The sun., 1908-05-07
HEALTH on THE FLEET

Bay no crews on any Warships In the world
we're IN more efficient fighting state
HEALTH or THE FLEET.
Although much has been said about the
need Of hospital ship TO accompany the
feet, and the Relief did Join the ships al
Magdalena Bay, the truth Of the matter
is that each Of the ships cared for its sick
adequately on the way around. Surgeon
General Rlxey lamented publicly that when
the feet left Hampton Roads II had no
hospital ship with it While there can be
no doubt that some cases could receive
better attention on hospital ship than on
a battleship, especially in the way Of better
quarters and poss ibly better diet, II Ia also
true that none OF the sick on the fleet
suffered seriously from the lack OF a
hospital ship. unless II was In tubercular
cases. such could have been put on
shore for better air and sustained treat
ment in various places had II been neces-
sary. The sick on each ship we're not
more than from twenty TO twenty-five
cases on an average and large part OF these
we're trivial, slight accidents or colds and
the like.
There we're the usual number Of deaths
No one can say that any Of these lives
would have been spared had there been a
hospital ship with the feet, Some Of these
cases developed on a single run, when Il
would have been impossible to transfer
them to. the hospital ship. This comment
is not meant in any way az taking sides In
the hospital ship controversy. II is meant
to declare that 1t is quite feasible for great
feet to take care Of its sick successfully,
oven il no hospital ship be- at hand,
ADMIRAL EyANs's HEALTH
One great drawback to the full enjoy
ment and probably to the full development
Of the benefits Of the cruise was the condt-
tion OF Admiral Evans's health. Soon after
leaving Trinidad. his old emeny, rheumat-
| ism, took hold Of him and laid him low for
the rest Of the voyage. Complications In the
! nature Of stomach troubles followed. The
Admiral suffered intensely from pain. Al
! times no was in a most serious condition, as
the country now knows The correspondents
with the feet did not feel II necessary to re-
veal the grave condition Of the AdmiraPs
health largely because Of misunderstand-
ings that might arise, ~ say nothing OF pos
slble complications For the most part.
they kept silent, recording, however, al
every opportunity any favorable change ia
his condition.
Nevertheless, although Admiral Evans
was Rravely sick man, the Truth Is that he
was always in command OF his feet up to
the time when he left II at Magdalena Bay.
He might have done more work with 1t in the
way Of manpuvrng had he been we'll His
work may have been negative rather than
aggressive, but he was in command all the
time. He directed all important move
ments. He was informed Of every situa-
ton. He gave every important order
himself He also kept up with the routine
and many painful hours did he spend sign
ing documents and going over routine
work.
The details Of an Admirals task are bur
densome even to well man. Yet Admiral
Evans insisted on keeping up with most Of
his work even when every stroke OF the pen
caused him severe pain. Never did he have
more loyal subordnates,
THOMAS A LOYAL FRIEND.
Particularly was this true Of Admiral
| Thomas. Had the latter made unfavorablf
representations TO the Navy Department
of the condition Of Admiral Evans he pos.
| sibly might have secured the command
OF the feet for himself. Not for one moment
| would he have listened TO such a suggestion
| and no one dared to make II to him. Robley
d. Evans never had more loyal friend OF
more faithful subordinate officer thar
! Charles NJ Thomas He deserves lasting
/ honor from the country for his record ON
this cruise, to say nothing OF the enyiable
record throughout his long service to his
flag.
CALIFORNIA; welcome u the feet has
puzzled il. It ran not only to unrestrained
enthusiasm but 10 actual frenzy No one
could see any occasion for il, The fleet
was not returning from war or even from
grave dangers II cannot be denied that
| the welcome for the most part was gem
nine Neither can il be denied that the
people were worked up to this mental con-
difon. Those who have been with the fleet
since it started regret that a few shrewd
men have used the presence Of tie feet in
California ports for boosting purposes Oi
various kinds.
II also seems to Je q pity that magnll-
cent feet Of this size should have been made
10 stop a, various open rusdst@ads along
the california coast where large and costly
hotels were ia operation, w,lh the result that
the Golfers Of these establishments we're
| enriched handsomely a, time when the
season was closing. Every Zig motel along
the coast seemed 10 have only tS demand
its share 10 secure 3 saccharine distribution,
The discipline OF the fleet fell on az once.
The cruise was diverted from legitimate
military ends and the letdowR In efficiency
Of men and ships was marked and notice.
| able Immediately,
LOCAL BESEFlTS
On the other hand there can be no doubt
that there was a beneficial side to all this.
] The entire Western coast, far into the in
terror. is now the friend Of the navy, ag-
gresslve in its friendship, 4 sense Of secur-
ity has come to property holders along the
coast. California now knows that II would
I've possible to bring feet to protect her
from the Fast in reasonably short time.
She has seen ships with her own eyes.
Tens Of thousands of people have come
! hundreds OF miles 10 look az them.
7 0lous IA the nFHgldSut
WASHINGTON, May 6.-The President