New-York tribune., 1899-07-22
WOODS REFORMS IN CUBA
MEASURES TAKEN TO STAMP OUT YELL
LOW FEVER.
SERIOUS SITUATION on HIS RETURN-THE
GENERALS PROMPT ACTIoN-PAs-
sENGEHs QUARANTINED.


santiazode Cuba. July ,,.-Ii would Be eIpFessin:
e mildly 20 say that General Wood vas surprised
and shocked az the situation which confronte1 MN
when he arrived from Boston on Monday morn
ing Instead 0, few soldiers in Isolated camps
recovering from fever zhich had been oontrolled
before Il became epidemic. he found the cniet eiy
o. hts province thoroughly infected. With record
q about one hundred and fifty cases ot ye!lo~
fever o, malignant type and thirty deaths nearly
all the victims being Americans. soldiers ana
citizens
In his own house IN the suburbs he found ser
want rlth the .eye- TWO clerks from his once naa
beer taken 20 the yellow fever hospital on the
Island. cases had developed II three American
hotels. which were stn open and doing business
and two medical officers. a comnissary major, and
a large number ot soldiers were dead
General WOOD acted promptly. and the Army and
public soon made aware % The arrival % the
ch!et b. the vigorous orders issued directing the
the troops 20 Songo both mountain villages where
yellow fever Is practically impossible.
When the fever broke or n the Old Spanish bar
racks after the departure O. General Wood for
the North four or five day. elapsed before al the
troops In the infected quarters were removed 20
camp IN the neizhborhood. Il took less than one
day 70 get The entire division headquarters with
furniture. books records. large quantities OF quar-
;ernaster and commisssry supplies. horses, mules.
wagons and inpedlments By the trairload bundled
Of 10 Cristo. and business of ire various depart
rents was hardly interrupted. The entire actual
work % moving was accomplished before the orders
were actually published
To-day the troops we're moved % Songo n the
same manner. and no s left 70 represen, the
Army Of the United States. except a few immune
clerks and company ot the 9TH Infantry az Moro.
five miles away.
General Woods orders prohibit all officers. SOL
diers ard Government enployes from entering the
city 0, Santiago unless especially authorized Do
50: provide lor board OF medical officers % take
charge ot yellow fever patients IN and abou; the
city OF Santiago and establish various sanitary
uaons for the prevention OF the spread OF the dis
ease
The orders show that General Wood has deter
mined that yellow fever Is % re stamped out az
any cost. The stringent orders closing American
saloons. prohibiting the sale of liquors 70 Areri-
cans and directing the OF saloon lounge-s. s
intended 70 suppress the camp follower nuisance,
and the same IS true ot othe- provisions
The city seems 70 be IN excellent sanitary coudi-
ton considering the crowded population Major
Barber. Chief Of the Sanitary Department. esti-
mates that than haf million cubic yards of
filth have been removed since the American occupa-
tion. Torz ot d!s!nfectants are used daily and In
the lower ssctions large quantities Of oil and SUI
phur are burned IN the streets and covrtya-4s.
I: Is diffcult 70 account for the epidemic early
in the season. Yellow fever = general during TIE
wet season. but row the weather Is dry and hot,
and the newly asphalted streets. which are care
fully swept every day. give the city as clean and
healthy an appearance as Washington o. Denver.
General Wood IS strong II The belief that the
fever hs quickly and surely eIterEurated -
TIE energetic methods adopted.
The Quarantine regulations % be established for
persons desiring 20 l5ave here viii Include de-
tention az suitable camp ,or period % five days
or more before they can embark Some eases have
been reported having developed AZ sea after le@T.
ing tnis port. The new regulations viii eHeciualy
guard against this
90 assist In carrying out his regulations meets Win
ready response. Al! who can 90 20 are moving
into the co,intry These who remain n town are
complying n every respect with the sanitary regu
latLons. and y Is hoped that q few weeks WI! oe
sufficient 70 effectively destroy The epidemic