Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-04
MANY SICK IN CUBA.
Officials Much Concerned About the
Fever Cases at Santiago.
The TROOPS LIKELY TOBE REMOVED


partment last night posted the follow
ing dispatch from Gen. Shafter:
"Adjutant General Of the Army:
Condition on the 9th: Total sick,
4,i9s; total fever, g. 1913; new cases, S29;
cases fever returned to duty, 542."
The report showing that there were
APP cases of sickness in the army in
Cuba, has given the officials Of the
war department considerable concern,
but the reports heretofore made that
the yellow fever cases were OF mild
type encouraged the hope that the
death rate will be small. The large
number of fever cases reported, 3, 1913,
shows that not only yellow fever, but
typhoid and other kinds, are numer.
Gus. Surgeon General Sternberg says
that it is the history Of yellow fever
that it spreads rapidly, and having
once got started in the camp is
sure to infect many soldiers.
Speaking of the other fevers he
said that not only in Cuba, but in the
camps in the United States there had
been many cases, and it was the his.
tory of all new armies that fevers, es-
pecially typhoid, became quite com
mon, This was due to the change of
climate and mode of life of the soldiers.
Even where water was pure, cases
would arise. Soldiers bought and ate
many things not furnished by the
commissary, such as milk and other
things peddled about the camps Of
ten these foods caused sickness. An.
other feature he mentioned was the
indifferent care the men took of them
selves when they join the army 1t
was his belief that, as the army be-
came more seasoned, there would be
less sickness.
Secretary Alger is deeply concerned
over the welfare of the gallant troops
under Skaters command now en-
camped on the outskirts of Santiago.
The health report shows surprising
ly large number of cases of sickness,
but army surgeons authorize the state
ment that these figures are misleading
in u certain sense and that the situa-
ton may not be nearly so bad as they
would seem to Indicate The slight.
est ailment of the most temporary ma
ture suflices to place soldiers name
on the sick reports, which, in the
present shape, would not distin-
guish between such case and one
Of mortal illness. The inference is
that many of these cases in Skaters
camp are Of trivial nature, but go to
swell its grand total Of sick and wound
ed. Notwithstanding this mitigating
fact, Secretary Alger is going to re-
move the soldiers at the very earliest
opportunity to more healthful cline.
The surgeon general, under the direc.
ton Of the secretary, few days ago
inspected a tract of land adjoining
Montauk point, l.. l., belonging to the
Long Island Railroad company. which
had been offered to the government
as suitable for large encampment.
The tract is three miles square, con-
tans an abundance of fresh water, a
considerable lake, a hill $50 feet in
height and many other sanitary
advantages, including salt water
bathing. The necessary orders to
equip this as camping ground will
go forward Immediately and every
advantage will be taken of the
experience gained in the formation of
the great camps at Chickamauga and
Camp Alger to make the conditions as
comfortable as possible for the battle
SCARED veterans of Skaters army.
The time for their removal is left to
Gen. Shafter, the only limitation
placed upon him being that he shall
not delay the homeward sailing of his
troops beyond the moment when it
shall be safe for them to leave Santi-
ago, having regard for the fever con-
ditions. Meanwhile details are being
made of troops to supply the force that
shall garrison Santiago so long as it
shall be found necessary to continue
troops there This force will be made
up almost altogether of immunes.