New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-15
Pneumonia's Toll
Heavy in National
Guard Quarters
III Die in Week; Most of
the Men Are Living in
Poorly Protected Tents

WASHINGTON, Dec. l4.-National
Guard units all over the country are
losing more men from pneumonia than
National Army unit, 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 300 900 Guardsmen in 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 forty-seyen
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 to pneumonia. during the
last week 100 men died in the Guard
encampments. In this time there were
only seventy-four deaths in National
Army environments.
New England soldiers at the Caar-
lotte, n. c., cantonment are suffering
the keenest discomfort and danger o.
pneumonia on account Of the entire
absence Of fuel at the camp. This IN
formation was brought to the capital
to-day by one of the New England
state fuel administrators, who had
personally visited the Charlotte
camp. The facts were laid before the
Federal Fuel Administration, with an
urgent recommendation that some
thing be done 10 relieve the situation.
"The New England men at the Char
lotte cantonment," said the New Eng
A 1 -. snt laNFtn
in tents without stoves. These tents,
10 be sure, are walled and foored with
lumber. but they provide a wholly in
adequate protection against the win
try weather which has struck the North
Carolina section during the past week.
Yesterday, when | was at the camp,
there was about five inches OF snow
on the ground. and il was still snow
ing. Men were making an Intellectual
attempt to keep warm by going out in
squads to secure firewood. They were
bringing in green wood and attempting
10 make it burn in open fires and I'M
provised stoves.
"The condition is disgrace, and you
cannot put it too strong | came down
to Washington to try and secure fuel
for New England, where it is badly
needed in some sections The fuel
needs at the Charlotte camp. however,
are even greater thar those in New
England. and f-haye urged the Federal
authorities to do something FOR the
New England soldiers in North Caro-
lima at once.
Il was informed by competent Off
GERS 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 seriously worrying the medical OFF,
GERS. Practically the only building
| saw at the Charlotte camp which was
properly heated was the base hospital.
This is equipped with 1000 beds. All
its facilities will be in use very soon
unless something is done. to remedy
the present deplorable condition.
an the North We generally think OF
North Carolina as enjoying mild win
ter climate compared with that of New
England. Generally that may be true.
Yesterday the New England boys at
Charlotte we're up against about as
rough winter weather as ! have ever
seen in the North"
The measles epidemic in the camps
of the 30th. 3lst, 3Sth and 39th diyi-
sions of the National Guard troops no
longer constitutes a menace, according
to a report for the week ended Deem
Der Z, made public to-day by Surgeon
General Gorgas.
The epidemic has spread somewhat,
however, in the saith and 35th divi-
sions and 20 a greater extent in the
36th. Pneumonia following measles
is particularly increased in the seth
Division and slightly increased in the
34th, 3sth and seth.