The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-23
GERMS OF DISEASE
Were Carried From the United States
by Army of Invasion.

by Army of Invasion.
New York, Aug. Lieutenant Col
on Nicholas Sem, who went to Cuba
as chief of the operating STAFF Of the
army, has just returned from Porto
Rico and is in the city. Speaking of his
experience, he said yesterday:
'In cuba our army met as its most
formidable enemy one of the most
dreaded of all acute infectious diseases
yellow fever. The Cuban invasion
was characterized by hasty action, a
lack of organization and inadequate
preparation on the part of the quarter
masters department for which the
way responsible. In less than two weeks
after our army landed in Cuba yellow
fever made its appearance.
I'm less than two weeks from that
time nearly 500 fever cases, most of
them yellow fever, impaired the fight
ing force and seriously taxed the re-
sources of the medical department. For
tunately for the army, the type of the
disease was mild and the number of
deaths was small in comparison with
some of the epidennics in the past. 1t
was extremely fortunate that Santiago
surrendered at the right time. Our
army would surely have met the fate
of the Spanish forces, who lost over 30
per cent of their men during the last
year from sickness.
I'm planning the Porto Rico invasion,
General Miles made the proper arrange
ments for preventing a repetition of
this calamity. Thus far our troops in
Porto Rico have escaped yellow fever,
but soon after landing fever cases came
into the different hospitals at an alarm
ing rate. After landing at Ponce on
August 8, found at least 25O cases of
typhoid fever. In some of the cases 1T
was difficult and in others impossible
to make a differential diagnosis be-
tween malarial and typhoid fever with
out the aid of the microscope, re
hand. Following the order of Colonel
Greenleaf, chief surgeon of the army,
I investigated for two days all of the
fever cases in the hoped for purpose OF
locating the typhoid fever
"A careful study of all the cases
showed that 80 per cent were genuine
typhoid fever cases and that the in
lection in the army was brought direct
ly from the camps occupied in the Uni
ted States. am firmly of the opinion
that If the American army now in
Porto Rico remains there much longer,
the loss of life due to sickness will be
as great as at Santiago.
1.-The order to General Wilson to take
up the march toward San Juan made 1t
necessary to eVacuate the division hos
pital
'An of the patients were transferred
to the Spanish military hospital in
Ponce, which caused the temporary
ver-croWding. The club house of the
city and the school for girls, in charge
of Sisters of Charity, were also offered
to the authorities for hospital use and
were accepted. I want to make espec-
ial mention of the valuable services
rendered by Miss Chandler of your city,
who night and day with untiring ener-
gy. ministered to the sick and wounded
soldiers. All of the officers in the club
house became very much attached to
Miss Chandler.
Nostalgia, or Inconsistencies in
large measure has added to the wretch
ed condition of the soldiers, not only in
Cuba but in Porto Rico also. The post
Office department has shown serious
neglect in forwarding mail. You give a
man a letter from home and he feels
like fighting know as an actual fact
that more than 200 letters were sent to
me while I have been away from home,
but I have received only two of them.
Newspapers We're in great demand and
were eagerly bought and read.
THE war has again demonstrated the
great value of the small calibre bullet
and has shown that it is a most hui
name weapon. Contrary to expecta-
lions but few surgical operations were
necessary and our attention was direct
ed entirely to the proper dressing of
wounds.
Il want to correct some of the re-
ports which have come from Cuba and
Porto Rico as to the feelings of the
SpaniardS against the Red Cross. The
SpaniardS never purpoSely fired at the
Red Cross representatives of our coun-
try and if any of those was injured, it
was entirely due to the fact that the
req DaOge the OfQeE cOulQ not De
easily distinguished at a distance.
1.-The following touching incident for
example, shows that the Spaniards are
in sympathy with the work of the Red
Cross organization. While a company
of infantry was charging a hill at Gu
AMIGA, volunteer who had rushed 100
yards ahead of the line, was suddenly
Frustrated by the heat. A Spanish Of
f1cer near by ran to him and picked him
up and carried him to our line amid the
cheers of our troops"
Col. Sem is enthusiastic about Porto
Rico and declares the island to be
worth it's weight in gold.
ct is a beautiful country, combina-
ton of Italy and Switzerland and it's
resources are incalcuIable,'' he said.
What is now needed in Porto Rico
is American civilization, with it's little
red school house. It will take at least
so years to bring the natives of Porto
Rico and Cuba to such a state Of civili-
cation that they can govern themselves.
think the best plan for the United
States would be to establish a colonial
government in the new colonies, some
what upon the plan by which England
governs India. am of the opinion
that even in Cuba military occupation
on the part of the United States will be
necessary for a long time"