessary, and our idten-
ton was directed entirely to the proper
Il want to correct some of the reports
which have come from Cuba and Porto Rico
as to the feelings of the Spaniards against
the Red Cross The Spaniards never pur-
posely fired at the Red Cross representa- ia,
tives of our country, and if any of them
was injured. it was entirely due to the fact
that the red badge of the order could not
be easily distinguished at distance. The
following touching incident, for example,
shows that the Spaniards are in sympathy
with the work of the Red cross orSanlza-
ton. w nile a company OIL llidHIAJ w S1S
charging a hill at Guanica volunteer who
had rushed one hundred yeards ahead OF the
line was suddenly Frustrated by the neat.
A Spanish officer near by ran to him,
picked him up and carried him to our line
amid the cheers of our troops.
Colonel Sem is enthusiastic about Porto
Rico. and declares the island to be worth
its weight in gold. ut is h beautiful coun~
try, combination of Italy and switzerland,
ard its resources are incalculable. What is
now needed in Porto Rico" he said, rs
American civilization. with its little red
schoolhouse 1t will take at least fifty years
to bring the natives of Porto Rico and Cuba
to such state of civilization that they can
govern themselves. l think the pest plan
for the United States would be to estabhsh
a colonial government in the new colonies
somewhat upon the plan by which England
governs India. I am of the opinion that
sven in Cuba military occupation on the
mart of the United States will be necessary
for a long time"