The evening times., 1898-09-26
THE TROOPS AT CAMP MEADE.
General Gates Speaks Of Their Com
djtton at That Post,

General Oates Speaks of Their Con-
ditton at That Post.
Gen. William C. Oates who is in the
city, said last night: 81 have just come
from Camp Meade where there are about
Beautiful situation, about five miles from
Harrisburg, Pa; with the soldiers scat
tered over a slightly rolling country, on
the banks of the Susquehanna River.
Some of the troops lie quite close to the
river, and the tents stretch away inland
for a long distance. Many of the men
are from Camp Alger, and they are doing
well in their new quarters. Regiments
are being ordered to the camp constantly
from other camps, but as other regiments
are being taken from there to be muster
ed out, the number remains about the
same.
Gen Graham is in command at the
camp. and il is largely due TO his per-
sonal attention that everything has gone
so well among the large forces there, and
that the percentage OF illness has been so
small. Gen. Graham. as you know, is
Washington man. The troops form the
Second Army Corps, and are divided into
first and second division, commanded
by Generals Young and Davis. There is
a scarcity of staff officers, and several Of
the brigades are commanded by colonies.
This, of course, increases the difficulty
of properly directing the camp.
Il cannot" said Gen. Oates, give any
information that may be construed as
reflection on the way in which the troops
have been cared for. 1t is no part OF an
officers duty 10 criticise his superiors.
The soldiers have been well fed. and
there has been but little serious sickness
In my own brigade, for instance, there
are 1900 men, and at the present time
there are but l50 men in hospital. The
largest number of sick have been in the
regiments which came from Camp Black.
The surgeons with whom / have talked
are of the opinion that this is not due to
their situation at Camp Meade, but to
the fact that their systems were filled
with the germs of malaria and typhoid
fevers and that these have been devel-
oped by their transfer to more healthy
climate.
''A.l of our men," said Gen. Oates, "are
volunteer infantry, and none of them has
been out of the country. Some of those
who were enlisted at the first call of the
| President are anxious to leave the ser
vice. but those who volunteered at the
anxious to remain. ! believe that there
has been far too much talk about the SOL
diers being in a hurry to return to their
homes They enlisted for whatever use
the Government desired to make of them,
and If they are needed for garrison duty
they are willing to do their duty as good
soldiers and TO obey orders.
You may say, however, added Cen
Oates, that ! am in favor of showing as
much iberality as possible in the matter
of mastering out the troops that are not
required Such men as are suffering loss
by remaining in the service should, II
possible, be allowed to go home. There
should, OF course, be a much more nb-
eral policy pursued in this regard as
things are now than If the country were
actually engaged in hostilities.
1T is my own private opinion that soon
after Congress meets and peace Is de-
clared all the regiments not required for
garrison duty in our new possessions Will
be mustered out, and by the last OF the
wear there will be remaining in the held
only as many men as can be used This
is. however. only an opinion, as L have
no information on the subject.