The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-03
! SENSIBLE CRITICISM
GOV. BLACKS VIEWS AFTER VISIT
TO THE SICK SOLDIERS.
Camp Thomas Condemned and One
HispitaI Given a Bad Name, but, ON
the Whole, Things Are Bright.


Black and party. of New York, arrived in
Washington late in the afternoon from
trip during which they visited the mobiliza-
ton camps at Chickamauga Park. Lexing-
ton, KY, and Huntsville, Ala. Gov. Blacks
idea in visiting the camps was to ascer-
tain their conditions, particularly as they
related to the New York troops located
there. desiring from personal observation to
be in a position to recommend to the War
Department what New York regiments
should be mustered out of the service at
once.
AS a result of his investigation he will
suggest to the war authorities that the
Ninth and Fourteenth New York regiments,
located at Chickamauga, be relieved from
service as soon as practicable. The Twelfth
New York. located at Lexington. and the
Sixty-ninth New York, located at Hunts
vile, are in excellent condition. and while
the men of both regiments would be glad
to receive an order mastering them out
there is no pressing need in the opinion of
Governor Black for their leaving the serv-
ice at this time. In addition to his recon-
mendaticn that the Ninth and Fourteenth
be discharged, it is likely that Governor
Black will suggest to the department that
the Third New York. now at Camp Meade
Pa, also be mustered out of the service
THE conditions of the camps we visited"
said Governor Black this evening in cpl
tomizing the results of the trip, were better
really than had expected to find them;
that is, they were better than they mad
been pictured in the newspaper reports /
had read before visiting the camps. Many
things, doubtless. could be remedied, but on
the whole the camps we found to be not in
bad condition. Those at Lexington and
Huntsville are in excellent shape How long
they will remain so depends, 1 take it, upon
the length of time the troops are kept there
The camp at Chickamauga is the worst of
the three, if such a comparison may be
| made That has been occupied for four
months by many thousands of troops and
the very ground has become infected with
| disease.
MY idea is that the camp ought to be
abandoned, or, at least, the regimental
camp sites ought to be moved frequently
The whole of North America is ribboned
with railroads. and troops can be moved
easily and quickly from one camp ground to
another With the thousands of eligible
camp sites in this country at the disposal
| of the government, it is not necessary that
the troops be kept in one place so long that
they become i'll from the effects of polluted
water.
With good, pure water in abundant sup
ply, and such food as 1 know the men in
| the camps l visited are receiving there is
no reason in the world why we'll man
| should not continue in good health and act
ually thrive. The food furnished the troops
is ample and of excellent quality They get
fresh beef, ham, bacon, plenty of vegetables,
bareback and bread. In addition, they have
coffee three times day. There is no reason
why well man should not live and thrive
on that diet That the food is good and well
| cooked know, because ate some of it my
| self.
"At Chickamauga the regimental hospitals
| are in good condition." continued Governor
| Black. They are well provided for and
| the patients are receiving careful attention.
In the Second Division hospital the cond-
| tons are not good. In that there are about
200 patients. While l Go not speak as an
expert. 1 do say that the hospital is not
| well managed or adequately supplied, either
with stores or with help. A large majority
of the patients are suffering from fever, yet
when we were there they had neither ice
nor milk-two requisites it seems to me, in
| the treatment of fever cases. The blame
| for this condition of affairs, If blame is to
| be attached. do not pretend to fix. Criti-
| cism of the secretary of war for this and
| similar conditions in other camps and hos
pitfalls is not. take it. proper or becoming.
| He cannot be familiar with the condition
| of every sick soldier in the United States,
| or be in personal touch with all the minute
| details Of camp and hospital life. When
| attention is directed to cases like the one
mention, the secretary applies a remedy.
My idea is that some man, / do not say
who. who is nearer to the scene of the con-
ditions complained Of is responsible for
them. He ought to apply the remedy. and
If he does not then his head should come off,
This is a vast problem the country is
now solving-a problem not of war, but of
life and personal security. 1t requires the
most careful and considerate attention We
must not be hysterical in our comments or
oblivious 10 patent facts. Withal, we must
| be just to all. This war has taught this
country lesson that it has needed for
| long time. That is, with our immense re-
| sources of wealth and population we cannot
| put into the field a great army in a few
| weeks without serious consequences. We
ought to maintain an army commensurate
in some degree with our size. With such
| force at our governments disposal we
| should be able to meet emergency, be-
cause we would be prepared for it,
Governor Black will call upon Adjutant
General Corbin tomorrow and will then re-
| turn to New York