Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-17
THE WAR LESSONS
What Has Been Learned From Re-
cent Campaigns.
TALK OF An ARMY OFFICER
Proper Camp Sites With Drainage
a Necessity.
ARMY OFFICER
WILL PRE- V ENT DIS EA Sc

Yes" said an army officer to Star re-
porter, after he had commented on the diff
ferent phases of the campaign in Cuba,
"the Spanish war taught us a good many
lessons, and some of them will doubtless be
remembered. OF course, there are a good
many things that this government would do
differently if it had to go through the same
experiences again. But l am afraid he
continued, that to my mind, the most i'm
portant warning We received will go un-
needed. We realize now that this country
is liable to get into another war some time,
and all sorts of advice are being given as to
what preparations should be made-the
coast should be guarded, the army increas-
ed, the navy enlarged, the national guard
improved, etc.-an very good, but the vital
need is apt to be overlooked. What we
want first of all is suitable permanent camp
grounds which will be available for the
training of our volunteers in case this coun-
try should need volunteer army again.
The Fatal Epidemics.
1T wasn't so much the Mauser bullets
that carried grief and desoatiOn to 50
many American homes as ii was the in
sidious diseases, the seeds of which were
contracted by the mems systems when our
loyal volunteers were being trained to fight,
before they went to the front AS this
country had to dep=nd on it's volunteer
army in the late war. so it will in any fu
ture war and the idea of forming a camp
for thirty thousand recruits on unknown
ground, where there has not been a sewer
or water pipe laid in advance and where
thare is not enough water. even before it
becomes contaminated. to quench the thirst
of the soldiers, as was the case at Camp
Alger, is the height of folly.
Dirt Cnu.e
Medical authorities can talk all they want
to about germs and bacteria, &c. | am not
denying the up-to-date medical theories, but
l know, and you know, that what causes
disease in an encampment is dirt.
If you can keep out dirt and filth you
can keep out disease. Think of assembling
an army of unframed men, gathered from
cities, towns, villages and farms, upon a
tract of land that has not been prepared
for their occupancy, and expecting them to
remain there while they are being trained
for active service without their ranks be-
ing devastated by disease!'
Whats your plan?' asked The Star re-
porter.
Simple Plan.
"A very simple one was the reply. zone
of the first things Congress should do is
appoint committee Of experts to select
sites for several national camp grounds
say one in the north, one in the east, one
in the west, one in the central states and
one in the south. Having selected the
ground. make provision for laying them out
into camp grounds and thoroughly equip
ping them for immediate occupancy.
by that l mean have complete sewer
system all ready for immediate operation,
and q Waterworks plant that could be
worked 10y the turning of "a faucet Then
when the time came for call to arms the
volunteers could be gathered from all drec-
tiOns and begin and continue their training
had learned the first rudiments of soldiers
These camp grounds would not lie idle until
there should be a declaration of war. They
should be used every summer for the en-
campment of both regulars and National
Guard, and the Investment would prove a
paying one even if We never went to war
again