Evening journal., 1917-12-17
PNEUMONIA TOLL IS
HEAVY IN GUARD
Soldier Victims of Disease
Lived in Poorly Pro.
tccted Tents
III MEN DIE
IN ONE WEEK

WASHINGTON. Dec. s.. - National
Guard units all over the country are
losing more men from pneumonia than
National Army units. apparently be-
cause the former are largely quartered
in tents, and the latter in wooden bar
racks.
During the last week III out Of the
10000 guardsmen 10 camp died OF
pneumonia alone. During the same
period, twice that number of National
Army men, secure and warm in their
wooden barracks, lost only forsy-seven
from this disease
Pneumonia has reached almost the
importance of an epidemic among the
men Of the National Guard. This is
shown by the extraordinarily high
death rate among the men, most OF
them due 10 pneumonia. During the
last week 100 men died In the Guard
encsmpments In this time there ere
only seventy-four deaths in national
Army cantonments
New England soldiers at the Char
lotte, n. G., cantonment are suffering
the keenest discomfort and danger OF
pneumonia on account Of the entire
absence Of fuel at the camp. This in
formation was brought 10 the capital
by one Of the New England State fuel
admin traitors. who had personally Wis
tied the Charlotte camp The facts
were laid before the Federal Fuel Al
mlnlstration. with ap urgent recon-
mendation that something be done 20
relieve the situation.
The New England men at the Char
lotte cantOnment," said the New Eng
ysnd Fuel Administrator. "are living in
tents without stoves These tents. TO
be sure, are walled and f0Ored with
lumber, but they provide o wholly in
adequate protection against the wlniry
weather which has struck the North
carolina section during the past week
Last week, when / was at the camp..
there was about I've inches Of snow on
the ground, and 70 was stin showing
Men were making an Intellectual at
tempt to keep warm by going out in
squads 10 secure flrewood They were
bringing in green wood and attempting
20 make 10 burn in open fires and i'm
provised stoves.
THE condition is a disgrace. and YOU
4
10 Washington to try and secure fuel
for New England. where it Is badly
needed in some sections. The fuel needs
OF the Charlotte camp, however, are
even greater than those in New Eng
yand, and have urged The Federal au-
thorties 20 do something for the New
England soldiers in North Carolina at
once.
Il was informed by competent officers
that the percentage Of colds among the
men has rapidly increased during the
last two weeks, and that the danger
Of an epidemic Of pneumonia is serious
" worrying the medical officers. Prac-
tically the only building ] saw at the
Charlotte camp which was properly
heated was the base hospital. This Is
equipped with 2000 beds Al-its facili-
ties Will be in use very soon unless
something Is done 10 remedy the pres
ent deplorable condition
In tho North we generally think Of
North Carolina a enjoying q mild win
ter climate compared with that Of New
England Generally that may be true.
Last week the New England boys at
Charlotte were up against about as
rough winter weather as / have ever
seen In the North"
The measles epidemic in the camps
OF the Both. 3ist, 3Sth and 39th Divl-
sions Of the National Guard troops no
longer constitute q menace, according
10 a report for the week ended Deem
ber 7. made public on Friday by Sur
eeon General Gorgas.
The epidemic has spread somewhat, /
however, in the Bath and 35th Divi- /
sons and to greater extent in the
Both. Pneumonia following measles is /
particularly increased in the 36th Dl- /
vision and slightly increased in the 3ith, |
3sth and 39th.