The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-17
IT IS WORSE THAN CUBA
Gross Negligence of the War
Department.
TROOPS NEED OVERCOATS
Without Them and Blankets San Fran
cisco VIII Be Vast Graveyard for
Returning volunteers-Another
OF Alger's Criminal Blunders,
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

u.
San Francisco, July 16.-"Scour the
camp. Take overcoats wherever Won
find them. No sentry must stand pua-d
without one. Ii we can't get the over
coats, we will have no guard at all. We
are short of overcoats and blankets
NOW, we are going to infringe on the
hospitality of California and see If we
can get the loan of what we need Fail
ing in that, I win make arrangements
with Governor Geer to buy blankets
and overcoats from the quartermaster's .
department and then let the bows turn
them in to the state of Oregon. receiv-
ing the money they have paid for them.
The government should have provided
these things for the returning volun-
teers. We are the pioneers of an army
to come from Manila and, let me tell
you, if something is not done it will he
be worse here than it was in Cuba
There will be hundreds of deaths from
pneumonia. The United States sbould
turn over to the hospital and keen on
A'"A'u a. iSdst o,VUU DldnkttS and 3 U1O
overcoats. They will be needed, and
as their use will be only temporary. the
government can put them back again
If this is not done, San Francisco is
going to be a great graveyard of the
volunteers"
General Summers of the I'd Oregon
regiment has spoken in no uncertain
terms concerning the negligence of the
government in failing to provide suit
able clothing for the Oregon volun-
teers. The clothing they wore in the
tropical Philippines is all they have to
protect their bodies from pneumonia
laden fog of the Preside.
The Oregon troops are the advance
guard of an army of volunteers to
come. and General Summers speaks
not only for them, Wat also the rest OF
the brave soldiers who faced the bu!-
let's of Spaniards and Filipinos. the fe-
vers and contagious of the Philippines.
The men Of Oregon got taste of San
Francisco weather in July on night b.
fore last. Forty men were left in
charge of the camp while the others
were being entertained. The fog rolled
in upon them in dense banks, soaking
through their light kharkee suits to
their skins.
General Summers was busy in the
city nearly all day, but he reached
camp last evening shortly after 6
O'Clock. The first thing that struck his
eye was a number of his men doing
guard duty in kharkee suits. The fog
was then rolling in and the trees were
heavy with moisture. There were some
people waiting to greet General Sum
mers, but he overlooked them until he
had cared for his men. He called his
adjutant.
why haven't these guards their
overcoats on?" he asked
They have none" was the answer.
We'll get them some,' cried the gen.
eral Scour the camp and take them
wherever you find them. The boys who
are going to town can better afford 70
do without them. But these sentries
must have overcoats or else the guard
must be called in. I'll have no guard if
can't have overcoats on them"
There has been another blunder by
the war department of the same kind
that cost the nation thousands of It's
heroes lives at Montauk Point and at
Camp Richmond.
The tents at the camp are on plat
forms high above the ground and pro-
yided with stoves. They are suffi-
GENTLY warm. Once inside the tents
the men can laugh fogs and mists to
scorn. But here is where the danger
comes in. It is passing out from such
warm places into the cold air that Is
going to play mischief with the SOL
diers.
The attire of the Oregon men was
commented upon the day they left tie
transport and paraded through the
"An these men who are coming back
are in the same condition as are my
men," said Colonel Summers. 1T
must be remembered that their blood
had been thinned in the tropical cli-
mate of the Philippines and that they
are IN poor ConultlOn at DeSl 10
stand the sudden change into the eli
mate of this camp, located as it is, ex
posed to the sea. They will all come
back in kharkee suits, as did my
men,"
DO you think that unless overcoats
and blankets are provided they will all
get to their homes? ! tell you this is a
matter that needs attention, and imme-
date attention. Ours is the first regi-
ment to return: it is but natural that
[ should speak of this matter. l am
not criticising the actions of any one,
but the lives of my men are in my keep
ing, and / feel personally responsible
for every one of them. l consider that
the life of one of my men is worth more
than all the overcoats and blankets that
could be bought. I propose to have
them properly cared for too. I will
make immediate arrangements for