Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-12-29
Terrible Story of Conditions in
Two CantonmentS Is Told by
Commanders to Senate In
veStigating Committee,
OUT OF $4,000 TROOPS
SIXTEEN DIED DAILY
Nearly All Fatalities Due to the
Lack of Clothing and to
CroWding Two Soldiers Into
Space for One,

Isr MORNING JouSNN- SPECIAL LEASED wiREl
Washington, Dec. 2S.-DiseaSe cpl
denies and clothing ana equipment
shortages at Camp Bowie, Tex, and
Camp Doniphan, Okla, were describ-
ed to the senate military committee
by respective commanders of those
national guard cantonments, Major
Generals Greble and Wright.
Both officers said the epidemics at
their posts now were under control
and that adequate supplies of over
coats had been received, but they
gave dismal pictures of earlier con-
ditions. They told too, of enormous
shortages Of rifles, machine guns mad
other equipment still existing. Food
has been plentiful they said, and Of
good quantity.
Died Through Neglect.
General Greble's story showed con-
ditions at Camp Bowie to have been
lilt NOl HN4 llN ltAlli t'i tlt ilN 10 VI
many men who recently died there
would have been saved had winter
clothing. sufficient tents to ovoid
over-crowding and proper hospital IA
cilities and sanitation been provided.
He told how the war department or
dored twelve men housed in each tent
where, he said, they were 80 thick
! you couldn't walk between thcm.
! During November, General Greble
said, 5000 men, or about one-third OF
his command, passed through the
hospital, with deaths from pneumonia
measles and other diseases, average
! sixteen daily. At one time 1900 men
he stated, were crowded into a hospi-
tai built to accommodate 500, and
| that without a sewage system.
Protested in Vain.
In September the general said he
protested against crowding twelve
men into tent and gave warning that
sickness would result. Before more
| tents arrived the epidemic broke out
Now, however, he added, there arc
only 500 men on the sick list.
During the hearing the committee
also received from Secretary Baker
reply to it's resolution requesting
immediate action to relieve clothing
shortages in the cantonments, stating
the necessary steps had been taken
and that he would report fully as soon
as all camps were heard from.
GorSas' Report Correct.
Each of the camps investigated to-
day has about $4,000 men, with Mis-
siuri and Kansas guardsment largely
composing the personnel at Camp
Doniphan, aLd Texas and oklahoma
guarasmen that at Camp Bowie
Health conditions at both were re-
Gently reported by Surgeon General
! Gorgas, who General Grehle said to-
day had made a correct report of con
ditions at the Texas cantonment.
The two camp commanders were
before the committee all day, testify
! ing behind closed doors regarding
conditions among General Pershing's
forces, whom they recently inspected
They said General Pershing is short
of no supplies except motor trucks.
Although all the men at Camp
| Doniphan are now well clothed. Gen
! eral Wright said his command still
was short for overseas service. How
ever, he felt confident he would gel
sufficient clothing upon starting fol
| Europe.
Most of the men at the camp are
under canvas, the witness said, buI
the tents are well floored and are
| heated too we'll" General Wright
said the death rate was low, averag'
| ing only about one a day, while the
sick rate was not large, considering
| that many cases of measles were
| brought to camp by draft men from
! Camp Funston.
soldiers Write Letters.
Senator Hitchcock said all con
gressmen had received letters from al
parts of the country from soldiers
protesting bitterly" against alleged
poor treatment Of the sick in hospi
tails. General Wright answered all of
ficers were "kcen" to give the hes
possible care to the sick.
General Wright said his troops hat
not used broomsticks or wooden rifles
He did not agree with General CroZier'
view that men could be trained sur
fieiently with only having rifles an,
taking turns in their use. Trann!
with Lewis machine guns, even if tn
new Browning guns are later used il
actual fighting, the officer said
would be valuable in teaching men tn
handling of the arms and genera
type of mechanism He disclaime
any knowledge of the comparativ
merits of the two guns, but said he in
tended to teach his men to shoot.
Training Could Be Rushed.
If his command was fully equipped
General Wright said, its training coul
be completed in two or three months
Despite the bayonet shortage a
Camp Doniphan, bayonet training
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tUopunuea On fugc rwo.I