Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-20
TUESDAY. SEPT. 20, 1898
THE ALGER-MIIIEs CONTROVERSY


ean-Spanish war relates to the contro-
versy between the secretary OF war
and the general OF the army. When
volunteers were called out, Secretary
Alger conceived the idea OF establish
ing centralized rendezvous for the
army. He expected good results 70
flow from the inspiration OF numbers
and the fraternal and patriotic spirit
which would be developed by the asso-
citation together Of the troops from the
various states camping together on
the same ground. He looked forward
to drills and maneuvers on large
scale, great parades, reviews and other
spectacular events Of impressive mag
nitude. His ideal could not be attained
in small camps located in the states,
lying wide apart. General Miles was
not impressed with the idea OF cen
trail camps. He stoutly 0ontended for
the plan of establishing a camp in
each state for the volunteers thereof,
where the work OF drilling and equip
ping the men could be completed be-
fore their advancemnt to the front for
active campaigning. General Miles,
with the training and experience OF a
veteran, yielded with reluctance to the
plan OF Secretary Alger He argued
that it would be very difficult to Sc
lect grounds In which to locate the
very large camps, with suitable tent
ing grounds and ample water supply
for all purposes. He commended that
the maintenance of ideal sanitary con-
ditions was next to impossible In a
compact camp accommodating $4,000
men.
DR.. Howard Rand, of the Battle
Creek Sanitarium, speaking as repre-
sentative OF perhaps the most advanced
school OF sanitary practice in this coun-
try, said in discussing the sub
Ject: "As a general proposition. sol
diers cannot safely be assembled IN
very large and compact encampments
Tor the primary reason that 1t is very
difficult to select ideal grounds where
80 many thousands of men may be
comfortably located, with suitable
tenting space, abundant water supply
for the camps, and pure drinking water
for ne men. Could such ideal camps
be found, the tendency toward the ac-
emulation of insanitary conditions,
where so many human beings are as
sembled, would render the plan haz-
ardous and unwise. The proper dis
posal of refuse matter of all kinds Is
almost Impossible in a very large camp,
and especially so where there is an in
adequate supply OF running water fol-
removing waste matter. Flat land
suitable for tents, is to be found most
abundant in the valleys. but there Is
no place so poorly suited for a camp
as the average valley, such as Is found
at Camp Thomas. ChiclSamauga. The
first enemy the volunteer is likely &c
encounter, is not the opposing warrior
in the trenches of his country's foe, bui
the disease germs which breed and grow
in insanitary camps. Germ life albounds
most in the lowlands. Moisture Is es
sential to the life OF germs. The!
thrive in damp, shady places. WheI
the soldier selects his camp in a shad!
spot in the fiat woods, inviting ON &C
count OF its cool breezes and securit,
from sun glare, he is doing
more unsoldierly act than we're he 4
sleep on picket. The ideal camp is Of
high ground comparatively free iron
trees, where the sunlight has an IN n
structed sway. The main essential i
this is found in the fact that sunligh
Is the best known agency for the dc
struction Of germ life. When expose
to the full glare OF the sun, germs di
within fifteen minutes. Rare. dry al
OF the uplands is unfavorable 10 III
growth Of disease germs. In the highe
mountain attitudes. germs are nj
found, a fact due to dry air and eur
light. In New Mexico. Arizona an
other western sections, the carcass
OF slaughtered beeves and game, al
dried without salt. in the open air.
practice made possible on account oftl
absence of germs. Upland camps a
preferable on account Of the purer a
found there. Pure, dry air stimulat
the activity Of the skin, by rapid
evaporating the perspiration and T
moving it from the surface Of the bod
AS one globule of perspiration is III
carried of by the dry air anoth
takes its place. Thus the sweat CLAN
are kept constantly at work removi
the waste matter and poisons OF t
body. Damp air does not do this.
inactive skin which does not proper
perform its work OF eliminating wai
matter from the system soon becon
clogged up as a result Of which
body is presently Over-stacked W
nelson's that speedily reduce the