New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-25
THE ADVICE TO GUARDSMEN.
J.. CORRESPONDENT WHO THINKS THERE is 80
CArsE FOR MIRTH N THE PRE'AuIloNS
er,GGr STTD Py THE list REGIMENT

cArsE FOR MlRTH ~ THE PRECAUTIONS
SUGGESTED Ry THE list REGIMENT
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In tho issue Of your paper Of Sunday, April
T. Part H. Page @ you have article headed
Tho lists Advice 10 Guardsmen. Comments on
Soro ~ the Paragraphs" There are many points
in the iist YOU publish which appeal strongly 70
ono who has llvcd FOR many years IN tropical
climate similar 10 that Of cuba, and who can near
testimony : the value ~ the article upon when
40 many q. mfnents are made hy AN old cam
paigrcr"
ANY ono VINO mas rad much 70 DO with soldiers
knows what rte medical officers ~ an army have
20 contend with from and officers alike. when-
ever IN active service IN harra ks and for one
io.i that the cd campaigner' has shown Ms en-
tire ignorance OF camp lie IN his criticisms n the
articles iu question and his evident distortion o'
,holr sense whom moments consideration would
have shown hen 20 nm in their real value. HAD
~ been nhle realiz" ,or mom"r; the VITAL I'M
por,ance advice NJ such times often Is 70 mon ABOUT
10 BE plnccd rs our armies most proenoiy soon
% bc doubt ~ he would have exposed MS
ignorance In the way he Gii
The question Of boiling the water .or various pur-
poses IL one that any intelligent soldier VIII solve
FOR himself in shor; order. and one in which after
a fc~ days service In tropical climate. CUBA ior
instance will impress it-~lt upon his mind in way
ho vii not forget There parts OF Cuoa
where the drinking water - as pure and n FOR al
i,se~ as here IN Sew York CITY hI there arc many
sections Of the Island where this Is not the case and
where even tho o, water FOR bathing without
ars, boiling q has started swamp fever rAeu-
rnniism and Ike ailments. No ono can sail 20 he
impressed by the hanefui influence o. the heavy
moisture that pervndcs the atmosphere ~ a night
IN the tropcs and while all this must he considered
IN doing picket duty and night marches when the
necessity sor them arises yet II does not JUSTIFY
yii.ul disregard 81 advice on point as important
as thi. I. when In camp barra ks or when hilleied
among the dwelling houses o, towns or villages
The natives appre ~iate this point. and one seldom
meets them after nghfa without their "a ces being
well nuffied in a cloak Or heavy wrap. Attention
20 this poin; may rave much trouble later on. and
tho EVIDENT attempt 10 be funny on the part OF an
old campaigner Is hardly appreciated by those who
have been through such experiences.
There is hardly place In a camp not thoroughly
saturated hy the all pervad,ng dampness OF the
rainy season" in cuba. but even then II Is pos
.ble 20 maintain a certain amount OF common-sense
and try TO persuade men that to sleep in their wet
or damp clothes Is both injurious and needless In
most cnse. This is often required by the ex-
ridiculous In trying TO impress upon men the danger
% such a proceeding MS the starting point Of dis
Win rek.., to the advice contained In NO.,
and Of the series being The best from the humor-
fats point OF View" would respectfully call atten-
ton 10 the hospital reports OF the state camp az
Peekskill last summer. in which are recorded tho
cases Of over forty men OF certain regiment hay
ing been trcai"i ior Troubles diiSlHE ifo" ,"e,
neglect OF simple precautlon as that cal ed
FOR by the article In question. fall TO see the
cause .o mlrh IN such case. and still less In tho
ANTICIPATION OF what neglect OF the advice In real
service Duld entail
Article No II IL stated Imperative. and this
pr.rautior. was observed with marked success by
and sailors when in force they occupied
the Isthmus OF Panama during the troubles OF 1880
mis- ont IL absurd As TO Article No. IS. reference
may again be made 10 the records OF the state
Camp FOR lsq, concerning the numbers OF men who
suffered from chatting and irritation OF the skin
tatltt IN
Tho writer OF this communication has In mind tho
march Of n company OF regular infantry In n hot,
Enforcing this same prccaution. and where the
suit were OF a nature 10 Justify Its enforcement.
In Article No II the advice is as is evident the
race OF A. only intended for those who not by
duty compelled 10 expose themselves 10 tho sum
rays 1900. -. .., -. -
lations have caused much talk In military circles.
md hive created much dispeasure M division head
ouarfers This last statement Is a matter OF sur
rrise 10 medical men generally, for II shows what
flitle interest div ison headquarters takes In the
division hendquarters IN fact by the headquar
ter. OF any brigade regiment In reference 10 this
important subject , 4,
would Their seem TO call for some assistance from
division headquarters and not their dspleasure. and
the unmerited riicule IAN old campagner" seeks
r. throw upon the well-meant and intelligent sug-
ges,,ons contained In the article In question is out
n, Mace The humorous side is hardly presented
10 one who can appreciate from actual experience
tho difficulties TO be met which the writer OF the
article evidently has good reason to appreciate will
he A serious problem to be solved note also that
tho 'od cnmpalgner. as he Is styled. suggests
nothing Of any value. and I can readily vouch for
The articles containing the suggestions apprehends
Nev-York Aprl H. 1898. ii. ID.