The sun., 1917-12-20
CAPITAL STIRRED
BY CORCAS REPORT
sp,ciel pespateh. to Tar srN


WAsHIHoroH, Dec. l9.--The report OF
surSeon-General Gorgns on unsanitary
conditions "a. army cantonments has
stirred the War. Department TO It's
depths. With Secretary Baker pron,is-
Ing prompt corrective measures and With
tic Senate Military Affairs Committee
flaming to Investigate. the indications
are that the spotlight will be turned on
general health conditions in the army.
The Surgeon-eienerals report nus
naturally led to inquiry by niembees ot
Congress
themselves to pneumonia opidenI,rn
through shortage of warm clothing in
winter weather." I. is being ASKED
why vas overorowdins at the Camps
sanctioned against the protest Of Gen.
Gorsas? way arc the hospitals III
finished Why was Camp Funston
selected asa site despite tho warning
shat the location was unsnnitary and a
centre for meningitis
II now develops that Surgeon Genera
Gorgas was accompanied on his lnsrec-
ton OF several OF the camps by D.
welsh of Johns Hopkins and DR..
Vaughan Of Ann Arbor. two Of the lead
ing sanitarians OF the country. They
concrrrei IN every. statement made by
the surgeon-General in his report.
Although Secretary Baker gave the
Impression to-day that Gen. Gorgas's
trip was finished two weeks ago, II sub
scauently developed that the camps
where the worst conditions have been
ot toA a
Gorgas Was .OverruIed.
1t likewise develops that Gen. Gorsa.
lad made specific Recommendations
against certain practices made operative
at the time the men were first called 10
tho camps. He was overruled for rea-
! sons not yet clear, and the results are
said 20 be juet what he feared they
would be. There were indications to-
, day that the medical department and
/ other departments had not been work.
ing In the most perfect harmony.
Al the outset OF the nations plans
for raising the National Army Ger. Cor
gas came to Secretary Baker and In
sisted that there be no efforts made 10
cover UP conditions pertaining 70 the
health Of the troops. lie took the sta
, that the public wa entitled 10 know
, Conditions exactly ne they were. Mr..
Raker concurred In this view. Al re-
sui, the report Of Gen, Gorgas VAS given
to the public II uncersorer form last
night.
Gen. Gorgas specifically recommended
, that fifty feet floor space be given Is
each man al the camps, This was not
done He also recommended 800 cubic
feet OF air per man and single hunks,
and wanted to put into effect the sani-
tary regulations which British expert
ence had shown to be necessary. This
/ likewise was rot done. Gen. Gorgas at
the very outse, demanded certain stand
ards OF clothing. Here again his recon-
mtndation was apparently ignored.
There Is a general feeling In army
circles that the question OF responsibility
, for these matters should be definitely
| placed.
Secretary Baker to-day said the re-
! sponkin'i!ty did not rest with the con-
tractors. Tie said that every criticism
, made by tho Surgeon General had been
!nstantiy taken up BY the Chief OF STAFF
and that efforts would be made without
>rlelay to correct the conditions which
the surgeon-deneral complained Of.
Clothing shortage Explained.
On tire matter OF clothing Secretary
Baker said that the War Department
was making use OF the manufacturing
/ facilities to the utmost The system,
whereby clothing was purchased and
distributed was under control Of Mr..
Eisemann. q retired clothing maker of
! Clsvela nd. he said, who worked with the
| war Industries Board. Mr.. Tisemann
had BEEN called here and assigned TO
this work by Julius Roeenwald OF the
! Council OF National Defence.
| Mr.. Bakers impression now n that
most Of the winter clothing has been
| forwarded TO the men. He said to-day
that he had Just received an invitation
1 (yA4,t ,tIun<d o,as Herood poas