The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1898-09-02
DISEASES m THE ARMY.
10 Two Years The Spanish Army Los,
Over 50, 900 Men Ia Cuba.

With the end OF hostilities the
attention of the people is direct.
ed more closely to the health OF
the troops in our camp and at the
front. Special efforts are under
/, way to remove the sick to the
most favorable surroundings and
to insure for them the best hos
pital facilities. Everything that
can be accomplished to this end
will be welcomed by the entire
country. Serious charges OF in
competency have been made
against the medical administra-
ton at Santiago, and there was
certainly something of medical
inefiiciency in that campaign.
The treatment of wounds, on the
whole, has been successful, but
disease has been handled with
less satisfactory results. Some
of the ships used to transport
the sick and wounded were in
unsuitable condition. and in these
cases boards Of inquiry should
fix the blame where it belongs.
Wherever there is, neglect or
lack of proper knowledge in the
army medical department there
should be a prompt application
OF discipline, and sharp enough
to prevent any similar failures.
The sanitation of armies and the
prevention of army disease have
not kept pace with the develop
ment of weapons and the range
! of bullets, Too often the work
of medical officers is perfunctory,
an evil that ought to be severely
dealt with.
But there should also be allow
ance made on the part of the pub
| lie for the limited extent of our
army resources when the war
broke out. Many Of those who
oppose an enlargement of the
regular army beyond $1,000 men
are the readiest to charge that
some things have gone wrong in
caring for over 100000 fresh
troops called to the field. Con-
gress has consented that the
regular army may be increased
to something over 10000 men in
time Of war, but with provision
for reduction to nearly the old
limits when peace returns. 1t
ought to be remembered that by
no sort of magic can the medical
staff of a regular army Of 10000
be suddenly expanded to meet
the requirements of host ten
times as large. II more volun-
teers had been sent to Santiago
the shortcomings in the hospital
would have been far worse. I'm
browsing agreat American army
| in two months can be done as far
/
as the courage of the men is con-
cerned, but a larger permanent
| trained staff department is need
ed to care for them and to direct
the inexperienced officers intrust-
ed with the health and comfort
of the troops.
One thing to be borne in mind,
in Justice to all concerned. is that
the campaign in Cuba became
imperative at the season most
dangerous to health. 1t is GER
tain that the administration has
striven in every way to lesson
the perils. The army at Santiago
has been quickly transported to
a northern health camp. move
ment in many respects unique.
Ordinarily an army is compelled
to face a siege of disease without
hope of any reliefof this nature.
Cuba at best is a trying place for
soldiers. In two years ending
with March, 1897, the Spanish
army lost from disease, chiefly
malarial, 44o officers and so, 900
men. These were troops. too,
accustomed TO tropical climate.
In the British expedition Of 1852
against Havana 47os men died of
disease, or one-fourth of the
whole army. Every possible
measure of relief should be
adopted in our camps, but a wan
ton spirit of indiscriminate CEN
sure is not to the purpose.