The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-28
CAMP WHEELER

the soldiers at Camp Wheeler, Geor-
gia, has been raised by few. private
letters received here and in other
Ports Of the State and by the report
OF the governor, who made trip to
the camp and conducted some sort
Of an investigation into conditions
there.
Naturally, statements that the SOL
diers were without proper clothig,
were not well sheltered, were located
as to camps in unhealthy surround
ings. that there had been a large
number of deaths, has caused a great
deal Of uneasiness among the parents
and relatives of those soldiers, resid
here.
We are very prone to become hys-
terical when those we love are in
volved in difficulties, hardships or
dangers, and the feeling that the
soldiers who go out from us ought
to be well supplied with everything
that makes for their comfort is a
very natural one.
But this thing we ought to get in
to our minds, thoroughly; war is
a pastime; that when men are taken
into training camps preparatory to
hare duty, they are not and cannot
bo surrounded with all the comforts
of a modern home, and it is WELL
PERI APPS, that they cannot be.
So what is luxury at a training
camp would be hardship at home
fer many Of the troops in training.
The training, itself, is much harder
tlan any Of the work that any of
the soldiers would be expected to do
at home, and that, too, is to be ex-
rected.
Now as to Camp Wheeler, and the
Herald has its information from an
officer whose duy it is to keep him
se!i advised as to all conditions with
reference to the welfare Of the SOL
diers, who has just come from the
camp. Our information, which we be-
lieve to be exactly correct, is that
while there was a shortage in Ger.
tain clothing supplies for the men
and the sick at first, there are now
at the camp ample supplies of the
kind issued by the government. for
every man. AS to feed they were
never better fed than at Camp
Wheeler and no army in the world is
or ever has been better fed than the
army is being fed today.
Nc section Of Camp Wheeler is To-
caseo in low, swampy ground, as has
Geen charged, but the entire camp
is well drained and located on ground
that has been cultivated recently.
There have been a large number
VI cases Oh measles, all brought to
the camp from another, and in some
cases this has developed into pneu-
monia and from that disease there
nave been a number of deaths. But
Inc death rate at this particular
camp, notwithstanding the unusual
that have surrounded the |
nen, is but little larger than the |
average death rate in private and
iivil life.
IL is an illustration of the benefits
,f outdoor life and training, when it
IS said that Of the Florida troops
whc were at the border and VINO are
now at Camp Wheeler, there has
been less than one-tenth of one per
cent Of sickness, when the average in
ordinary training camp life is over
-hree per cent. In other words, those
boys who went to the border last |
'N"A Ao'S pSSoAuS iuuTeu TO camp |
life. have Learned how to take care
Il themselves and as result, are ex-
ceedingly healthy.
For a short time the only hospi. |
tai building at the service of tn.
was the Florida field hospita,
When troops were transferred 70 tho
camp from another location there
were a very large number of sick
men dumped on this field hospita,
and for a few days everything was
In confusion. But the immense army
hospital buildings were speedily got.
ten ready for the patients and now
everything is in perfect order and
the sick are being well taken care
of. 1t is to be noted that the sick
ness is confined, almost entirely. to
the conscripted men, many of whom
were not in prime condition when
they left home. and many more con.
tracted measles at another station.