Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-23
GUARD GUARD DD||SSRRUPT||IN|GG
SAYS \. Y DOCTOR
THos. DARLINGTON, A FORMER
HEALTH COMMISSIONER, SAYS
STATE SOLDIERS 90 NOT MEET
REQUIREMENTS -- URGES UNI
VERSAL TRAINING.

gated lie border mobilization for the
National Civic Federation, today con
demned the National Guard system
and urged universal military service
in his report to the federation, which
is meeting here.
DR.. Darlington highly praised the
spirit of the guardsmen, but ne sharp
Nv criticised unpreparedness, red tape
and other evils and suggested many
improvements.
DR.. Darlington said that health is
the first requisite of the soldier, ana
since bad transportation facilities ana
illprepared concentration centers
weaken the mans resistance and
breed disease, every possible measure
for the wellbeing of the troops
should be provided in advance 10
meet this condition, he advocated the
establishment of large reservations on
government lands at intervals alone
the coasts and borders, eacn compfls-
ing twenty to fifty thousand acres, and
provided with railroad sidings, water
works. sewer systems, garbase dis
posal plants. depots of equipment and
supplies, and stores of building ma,
terIals. He said ii would not be nee
essary to maintain these places as
army posts, and that few men would
keep the property safe from fire or
tresaass.
If ever We really need the troops,
said Dr. Darlington, we shall need
every available man, but it Will be
impossible to obtain enlistments UNI
less young men, and particularly their
parents, can be assured that every
practicable safeguard OF health ana
morality IS afforded, otherwise. uni
Yersal and all other service Will ne
opposed by parents, relatives and
friends.
Il am believer in universal sery-
ice. The defense OF the state IS TIE
concern of all, and all must be util-
lied. Furthermore, II should not be
left to two or three states to furnish
the majority of the troops. But !
would not favor beginning this mill
tary training with young boys in the
public schools The age OF eighteen
or nineteen Is young enough.
DR.. Darlington said he concurret
in Inc belief that the National Guart
"wil! soon be reduced to minimum
as q result of its border experience.
at is a sad fact he said, tina
some of the boys who went to sth'
border with fine zeal for patriotic
service had their ideals shattered b,
humiliating experiences, the menla
tasks imposed in lieu of training and
practice, and the failure to make
prompt and efficient provision foi
health and comfort,
1.-THE after effect of all this is that
the guard Ia IN danger Of being com
pletely disrupted
DR. Darlington said that, had the
transportation of the men taken place
in winter, there would have been
much sickness and probably many
deaths. He said that the troops were
kept standing for hours in railroad
yards and were crowded into old, I'M
comfortable, insanitary cars, Fol
much o the distance the troops were
moved In day coaches and the meI
had to sit up from one to six nights
The trains took circular routes an,
there were long delays and bad feed
ing en- route
The New York division, which wa
sent 70 MeAllen, pharr and Mission
was badly cared for on arrival, Di
Darlington said. There was short
age Of water which continued so LON
that the cayalary and artillery organ
izations had to drive a well at thei
own expense. There were no bathing
facilities for weeks Part Of the camr
he said, was too level to be drained
and nearby swampy pool was tn
source Of plague Of mosquitoes. II
added that the men should have bai
mosquito nets over their cots but tn
I majority did not even have cots. II
found a dangerous condition in tn
fact that hundreds Of goats were COZ
rallied adjoining the camp. The food
he said, was often covered with ilies
ono day he counted 1863 of these pest
on a square foot OF serving table
Had i not been for typhoid innoeu,
ton, he added, there would have bee
q repetition Of the conditions of 80;
Dr Darlington said the SICK raj
was low for the army, but not lor
from the sanitarian's standpoint No
wlthstanding the necessity for quic
v treatment on account Of the hot 81
mate, operations in appendicitis case
for example, were often delayed an
deaths resulted. He praised The Wor
OF the army medical service ana san
tary inspectors, but said there wa
an insufficient number OF doctors.
one case he found that eighteen
twenty mensome Of them severe
i'll had been on a train for hltee
hours unaccompaned by physical
Another thing responsible for Il
lowered vitality and disease was Ii
mistaken belief of many officers
hgth regulars and pt,nrdsmnn-th
8 heavy exercise in the heat hardened