Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-07

Washington, April 6.-All the troops
which are to return to the United
States for muster out are expected to
return before May 1. About $4,000 re-
turned in March, and it is expected that
5000 more will arrive during the pres
ent month. Every precaution is being
taken by the War Department and the
marine hospital service to prevent the
introduction of infection from these
troops. Up to April 1 the regulations
of the Treasury Department required
the disinfection of the baggage of the
troops and 1000 tons of baggage were
disinfected during March. Since April
l, in addition to the disinfection Of
baggage, the detention of all troops
for examination has been demanded by
the marine hospital. The period of de-
tention is from three to six days. To
provide for the camping of the troops
during the period of detention the CO.
operation of the quartermaster general
the surgeon general and the marine
hospital service and Gen. Brooke in
Havana was necessary and thorough
understanding has been reached by
these officers as to the course to be
pursued.
Not every quarantine station has ia
cilities for accommodating a regiment
or more troops. Those that have been
and are now being actually used for
this purpose are the United States sta
lions at Dry Tortugas, Black Boards
station, off the coast of Georgia, and
Egmont Key station, near the Florida
State quarantine station at Mullet key.
The troops when disembarked are re-
CURED to pitch their tents. This sun
ming and airing of the tents is consid-
ered sufficient, but if the tents are not
pitched they are disinfected.
Orders have been issued to General
Brooke not to permit any bedding or
mattresses to come with the troops.
The baggage of men and officers is dis
infected under the direct supervision
OF the marine hospital officers at each
port. AS a further measure of CO.
operation Gen. Brooke is required to
notify the War Department in advance
of the proposed sailing of each ship and
its destination is determined here after
consultation with the surgeon general,
who decides to which quarantine sta
tion it shall go. This will prevent con-
fusion and over-crOWding.
Most of the troops thus far have been
landed at Savannah, where the joint
work of disinfecting and managing the
troops is performed by the Marine Hos
pital surgeons and Col. Ballinger, of
the quartermaster's department. The
latter has done especially effective
work. To-day he reported that Dau
fuski island, six miles from Savannah,
afforded exceptional advantages for de-
tention camps. 1t is capable of accom-
modating six regiments at a time. The
surgeon general has approved the rec
ommendation for the use of this island,
and it is likely that large proportion
OF the troops will land there. Some Of
the troops, especially those from San
tiago and the south side generally, will
go probably direct to northern ports.
Several efforts have been made to evade
the vigorous quarantine regulations by
officers and others, but invariably with
out success. In one case g. colonel fore
IDLY took his baggage from the ship
and sailed for Tampa The facts were
communicated to the authorities here
Immediately, and upon the officers ar
rival at Tampa he was met with or
ders from the War Department to re-
turn with his baggage to the quaran
tine station and remain there until dis
charged by the quarantine authorities.
The mastering out of the troops will
in many cases take place in the deten-
ton camps in order to prevent delay.
The yellow fever situation in Cuba is
said to be very much better than it
usually is at this time Of the year.
There are few cases at various points,
which is to be expected, as Cuba is
never entirely from from sporadic
cases, hut at no point is there any
thing as yet approaching an epidemic.