El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-20

THE epideics Of measles pneumonia and spinal menn-
gifts at army camps and canonments which has been
productive Of adverse report from surgeon general
orgas relative conditions in some army camps axe d-
Iecty aoeable to the unprepaednes Of the country for
war
The surgeon general speaking Of Camp Bowie Fort
Worth and Camp Funston IN Kansas, bames OvercrOwding
and lack Of proper clothing for the epdemcs The dis
closure is Of immediate interest," for Camp Bowie the
Texas national guard troops including the companies from
from Arizona and New Mexico. Camp Bowie has had a
siege Of measles and meningitis while Camp Funston has
pneumonia.
is difficult where q large number OF young fellows
living together, IN army camp to prevent the
spread OF assesses rom squad tent 20 squad tent OF from
barracks to barracks Harder still If as surgeon gen
eTal says, the camps are ove-owded for the contagion IS
disseminated often before the infested soldier becomes
10ticeably sick and can be isolated.
Much Of the pneumonia has followed measles, condi-
ton which should not if the soldiers properly
guarded against taking cold while IN the cOnvaescent stage
after the height OF the eupve period had passed Part Of
the pneumonia was due TO lack Of proper clothing, as at
Camp Funston, where thin boOded young from the
southwest brought into very different climate and
obliged to discard their civilian clothing overas pend
ing the receipt Of uniorms and to live in chilly barracks
until the heating plants could be installed Some blame
must attach to the military authorities for that The sol
ders should have been allowed to keep their civilian cloth
ing and especially their oveTcoats until the olive drab
issued to them That error has been seen and later
tngents have been allowed to bring overcoas bedding
retaining them until replaced by army issue.
However for all that, the unpepaTedness Of the
Try IS answerabe for most Of the sickness. The army
medical department has done its best Where sewerage sys
tens had been completed the sanitation the camps
pest oeNeSl DaEIaChS ana
else would have been ready had the country prepared for
defence years ago 1t should have done There
would have been clothing hand for million when
it needed instead Of for but few hundred thousand
The facilities would have been hand and many lives
would have been saved.
This is breakdown Of the army medical department
such occurred IN the beginning Of the SpanishAmecan
war The trouble IS that the war department had
everything to do and little to do with immense num-
Der Of 10 be received and cared for at certain time
and It had to create the whole structure from the very
bottom
The system is IN full running order and little more
trouble with 1t is to be expected The disease rate viii
probably be kept very low from on for the canDs
and cantonents IN good condition and with
exceptions, fully equipped with verything military esab
hshent Of the kind should have and the are also
supplied with clothing and bedding. When this
sized condition has been achieved it should be maintained
and the country kept prepared IN the years against
repetition Of this experience Universal military train
ing necessatng large encampments and large supplies
VIII do IT,
the midst general criticism Of American prepare
tons for war since began much Of which criticism is
justified and beneficial don't overlook the fact that
fu progress has been made and that much the blame
really belongs the shoulders Of congress and Aer
people because didn't begin preparing years ago for
such conflict this There is disposition now TO
unload the the general staff when matter Of