Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-31
Secretary Alger Deprecates Publica-
tions About Distress in the Camps.
SAYS THEY'RE MOSTLY UNFOUNDED
Sick Soldiers Necessarily Denied
Solid Food.
AT FORT MYER HOSPITAL

1t cannot be said that Secretary Alger is
Indifferent TO the many published stories
as to the distress in the great military
camps, for his first interest lies in the well
fare of the individual troops. But he said
today that with full knowledge of the
lack of foundation for most of these re-
pcrts, he deprecated such publications, not
because of fear that the American people
would be mistaken in their understanding
of the actual facts, but rather from an ap-
prehensfcn Of the evil effect such publica-
tionS would produce abroad. There the
people, who with their full military train
ing knew Just what hardships must be
countered by troops in a campaign, and
especially in military camps and manoeuv-
ers, he said, would regard with amused
surprise the innumerable complaints that
are pouring forth upon the government
here upon pretexts that would be disre-
garded entirely in Europe, and they could
scarcely fail to gain the impression that
the American people are lacking in soldier
ly qualities if they were truly represented
by these complaints.
Secretary Alger, with Mrs. Alger. paid a
visit to the hospital at Fort Myer last
evening, and inspected the arrangements
there for the treatment of the cases of fe-
yer coming from the camps at Alger and
Dunn Lorirg. These were found to be of
the first order, and the surgeons in charge
are supplied with everything conducive to
the comfort of the patients that money
can buy.
Why Solid Food Was Denied.
1t was a noticeable fact that many of the
sick soldiers complained of hunger, and
this in spite of the fact that they arc given
all Of the food that the nature of their all
n,ents will admit of. Few of the visitors
to the army hospitals who see the typhoid
patients. emaciated in appearance. calling
for food. realize that to grant their desire
for solid fcod would be to condemn the pa-
tients to death; that the immediate result
of the administration of anything more
than limited quantities of liquid food would
cause pefforation of the infiamed intes-
tines. hemorrhage and death.
Secretary Alger'S attention has been
strongly directed toward this fact by the
reports that come to him from the meIical
officers of the great field and garrison hos
pftals Maj Taylor, the surgeon in charge
at Fort Mcpherson (Georgia) Hospital, has
suffered from adverse criticism based on
the observation of inexperienced visitors,
and while he has refrained from answering
those criticisms published in the news
Papers in kind, he has submitted the facts
to the War Department. His statements
are in line with the observations of Secre-
t&ry Alger as to mistakes made in assuIn-
ing that the patients were underfe1.
What Major Taylor Buys.
Moreover, Maj. Taylor takes occasion to
show by fislres just what he has done fer
the patients in the matter of food and at
tention. His bill for milk alone is $500 per
month; he has more ice than can be used
either for drinking purposes or for Ice bags
and caps for the patients. He provides a
special diet in specially arranged kitchens;
he has Seventy-one trained nurses, over 100
hospital attendants and employs numerous
laborers to clean the mess hall and tents.
The female nurses are indignant ut the
criticisms that have been passed upon the
| hospital, and Maj. Taylor pays a high trib-
ute to the untiring devotion shown by these
nurses to their charges.
Secretary Alger says that these state
mentS are but samples of those that come
from all of the hospitals and from urpreju-
diced observers whose experience enables
them to have fair opinion.
Camp Thomas Praised.
The report of Gen. Boynton on the con-
dition of Camp George H. Thomas Chick
amauga, and the hospitals at that camp,
was made public at the War Department
this afternoon. Because of numerous COM
plants of the bad state of affairs at that
camp, Gen. Boynton was directed to make
thorough investigation. AS has been al
ready indicated in The Star Gen. Boynton
reports that the complaints against the
camp are not well founded, and that the
camp is one of the best in the country,
being Well supplied with good water and
with other requisites.
The Water at Camp WikoY.
Surgeon General Sternberg would not
discuss the statement made by Lieut.. Col
Nicholas Sem regarding the sanitary con-
ditions at Camp Wikoff. Quartermaster
General Luddington said no reports had
reached him that the water was bad or
likely to become so. The reports of water
first made showed that it was good.
The point that Surgeon Sem makes is
that it will soon become infected with ty-
Dhoid germs