Arizona republican., 1917-12-29
IRepublican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2S.-Disease epidemics and clothing and equipment shortages at Camp Bowie, Texas, and Camp Doniphan, Okla, were described to the senate military committee by the respective commanders of those na- tional cantonments, Major Generals Creole 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 conditions. They told, too, of enormous shortages of rifles, machine guns and other equipment still existing. Food has been plentiful, they said, and of good quality
 General Greble's story showed condi- tions at Camp Bowie to have been the worse. He declared the lives of many men who recently died there would have been saved had winter clothing. sufficient tents to avoid over -crowding, and proper hospital facilities and sani- tation been provided. He told how the war department ordered twelve men housed in each tent where. he said, they were 'so thick you couldn't walk between them" During November, General Creole said 5000 men or about one third of his command, passed through the hospital, with deaths from pneumonia. measles and other diseases averaging 16 daily. At one time 1,s0O men, he stated, were crowded into a hospital built to accommodate 500 and that without sewage system. In Sep | tember, the general said he protested against crowding F men into a tent and gave warning that sickness would result. Before more tents arrived the | epidemic broke out. Now, however, he added. there are only 500 men on the sick list
 | During the hearing the committed ! also received from Secretary Baker a letter in reply to its resolution re- | questing immediate action to relieve clothing shortages in the cantonments | stating the necessary steps had beer taken and that he would report fully as soon as all camps were heard from l Each of the camps investigated to- | day has about 25,000 men, with Mis- souri and Kansas national guardSmer largely composing the personnel al Camp Doniphan. and Texas and Okla. -homa guardsmen that at Camp Bowie Health conditions at both were recentl, reported by Surgeon General Gogas who General Creole said today haC made a correct report of conditions a the Texas cantOnment.
 The two camp commanders were be fore the committee all day, testifyin; behind closed doors regarding condi tons among General Pershing's forces whom they recently inspected. The, said General Pershing is short of n supplies except motor trucks.
 Although all the men at Camp Doni phan now are well clothed, Genera Wright said his command still wa short for overseas service. However he felt confident he would get suf ficient clothing upon starting fo Europe
 Most of the men at the camp ar under canvas. the witness said, but tn tents are well floored and are heate
 too well.' General Wright said tn death rate was low, averaging onl about one a day, while the sick rat was not large considering that man cases of measles were brought to cam Dy dratt men from Camp Funston.
 Senator Hitchcock said all congress men had received letters from parent or soldiers, protesting very bitterly against alleged poor treatment of tn SICK in hospitals. General Wright an
 sWered all officers were keen" to giv
 the best possible care to the sick. General Wright said his troops ha
 not used broom sticks or wooden rifle He did not agree with General Crc
 zier's view that men could be traine
 sufficiently with only half having F
 fles and taking turns in their us
 Training with Lewis machine run
 even if the new Browning guns a,
 later used in actual fighting. the of
 ficer said, would be valuable in teacf
 ing men the handling of the arms an
 general type of mechanism. He di,
 claimed any knowledge of tba cornno,