New-York tribune., 1899-06-16
TROOPS IN FINE HEALTH.
so LIVES LIGHTLY WASTED IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
REMARKABLE SANITARY CONDITION OF
GENERAL oTIs's ARMY-FALsE REPORTS
CIRCULATED TO EMBARRASS
THE GOVERNMENT
THE GOVERNMENT.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

that is being insidiousy made in certain quar-
ters to embarrass the Government in recruiting
good men for Philippine service by insnuations
to the effect that men around Manila are dying
like flies. and that the War Department has been
compelled to suppress the regulation health re-
ports which 1t was formerly customary to make
public, turn out to be gratutously false. but
serve the good purpose Of bringing out the fact
that the health conditions in the American
army under General Otis are not only astonish-
ingy excellent, but have probably never been
equalled in any army in tropical countries. Com
pared with any Of the campaigns undertaken by
England. France Spain the Equator or
with that OF last summer in Cuba, the compare
tive immunity from death or serious Illness Of
the American troops lighting outside OF Manila
seems little short OF miraculous
LESS THAN 400 DEATHS FROM DISEASE.
From the landing of General Anderson's first
military expedition, near Cavite on June 30 last
year up TO the last weekly report from General
Otis, dated June g. there have been only 1854
deaths from disease, although his total force
has been forty thousand men, In the same
period sixty-nine men have died from wounds.
In view OF the notorious insalubrity OF Manila
and its envrons these figures almost In
credible. They challenge contrast with the best
English experience In Egypt or in India. and
they surpass even the excellent conditions that
exist in Cuba to-day, where there is fighting
and the men not exposed 10 the elements
but have comfortable garrisons.
The pretence that the War Department is con-
ceang any information regarding the health
reports from either General Otis, General
Brooke, IN Cuba or General Davis. in Porto
Rico. would be absurd were not its malicious
spread the file OF reports from General Otis be-
fore a Tribune correspondent to-day without
the slightest hesitation. They have all been
published in The Tribune and other papers the
day following their receipt In Washington. Gen.
eral Brooke and General Davis make daily
death reports. Those from General Otis come
weekly. All are circulated promptly by The AS
ISOLATED Press. Not only the names Of the dead
are given, but in every instance the disease.
Men drowned or who died from injuries received
otherwise than in battle are counted In the
total Of 364 mentioned above.
This total is interesting compared with that
OF the men killed outright in action with the
Filipnos from February to June 6. covering
the period OF active hostilities. In those four
months with an average of seven thousand
men engaged. the killed were 228.
PRoFITING BY EXPERIENCE.
This great disparity demonstrates what nots-
ble Improvement has resulted from the expert.
ence OF the Santiago campaign, when two thou
sand died from disease and only 26O were
killed. The Army surgeons have prohted won
derfully, the commissary is no longer an ex.
pertinent and the men have learned how to take
care OF themselves. The health record at Ma
Mia shows that discipline OF the highest order
has been vigorously secured and that the men
have come to regard their health as the first
fighting requisite. In fact, the health question
in the Philippines has apparently lost its nov
city and no question having been raised about
It from this side OF :he ocean, no recent cable
reports from General Otis contain any ausion
to IT, The last time he considered II worthy OF
mention was nearly two months ago in the
following extract:
Adjutant- General, Washington:
Sckness-wounded included-only seven
anu 'N'''' p ~ OTIS.
Since that time the weekly death report has
shown no increased mortality, and with other
more exciting things to think about the Presi-
dent has not asked General Otis for statement
OF his sick list The report Of April q was In re-
sporse to a query provoked by sensational spec
ulations at home that the volunteers would all
die II they were not returned to this country ut
once The revival OF these imaginative troubles
at this time will, however. lead to the truth be-
ing known within the next twenty-four hours.
for General Otis has been asked to send the facts
promptly.
THE PRESIDENTS CARE FOR THE SICK
The President has always evnced the utmost
socitude for the welfare OF the fighters, and
no broader more comprehensive orders have
been issued by him to the War Department
than those affecting the care OF the sick and
the prevention OF disease. Nothing has been
left undone to guard against the Introduction
into Manila Of that most dreaded of Asatic
scourges the bubonic plague. Nothing has IN
fuenced the conduct OF the campaign against
the insurgents 10 greater degree than the fear
that some epidemic might break out among the
American forces That health has been MAIN
tained has not been matter OF chance. but
through the most determined and apparently
one OF the most successful scientific efforts for
the prevention of disease that has ever been
made In tropical countries. No lives are being
lightly wasted In the Philippines. but the first
Is rather TO sacrifice men In ac-
tion than in hospital. II sacrifices are necessary
to establish law and order In the new posses
sons
A FRIENDLY FILIPINO ASSASSINATED.
Washington. Jun, 15-The War Department
received the following dispatch to-day:
Manila, June Is.
Adutant- General, Washington
Prominent Filipino, friendly TO Americans,
a ssassinated at Cebu. Inhabitants that locality
urgently requested American protection In
stronger force. Have sent battalion Tennessee
and two guns from Hoilo. which insures peace
Hughes now in charge OF affairs In that section
OTIS.
OTIS TELLS OF LAWTONS VICTORY
succEss MUCH GREATER THAN WAS AT
FIRST REPORTED.
Washington, June 15.-The following dispatch
WAS received from General Otis to-day: