New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-08
TREATMENT OF THE TROOPS.
PLANS OF THE PRESIDENT AND SEC
RETARY AIGER.
THE WHOLE ARMY TO RE REORGANIZEn
AND PLACED IN COMFORTABLE


from Washington on a tour Of inspection Of
the Army camps throughout the country. He
will leave Washington tomorrow evening. going
first 10 Camp Meade. Middletown. Penn. and
thence 10 Detroit. Now that active war opera
lions have ended the Secretary feels free -
express certain views entertained by the Presi-
dent and himself respecting the plans for the
treatment Of the soldiers and touching the per-
sons on whom responsibility should he placed for
some Of the matters ~ complaint. He said to-
DAY:
The regiments that have been ordered mus
tered out will be mustered Out. The regiments
that ha 20 been designated by the President to
remain in the service will have to remain. AS
soon as have mustered out one hundred
thousand. more or less. shall reorganize the
Army-every brigade. division and corps-and
put them into comfortable camps until such Of
them as are needed are withdrawn for service
in Cuba. Porto Rico and the Philippines. In
these amps. with the experience of the past to
guide us. sanitary conditions will he strictly en-
forced The men COMPOSING the Army will be
treated as soldiers They will be shown every
possible consideration. and their health will he
preserved
COMMANDERS HELD RESPONSIBLE.
The officers Commanding regiments and COM
panes will be held strictly accountable for the
sanitary condition Of the camps They are the
ones VINO should no held responsible. During
the war many NJ these officers disregarded the
specific instructions that had been given look
ing 70 the proper care ~ their men. Now it is
time FOR them 70 TAX" this work upon them
selves. and. with the knowledge that they arc to
remain in service. they Will be expected to de-
vote their best energies the work. Where
tics
they must give way 10 competent men, FOR again
I wish to make II claar that these company and
regimental officers are to be held to account
FOR the welfare ~ their men.
Now n word as to the feeding % the troops.
The Army ration is all that ia necessary for a
soldier 7 hope that there will 10 loss food
given 10 the men from outside sources. The
dainties gratihed the tastes % the mon. but
they are ~ no real help. and only tend - breed
dissatisfaction where they 10 not actually do
stroy the health of the mon The Army ration
is to-day. as II has been and IA u viii he IN the
future sound health diet
The painful difficulty have had to con
tend with is the reCklessncss of youth In the
vigor Of sound health the young mon who went
n make up our Army could not b. induced 10
take proper care - themselves They think
that nothing can harm them. that they can Vlo-
late any and all ~ the laws Of health with I'm
punity
When a regiment ia designated 70 10 mus
tered out. no further appeals VIII 70" allowed 90
influence the Department 20 change is pro
gramme That order Is going 20 be strictly OBJ
served until the President decides that he can
make a flrther reduction IN the Army. When
such reduction 10 made there VIII b" No dis
elimination in releasing troops T. 's not pos
slble 20 maintain the exact ratio. because - DO
so would he 10 divide regiments hi; the pun
pose will be TO treat all States fairly and as
nearly alike az possible
HOMEsICKNESs TIE CHIEF COMPLAINT.
The great complain, % The soldiers is home
sickness and great deal Of this has been
caused by the inconsideratc publications IN the
sensational newspapers. Sorn~ ~ II - also
chargcnble 10 the tact ,ha, ,hA men entered the
Army with the expectation that their service
would be very short Every experienced officer
know. that a great many men died ~ home
sickness Following the depression that ensues
upon homesickness come other maladies. 70
which tho homeslck soldier falls an easy vic
tim and II Is impossible 20 check their course
Now. to my mind .he American people should
,rv 20 brace ~ these men. 10 encourage th"rn
and cause them 20 remember thai they are sol
ders and expected 20 meet soldiers duties.
The people 81 this country should not be given
the impression that they have sent into N"
Army lot ~ boys unfit to withstand the un-
avoidable viclssi;udes Of camp life. Some OF
the complaints that have been published are
calculated 10 make the American Army appear
in a poor light 70 the eyes ~ tho American PEG
pie and also 70 those of the nations ~ the
world"
The Secretary gave an earnest 81 his pur-
pose 20 carry out strictly the decision he had
announced 10 mold field officers responsible FOR
the condition Of their men in the case of Private
Hugh Parrot. who was reported TO have per
shed IN his tent AZ MOntauk lacking medical
attendance. This o. the case 10 which Repre-
sentative Grosvenor had directed tn" attention
OF the War Department. Secretary Alger sev-
eraI DAYS ago called on the commanding officer
at Camp Wikon FOR report on this subject. and
to-day he sent peremptory order 10 General
Shafter by telegraph TO create a court ~ Inquiry
to investigate the case. or II the facts war
ranted H. TO shorten the proceedings by order
inr court-rnartal NJ once FOR the officer re-
sponsihle for the lack OF attention shown To
Pc