New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-07
WELFARE OF CAMP ALGER.


grounds of complaint account both OF 'he
quantity. quality and variety or the rauoh'
issued to the volunteer troops at Camp Aisei' ~
some cases. Contractors may nave oeeh uh'''e
aluav. 70 deliver their goods promptly and
regularly. and sometimes the articles thes u''
deliver were below the standard: and In some
cases commissary officers may have been ref'isS'
or UNEQUAL to their duties In fact, both of these
causes nave probably operated to some extent
and the soldiers have thereby been sometimes
deprived Of things to which they were entitled
That this has been due TO some extent TO the
inexperience OF the commissary sergeants Is also
probably true That these grounds OF complaint
are being removed gratifying evidence Is tur-
nished by an inspection of the ratons now
issued which appear to be satisfactory IN the
main IL the statements obtained at random by
Tribune correspondent from many enlisted men
Of different regiments are safe guide
MANY MEN WITHOUT UNIFORMS.
good many Of the enlisted men IN Camp AL
ger have not vet received their uniforms. In
fact. hardly any Of the men Of several regiments
have been supplied and only few of the regi-
ments yet present a uniform appearance IN that
respect It appears that there is plenty OF CLOTH
Ing on hand. but. as the corps quarternaster
explained TO Tribune correspondent to-day
the issuing OF It is a rather slow process because
an effort Is being made to furnish to each SOL
dier from the stock in hand. suit that Will NJ
him or as nearly 30 practicable. The quarter
master thought time not wasted In doing
this.
good many Of the men have not been fur'
nished with Army shoes, or do not wear them
II they have been provided 40 effort mas yet
been made TO obtain cotton uniforms ror service
al CHINA fe nd a
far issued Is II the regulation style ana materlh
adapted for feld service in the moro temperate
regions OF the United States There wil lie
plenty of time 10 obtain the cotton uniforms
before the volunteers here Will need them re
marked one officer OF the Quartermaster De-
partment to-day.
OF canteens. is painfully apparent in some or the
re giments including several which are otherwise
fairly equipped All OF the regiments are sup
piled with tents Of some descriptions majority
being OF the pattern known as "A tents-and
all are Of good material and in fair condition.;
The supply OF woollen blankets in nearly all OF
the regiments seems 10 be adequate even Tor n
campaign in a climate more vigorous than that
Of Cuba Porto Rico. but rubber blankets or
ponchos are not so plentiful.
Many Of the men have not yet received guns.
In some regiments whole companies are un-
armed and several entire regiments appear 10
be in the same condition. Around the camp OF
Tennessee regiment yesterday a Tribune cor
respondent observed several sentries who were
armed only with long stout clubs. one who
wore no coat was the happy possessor OF an
ancient musket, the muZZle OF which rested on
the ground while he contentedly leaned on the
breech. The guns are mainly OF the later
Springfield pattern. and are regarded ny mary
old soldiers OF the Regular Army as better
and more effective arm. especially In the hands
Of volunteers than the Krag -Jorgensen rifle
Loaded cartridges are said to be almost as
scarce as guns at Camp A6er but sufficient
supply Of both is said 10 be en- route.
1t appears that the ordnance organization or
the Second Army Corps has been somewhat de-
rh1,.
ing an ordnance officer to duty on General
Graham's staff which was not done until late
last week II seemed rather apparent that the
lack OF discipline. as well as OF sodlery APP
pearance, observable in the camps OF some OF
the regiments. was due to the failure to furnish
them with the uniforms and equipments of
soldiers II their services are 10 be needed IN
the field In this war at all II viii probably be as
soon as they can be equipped. drilled and other
wise made ready for such service.
PERCENTAGE OF SICKNESS SMALL
Taking everything into consideration the san
tary condition OF the troops is better than
might have been expected. In the case OF a
ma jority OF them the change OF water and ell
mate as we'll OF diet az somewhat critical
season OF the year. a radical one and yet
the percentage OF men unfit for duty on
account OF sickness has been and IS eN-
ceedingly low. Several deaths have occurred.
but these were traceable to disease induced
by exposure. or TO other causes. before the men
arrived at Camp Alger. The number OF men IN
hospital to-day was very small. II those suffer
ing from measles in a rather mild form and
mumps were excepted. The number OF cases OF
maarial diseases was not large enough TO excite
alarm, and less than n dozen Of these were re-
garded as serious. A number OF the more serious
cases have been removed 10 the hospital at Fort
Myer. which is well equipped and where tho
patients receive skilful treatment and careful
nursing Several II the regimenta hospitals
were vacant to-day. and in others two 10 n half
dozen patients were found.
it seemed to an old soldier. who visited the
encampment to-day, however. that II the sur
geons Of some OF the regiments had been moro
v!gilant had had the benefit OF longer expert
ence with troops in the field. especially In sum-
mer, the sinks used by the men would have been
placed further from the lines OF tents