Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04
apETTEDv SOLDIERS,

1t is aside from the question to argue
that because the soldiers of the Conlede-
rate armies lived on scanty rati0ns, had
few clothes, and We're content to sleep
upon the bare ground with no covering
but the skies, the men now in service
should not expect better things.
Our soldiers have the right to expect
everything that the government offers
and pays for. If our country were re-
duced to such straits as the Southern
Confederacy was. we doubt not that the
men would bear without complaint dis
Comforts at which they now murmur
loudly. But the United States Govern
ment has millions of money. 1t has also
supplies OF all sorts in abundance. 1t
has hundreds Of well-paid officials too.
whose duty It is 10 provide the army
and the hospitals with necessaries and
comforts. Yet there have been innumer-
able instances where sick men have beg
ged for milk and could not get 1t. That,
too, In this land where milk is sold in
quantities at from 10 to 20 cents per gal
Ion. and where the supply is ample!
More than that. men have sometimes
suffered through lack of the commonest
sort Of food.
The trouble is. that our army STAFF
has been miserably inefficient We fear.
also. that some of them have been worse
than Incapable. one or the other theory
IS needed TO explain selections OF some
OF the camping-grounds, and arrange
ments that have been made In trans
porting and supplying troops.
OF all the large camps. that Of Lees
Corps seems TO have been the only one
that was well chosen, and that has been
well maintained. Usually, camp sites
were selected without reference to
whether water was obtainable or not
Indeed at Montauk Point, which should
have been the model camp, there was not
a drop OF good drinking water on the
5000 acres Of sand leased by the govern
ment. 1t Is true that wells have now
been sunk there, but We presume they
are not TO be relied upon. inasmuch as
paratus has been ordered to the Point
to furnish drinking water for the poor
fellows who are condemned to live-or
nie-on that barren waste.
1t would seem that somebody Numbered
badly In selecting Montauk Point as
4 camp for convalescents. Blunder upon
blunder has been made in choosing the
yites for camps. but the case of Montauk
has capped the climax. Yet we believe
Montauk is now in good condition. We
take General Wheeler's word for that.
Again. the President was invited 10 visit
the place and went there yesterday. We
may be quite sure he found everything
there IN apple pie order. or course. Tie
barren sands are now covered with
houses and tents. The distilling-ship is
on hand. Plenty of milk has been pro-
yided. Moreover, hundreds of the sick
and wounded have been furloughed and
sent 10 their homes. Some others have
been sent to hospitals in the city of New
York. And so Montauk Point viii now
easily pass muster, as II were.
SANITARY science" is thing we, as
people. have been Boosting about a good
deal OF late years; but 1t has not show
nd up" well In our military operations.
~ neither the fault has been with the
medical STAFF or with the War Depart
nent and the generals and colonies. we
know not. On that point We are not pre-
pared to speak. but the results talk for
At the outbreak OF the war we were
assured by some OF the sanitarians that
such had been the advance in that science
pur army could easily make a sum
per's campaign In Cuba Yet the short
jtay OF our men at Santiago was we'll
Aigh ruinous: but worse than that. the
mortality In some OF our camps in this
country has been great
We do not undertake 20 locate the
blame: bat some one must be blamable.
or else sanitary science has not made the
wonderful advances that We thought.
However, We must say for surgeon-Gen-
srai sternberg. that TO our knowledge he