Evening star., 1898-07-16
FIGHTING YELLOW FEVER
Troops at Santiago t9 Be Moved to high
Ground.
Prompt Measures for Their Protec-
ton to BE Taken-sssp- to Keep
Disease Out of. This Country.

the cap1tuIaton at S3 ntiago, the war De-
partment officials are giving the major por-
ton of their attention to the adoption of
strict measures for the protection CT our
troops from yellow fever and from the low
tropical fevers that have wrought such
havoc among them. Beginning with the
troops at Santiago, the department has de-
cided to remove them at the earliest pos
sihle moment to the country in the rear.
Adjt. Gen. Corbin said today that within
five miles of Santiago proper the conditions
were as nearly ideal as obtainable in the
tropics for stamping out the fever. The
high hills insured weII-drained camps a
most important element in the preserva-
ton or health; the water supply coming
from the mountains was pure and abun-
daht, and the fresh sea breezes prevailed in
the hllltops. While the main body of troops
is to be transferred back to these hills un-
til they are needed for service elsewhere
or are returned to the United States, some
troops Will necessarily be placed either in
tne town itself or IN camps comma ndtIg
the place, in order to protect the inhab-
itants.
1t is believed that the two regiments Of
immunes already on their way to Santiago
Will be assigned to that duty. This will
be severe test of the principle involved
in the formation of the immune regiments
for it is suspected that many of the al
legged immunes are merely persons who
under conditions that never brought them
into direct exposure to yellow fever.
1t is the present intention of the authori-
ties here to maintain a military govern
ment at Santiago, regardless of hints from
Cuban sources that they are prepared to
undertake the administration there. 1t is
believed that the United States is under
neral obligation to the world to see to 1t
that nothing but highly civilized govern
ment shall be set up in Cuba, wherefore
the authorities here are disposed to be ex-
tremely cautious and to make full test OF
the capacity of the Cubans before entrust-
ing the lives and property of the people Of
Santiago to their care.
No Cases in This Country.
Surgeon General Wyman of the marine
hospital service says there is not single
case of yellow fever in this country, so far
as he knows, and no preparations are max
ing to receive yellow fever patients. 1t is
his understanding that Secretary Alger
soon will order the two companies of SOL
diers now at Tortugas, off the Florida
coast, to some other point and this place
then will revert to the marine hospital ser
vice, in whose custody 1t was before the
war broke out.
Surgeon General Sternberg of the army
LETT here today for visit of several days
to New York city. To meet the exigencies
of the situation at Santiago caused by the
appearance of yellow fever among the
troops, the medical corps there is to be re-
nurses; in addition, a large consignment of
supplies. which are specially needed in the
present circumstances, are to be immedl-
atcly rushed to General Shafter. For this
purpose it has been arranged to send a ship
from New York city, probably the trans
port Resolute, and it is hoped she will leave
that place by Monday or Tuesday.
The transport Oivette, loaded with sick
and wounded, is due in New York in few
days. The men aboard are to be distribut
ed among the marine hospital at New York
and other hospitals in Brooklyn. Gen.
Sternberg hopes to be present when the
vessel arrives and to supefintend the ar
rangements incidental to the landing of the
men.
Surgeon General Van Reypen of the navy
has gone to Fort Monroe to meet the naval
hospital ship Solace. expected to arrive
there today. The Solace, IT is understood,
brings the last of the wounded men from
Santiago, and the cases aboard are of the
more serious type, which would not per-
NIT of removal on the ordinary transports
or admit of treatment in the field hospitals
in Cuba.
The press reports Of the terrible condi-
tions existing on the steamer Harvard as
she entered Portsmouth harbor yesterday
have given rise to the keenest apprehen-
sion in the Navy Department. 1t is hoped
that the guarded statements given out by
the local physicians as to the character of
the fevers prevalent on the boat among
the Spanish prisoners will be borne out by
q more careful diagnosis. Meanwhile every
effort will be made to prevent a spread of
contagion If 1t exists on the Harvard, and
the medical authorities here are satisfied
of their ability to rapidly. stamp out the
fever.
They declare that even If 1t should be es-
tablished that yellow fever exists among
the Spanish prisoners, there is no possible
danger of the spread of the disease in the
cool, damp climate of the New England
coast.