New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-10
FEAR WET CAMP
Plattsburg Officers Differ
Over ACCESSIBILITY of
Site Chosen.
Prom . st.r cor,gonden. Of tn. Tribune

Prom a StsT Correspondent OF The TrbuneJ
Plattsburgh, y. y, June Camp
is a quagmire again and the feet OF
the rockies are cold and wet What
M until now has been received in the
carefree spirit that it was all just one
Of the experiences OF military roughing
it has become to-day serious problem
in the matter OF maintaining the
health Of the encampment here.
From the time the men, soft from
city life, got off the trains last Monday
morning few have had dry shoes to
wear. Yesterday the sun came out and
started TO warm things up, but to-day
il gave UP the job and the rain came
down in a soaking fall the greater part
Of the time. The result was that the
camp streets became once more sloughs
Of liquid mud, and tonight the men
are sleeping practically in n swamp.
The earth under their tents is even
saturated with water, and the low spots
in the grounds form one morass after
another.
There is considerable difference Of
opinion among the commanding officers
as TO the wisdom of ever having select
ed this site for the present camp. The
soil is soggy clay, which holds the
water Within few ht~ dred feet of
It in several directions are high sandy
tracts Of land that both dry rapidly
by absorption and do not beat into
liquid mud when trampled owe; BY
many feet.
Others Chosen for Summer.
Some Of these have been picked for
the July and August camps when the
question of dampness will not be such
an important consideration as il is
i'm rainy month One officer has OK
pressed the opinion that it was a great,
mistake 10 pitch June camp where It IS
now. and that this site should have
been reserved for dry weather. Even
some of the seasoned regular army Off
GERS have contracted severe colds.
There is also a difference OF opinion
among the officers in charge OF the
outfit as to the advisability Of moving
the camp at once 70 more salubrious
ground. Major Herbert Shaw, surgeon
general Of the camp, was asked to-day
whether there was any menace Of t.
phoid, malaria or other epidemic dis
eases in the situation.
"No. do not believe there Is any
danger from anything but a possible
increase in colds. and maybe lumbago
and rheumatism Major Shaw said.
AT present the health Of the camp IS
excellent. and We have not single
hospital case. But as 10 typhoid, ma
laria or other infections diseases, do
not see anything IN the present situa-
tion 20 cause apprehension.
There are mosquitoes, but, unless
/ they carry germs from some source
Of infection, their bites ore harmless.
| The water supply here is pure. and
also the milk supply. The only dan
ger is from disease being brought in
D. from surrounding territory over which
the government has no control
incubation TO Begin.
/ lie added that the incubation Of the
rer against typhoid would begin TO
morrow. and continued Sunday, and
I that thousand fy swatters had been
4 ordored End would be in use next
week. together with a supply OF sticky
pagcr. for keeping down the fly pest
which is expected to develop with the
] cessation OF the rain.
Dcsp,te the miserable discomforts
/ Of their condition. the spirit OF the
rockies remains good, and the ram
+ I'D not interfere with routine WORK.
Rides being considered as important
g.. mon the rockies had 70 spend as
4 much 80 drying their guns as tnem
scI,ce Since the sun had forsaken
,Lrm. many bought gum boots. Inc
,ood shirts Of the mon was shown
/ H. the college and marching song
| ,bov sang whenever they we're march
mo AZ case. One outburst was pro
duced impromptu by memoer Of
+ Camp ID.
~. 49,. sossor. rookie cu, drilnns in '''
49,, s-n n. r.ors rain and rusci up he g.
n. sorteI al day with rag ans OFT 20 '''1'
49,, a.. o l,,s am eams yourns down Again and r'el
10 some more
A checking up Of camp supplies to
I6av nv Lieutenant L. II. Campbell prop
/ crtv officer. showed that he had IN me-
accounts about $2,000,OOO worth OF
arms, ammunition and other supp
J including nine thousand rlnes' 49,. ~
a. cod O0Q The wireless station tha'
J was set up by the Signal Corps GOV Jul
touch with Arlington tonight, and
man was kept AT the receiver eNP'''
ING message from the President.