The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-08-09
"A ROUND ROBIN.
Troops Must Be Sent Home Or an APP
palIir~ Disaster is Liable.
To Keep the Army at Santiago Will In
yOlve the Destruction of Thousands
by Yellow Fever and Other
Diseases-TO Be Returned.

1ayed In Transmission).-S Summoned by
this morning at headquarters, and N
the presence of every commanding and
medical officer of the 5th army corps
Gen. Shafter read a cable message
from Secretary Alger, ordering him
at the recommendation of Surgeon
General Sternberg, to move the
army into the interior, to San Luis,
where it is healthier. AS a result of
3 the conference Gen. Shafter will in
Sst upon the immediate withdrawal OF
the army north within two weeks. AS
an explanation of the situation the
following letter from Col. Theo. Roose-
welt, commanding the 1st volunteer
cavalry, to Gen. Shafter, was handed
by the latter to the CORES pendent here
of the Associated Press for ublication:
Maj. Gen. Shafter:
Sir:-In meeting of the general and medi-
Cal officers, called by you at the palace this
morning, we are all as you know, unanimous in
view of what should be done with the army
To keep US here in the opinion of every officer
commanding division or brigade. will
simply involve the destruction of thousands.
There is no possible reason for not shipping
practically the entire command north at once.
Yellow fever cases are very few in the cavalry
division where I command one Of
the two brigadeS. and not one
true case of yellow fever has oc-
Cured in this division except among the men
sent to the hospital at SibOney, where they
have I believe, contracted it. But in this di-
vision there have been 1.500 cases of malarial
fever Not a man has died from it. but the
whole command is so weakened and shattered
as TO be ripe for dying like rotten sheep when
a real yellow fever epidemic instead of fake
epidemic like the present. strikes US, as it is
bound to- if we stay here, at the height of the
sickness season, August and the beginning
of September Quarantine against malaria
fever is much like quarantining against the
toOthache All of US are certain, as soon as
the authorities at Washington fully ap-
preciate the conditions of the army, to
be sent home, If we are kept here it will in
all human possibility mean an appalling dis
aster, for the surgeons here estimate that over
half the army. if kept here during the sickly
season, will die This is not only terrible from
the standpoint of the individual lives lost,
but it means ruin from the standpoint
of the military efficiency of the
flower of the American army, for
the great bulk of the regulars are here with
you. The sick list, large though it is. exceed
ing 1900, affords but faint index of the de-
Utilization of the army. Not 10 per cent. are fit
for active work. Six weeks on the North
Maine cast, for instance, or elsewhere, where
the yellow fever germ can not possibly
propagate would make all as fit
fighting cocks. abe as We are eager, to
take a leading part IN the great cam
paign against Havana in the fall, even if we
are not allowed to try Porto Rico. We can be
moved north, if moved at once, with absolute
safety to the country, although of course. it
would have been infinitely better if we had
been moved north or to Porto Rico two weeks
ago. If there were any object in keeping US
here we would face yellow fever with as much
Indifference as we face bullets. but there is
no object IN it. The four immune regiments Or
dered here are sufficient to garrison the city and
surrounding towns, and there is absolutely
pothing for US to do here and there has not
been since the town surrendered. 1T is impos.
sible to mcve into the interior. Every shifting
of camp doubles the sick rate in our present
weakened condition and anyhow, the interior
is rather worse than the coast, as 1 have found
by actual reconnaissance. Our present camps
are as healthy as any CAMPS at this end of
the islard can lie. write only because can
net see cur men who have fought so bravely
and who have endured extreme hardships and
dangers so uncOmplainingly, go to destruction
without striving so far as lies in me TO avert q
doom as fearful it is unnecessary and unde-
served. Yours respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
Colonel Commanding lst Brigade.
After Col Roosevelt had taken the
initiative, all the American general
officers united in a round-robin ad-
dressed to Gen. Shafter 1t reads:
We the undersigned officers commanding
the various brigades, divisions, etc, of the
army Of occupation in Cuba, are of the unani-
NOUS opinion that this army should be at once
taken out of Cuba and sent to some point on
the northern seacoast Of the United States;
that it can be done without danger tc
the people Of the United States; thai
yellow fever in the army at present is
not epidemic; that there are only few spor-
adic cases; but that the army is disabled by
nalarial fever to the extent that its efficiency
is destroyed and that it is in a condition to be
low fever which is sure to come in the neal
futare. We know from the reports OF
competent officers and from personal OBJ
servatons that the army is unable t
move into the interior and that there are NJ
facilities for such move if attempted. anC
that it could not be attempted until too late
Moreover, the best medical authorities on tn,
island say that with our present equipment W,
could not live in the interior during the rain,
seshpn without losses from malarial fever
which is almost as deadly as yellow fever.
This amy must be moved at once or perish
As the army can be safely moved now, the per
sons responsible for preventing such NOV
will be responsible for the unneces sary loss o
many thousands of lives. Our opinions are thu
result OF careful personal observation and the,
are / lSo based on the unanimous opinion o
our medical officers with the army, who under
stand the situation absolutely
}. FORD KENT
Major general volunteers, commanding is
division. 5th corps.
j. c. BATES,
Major general volun teers, commanding pro