The San Francisco call., 1898-08-28
Conditions at Chickomuugu Not Properly Regulated by the Sur
 geons iD Charge.
Wby General SterDberg Did Not Protest Against
 tbe Unheord-of CroWding of Troops Must Be ExDdined.

NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-The Herald's Washington correspondent sends the following: After persistent represen- tations as to the shortcomings in the department of the surgeon general ana other departments, an investigation mas been ordered. It is not yet as general /. in it's nature as it will be when more facts are brought to the attention or the administration. but distinct order has been sent to Brigadier General h. v. Boynton at Chickamauga, to find out what is the basis of the compl4 4t1t there and who is to blame. Acting Sec retary of War Meikeljohn said to-day;
 Tn view of the statements that have been published about Camp Thomas the surgeon general has requested that an investigation be made, and 1t has been ordered. General Boynton has been conducting the investigation all day, and as soon as a report is com pleted it will be forwarded to the Sec retary of War and will be made pub lie"
 was assured to-day by high oft1- cfal of the War Department that some of the medical officers at Camp Thomas were remiss in their duty, and II the report of Gene al Boynton fixes the re- accessibility, the party or parties named will be immediately brought to trial by court rt-martial Speaking of this in vestigation, Surgeon General Sternberg said to me there had been more sickness at Chickamauga than at any other camp. The investigation therefore under General Boynton will be far reaching, as the natural sur roundings at Chickamauga were such as is thought to be conducive to health Notwithstanding the practice during the Civil War of keeping men In camp continuously only for about a week and of putting them together in number not 10 exceed a division, 40, 900 men have been crowded together in the Chlcka- raauSa cam, for nearly three months The inquiry will proceed first upon this basis:
 To discover why the protest of Sur geon General Sternberg has not been forthcoming against such an unheard of disposition of troops for so long time. The next line of investigation will be the hygienic details of the camp. The investigation, moreover, will rest upon specific and perfectly authenticat- ed complaints.
 The percentage of fever cases will be WILL LllOSe Ol OlllcI SdinpS and the number of nurses and doctors will be duly noted, and if not found to be sufficient the finding will be em- bodied in the report. For example. at Camp Thomas, where there were 40,- GOO troops, according to General Stern berg's statement there were only thirty-eight nurses. The doctors were in proportion. Complaints, therefore, from there have been so clear and pro- nounced that it is thought the root of the evil may be most quickly found, as far as the volunteer camps are con- cerned-
 After Investigating Camp Thomas it is expected other camps will be investi- gated But it will not stop in this country There will be a board ap- pointed to review the conditions and treatment of the sick in Santiago, and sensational findings are expected to re- suit under the investigations of this board.