Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-02
LESSON FROM EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

LESSON FROM EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE.
The experience of European countries
that send troops into tropical countries
Is instructive. In the course of a
speech in the United States senate, Mr..
German of Maryland introduced the re.
port for 1896 Of the British medical de-
partment showing the sick rate in the
British army i'm India. The climate OF
India Is less unhealthy than that of the
Philippines India is, as a rule, dry
and possesses numerous health stations
on the hills, while the climate of the
Philippines Is damp and malarious.
Even in comparing the hot and malar
Gus parts of India with the Philippines,
it must be kept in mind that English
at each station Is relatively small and
that at each station all the precautions
known to modern sanitary science are
taken in order to keep the sick rate low.
In the Philippines o n of these pre-
cautions have been taken, no well pre-
pared stations exist and our troops must
be mostly volunteers.
The report Of the British medical de-
partment shows that in some of the
British regiments in India from IL TO 10
per cent Of the men were constantly
sick. The annual number Of hospital
admissions, not counting those sick in
tents, considerably exceeds the entire
number Of soldiers-the total of officers
and men in 1896 having been 7O,4S4 and
the admissions to hospitals 97,73S. In
the cities the sick rate is higher than on
the plains or in the hill regions. 1t
seems safe to assume that the sick rate
in the Philippines will in some measure
correspond to the stations on the plains
in India, adding whatever may be due
to the humid climate and other unfavor-
able conditions. The sick rate in the
country districts of Cuba will probably
correspond to that Of the hill stations in
India, while for a time the cities OF
Cuba will be worse than those of India.
No precaution, said Senator German,
will prevent our soldiers from contract
ing the diseases which the English sol
oilers contract in southern climates. We
know how it is in Cuba. One-haif OF
| the American force In the province of
Santiago is incapacitated for service by
sickness and this is the best part of the
year in Cuba. The statement has been
attributed to al army officer Of high
rank recently connected with Il Cuban
forces that il our troops in that island
we're not withdrawn before July or
August substantially the entire army
would be down with sickness and would
have to be ordered home. We have
taken upon ourselves the obligation to
pacify Cuba and aid in establishing an
independent government there. This
obligation must be faithfully met, at
whatever cost or sacrifice. But there
is no such responsibility resting upon us
in the Philippines. We have no duty
there that requires Or could justify the
sacrifice of thousands of American
youth.
The proposal that the United States
shall permanently hold the Philippines
will, If carried out, not only result in
great loss of life and a vast expenditure
of money, but it will also largely in
crease the pension account. That de
mand upon the national treasury now
amounts to over $4,000, 900 and it Is
predicted that if the expansion policy
shall prevail the pension roll three years
hence will amount to $16o, 900 pei
annum-a greater sum than is paid by
any nation of Europe for maintaining
it's military establishment. Thus OK
pansion means Il heavy sacrifice of life
IAN enormous expenditure of money anc
an addition to the pension account tina
would make it well-nigh intOlerable.