The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-29
Immunes to Garrison the Cuban City
When the Battle-Scarred Troops
Leave for the United States.
4,122 SOLDIERS ON SICK LIST
OVER 500 NEW CASES OF FEVER RE-
PORTED BY GENERAL SHAFTER.
Three Deaths ON Wednesday, Two of
which Were Due to "YelIow Jack"
Views of the Surgeon General.

WASHINGTON, July 28-Secretary Alger
is deeply concerned over the welfare of the
gallant troops under Skaters command,
now encamped on the outskirts of Santiago.
The health report shows a surprisingly
large number of cases Of sickness, but
army surgeons authorize the statement that
these figures are misleading in certain
sense and that the situation may not lie
nearly so bad as they would seem TO indi-
cate. The slightest ailment, of the most
temporary nature, sufices to place a SOL
dier's name On the sick reports. which In
their present shape would not distinguish
between such a case and one of mortal
illness The inference is that many of these
cases in Skaters camp are of a trivial
nature, but go to swell it's grand total of
sick and wounded, notwithstanding this nit
igatng fact. Secretary Alger is going to
remove the soldiers at the very earliest op-
portunity to a more healthful cline The
surgeon general under the direction of the
secretary a few days ago inspected a tract
of land adjoining Montauk point, L. l., be-
longing to the Long Island Railroad COM
pany, which had been offered to the gov
ernment as suitable for a large encamp-
ment. The tract is three miles square, con-
tains an abundance of fresh water, a con-
siderable lake, a hill $50 feet in height, and
many other sanitary advantages. including
salt water bathing. The necessary orders
to equip this as a camping ground will go
forward Immediately and every advantage
will be taken of the experie ice gained in
the formation of the great camps at Chick
amauga and Camp Alger to rake the condi-
tions comfortable as possible for the
battle-scarred 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
Santiago having regard to the fever con-
ditions. Meanwhile details are being made
of troops to supply the force that shall gar
rison Santiago so long as it shall be found
necessary to continue troops there This
force will be made up almost altogether
of immunes.
Surgeon General Sternberg, speaking in
reference to the situation at Santiago says
it is the history of yellow fever that it
spreads rapidly and having once got started
in the camp is sure to infect many SOL
diers. Speaking of the other fevers he said
that not only in Cuba, but in the camps
cases and it was the history of all new
armies that fevers, especially typhoid, be-
came quite common. This was due TO the
change of climate and mode of life of the
new soldiers. Even where the water was
pure cases would develop. Soldiers bought
and ate many things not furnished by the
commssary, such as milk and other things
peddled about the camps. Often these foods
caused sickness. Another feature he men
toned was the Indifferent care which some
men take OF themselves when they join the
army 1t was his belief that as the army be-
came more seasoned there would be less
sickness.
Tonight the War Department posted the
following dispatch from General Shafter.
giving the condition of his army on the
9th wednesday,:
lolal SICK OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 122
Iotal IeVer .......................... 1879
New cases fever ................. 500
cases 1ever returned to duty. $40
Deaths
Private ]. H. Farrell. Company III. Ninth
Massachusetts, Volunteers, at Siboney. VEL
low fever.
Corporal Thomas Robson, COMPANY d
Twenty-fourth Infantry, at Siboney. yellow
fever.
Private William H. Byers, Company d.
seventeenth Infantry, cerebral apoplexy.
The Hospital Corps d. A. r. has been
notified by the surgeon general that anv
donations available through their organiza-
tion will be sent to Santiago and Porto
Rico within a week