The Washington herald., 1910-07-22
Staff corTesDOnllenoe Tho Washington Herald

stsn Correspondence The Washington Herald
Gettysburg. Pa. July A.-Troubles Of
military life, both individual and coIlee-
tive are beginning TO crop out at the
joint camp of instruction. The latter is
that affecting the many hundreds Of
horses and mules at the camp.
What was at first diagnosed as spinal
meningitis among the horses, causing the
death Of three horses in the Fifteenth
United States Cavalry. the station Of
which is Fort Myer, and the Witness OF
one Of those OF the First Battery. Field
Artillery District of Columbia, has on
second investigation been found 10 be
due TO poor fodder purchased for tho
animals by the quartermaster OF the
Department OF the East
Poisoned Fodder" Used.
The feed that caused the trouble is
known as poisoned fodder" That which
proves to be in reality poison to the
horses and mules is simply moldv hay
The hay purchased by the quarternaster
at Governors Island is put up in bales.
When opened the eenters OF practically
all the bales were found 10 be mildewed
Through an oversight or the Ignorance
OF the stable details this dangerous food
was given the mounts.
Several OF the horses OF the Fifteenth
Cavalry were affected. three dying. The
sick animals are ali now recovering. in
cluding that m the command Of Cant.
Fox, of she District Battery. It was
not until to-day. when Drs. Graybiu and
Marshall. OF the State live stock SAM
tary board. who were summoned here.
gave decision in the matter. that the
cause OF the much-feared epidemic Of |
spinal meningitis was explained.
Prompt measures were taken. and an /
order issued directing that in futun4 al
hay must be changed from itsycompressed /
state before use and spread upon the
ground TO thoroughly dry out for a period /
OF not less than twenty-four hours. The I
picket line Of the Fifteenth Cavalry was
changed. and the new location quaran- |
tined befere the mystery Of the trouble |
was explained The old lettering place
will be resumed
Horses Leg Broken.
During the exercises to-day. partici-
pated in by the District battery of ar /
tillery. one Of the horses had its leg
broken. II had 10 be shot. II was SINH /
lar 10 an accident sustained by the bat |
terry IN the Massachusetts maneuyers
last year. when one of the horses be-
came entangled in a gun carriage. break
ing its leg and necessitating its being
killed on the spot
The artillerymen are q rough-and-ready
lot but they show the tenderness of |,
heart OF woman when an accident such
as this overtakes one Of their animals.
But one artilleryman looked at the dis
patching OF the horse to-day. He was
the one detailed 10 put the animal out Of
It's misery. suspicion OF moisture
welled up in the eyes OF the others.
The second grievance which cropped out
to-day. strange TO say, IS with the
commissioned personnel. not with the an
listed men, In the Massachusetts, en-
campment the enlisted men in larea
numbers, suffering from the tortures OF
sore feet. declared they would never
again enlist. But they are ali here.
Now it is the commissioned officers who
have the grievance. and exactly the same.
AAtAi ~AtcA anu icS5 are cndfeG and SORE !
in some cases bleeding. They declare the
enlisted man has all the best OF it. hav-
ing only 10 lay IN the shade of trees or
In the comparatively cool spots In the
fields covered with verdure, watching for
the enemy, while they, after having taken
their commands throughout the exercises
have to turn over the organizations to
the noncommissioned officers and dis J
cuss exercises on the ground" a
This sounds easy. but it usually entails I
practically as much walking again as b
they have already done Then in the af- @
ternoon comes the Officers tactical ride n
and walk and study os exercises for the e
day"
Three coverings Of one scene of opera o
lions. many of them say. is too much. il
Perhaps It is hard on the commissioned 7
officers of the District militia, but they u
frankly acknowledge that they are learn Il
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