The times., 1899-04-01
Fever Camps Deadlier Than war.


The number of incidents and circum-
stances in the history of the Spanish
American war which can be used TO point
a moral in connection with our incompe-
tent War Department is truly surprising.
| This is a case in which all roads lead to
Rome. Afioat and ashore. at Manila and in
Santiago. one may find facts which indi-
cate in some way or other the mistake
which President Mckinley made and con-
tinues to make. in allowing Alger TO oc
cupy an important position in the Cab
met.
1t is reported from the Philippines that
when the American troops broke camp and
went into battle the sick rate dropped from
13 10 8 per cent. This is not at all surpris-
ing to anyone who knows the ways of
soldiers; it simply means that the excite
ment and enthusiasm created by the pros
pect of active service acted as n sort of
tonic on those who were suffering from
debility induced as much by homesickness
and inaction as anything else. But COM
pared with other statistics reported from
the volunteer camps of last summer, it is
extremely significant and should receive
the careful attention of Mr.. Mckinley.
The death rate of the volunteer army in
camp during the four months of last sum-
mer has been stated at 25.5 per thousand.
This was the average in all the camps, in
cluding those which were situated in
healthy spots The sick rate-not the
death rate-of the American troops in the
Philippines in active service is ninety per
thousand, and these are also largely volun-
teers. 1t is to be remembered that these
soldiers have been transported from the
Western prairies to an Oriental climate
in which some people consider it impos-
sihle for white men to live and keep them
selves well. They have been lodged in un-
familiar quarters, fed on army rations,
supplemented by the food of the country,
which is of sort new to them, engaged in
fighting fire and keeping order in a city
not noted for the strictness of its sanitary
regulations, and exposed to the prevailing
disease of the Philippines. smallpox, be-
sides malaria, dysentery, typhoid fever,
and all the other maladies incident
TO life in an Asiatic climate. And the
sick rate is placed, as stated, at
ninety and it may be seen by read
ing the reports of casualties that
there are not many deaths from disease.
II actually looks as IL there were less
sickness among our troops in the Philip
pines that there was among those en-
camped at Camp Alger and Montauk, with
in easy call Of physicians, medicines, good
food, and everything else which should
conduce to health and long life. What is
the reason for this?
Ii may be interesting at the end of four
months campaigning in the Philippines for
some one TO foot up a list of those who
have died from disease in these colonies
of ours and compare the number with
those who died from the same cause in the
volunteer camps without having seen ac-
tive service at all. Chattanooga, Montauk
and Camp Alger should furnish some in
teresting statistics. After this estimate
Is made public it may be the opinion of
great many good and intelligent and pa
triotic American citizens that If we must
send forth the best we breed" for the
policing of subject peoples it will be best
to send them far enough to be out of
sight of Aiger and political colonies. Some
how or other our military operations sue
ceed better when they are Just little be-
yond the reach of the cable.