New-York tribune., 1918-01-27

fK TRIBUNE, SUM
going to ruin severe cpidemics racked
lamp Sewer and Camp Funston and
Camp Bowie from overcrowding.
CAMP DIN
camp Dix, like Camp Devens, was
on the day of my visit blankcted with
snow. 1t was not AS deep perhaps, but
it was accompanied by a Temperature
below freezing. Companies Of our SOL
dier boys were going through their set
l'ng~up exercises in ovcrcoats in the
snowy fields. The air was bracing, for
,hc camp is located in the famous CEN
trnl healthy zone Of New Jersey. The
whole setting was an ideal one for
winter sports, but hardly for military
training.
Here. as elsewhere, there was an
enthusiastic spirit among the mon.
ihey were eager for work and military
lessons by day, and during evenings
Kept all the pianos in camp in action.
iheir barracks were warm aud their
bath houses comfortably heated.
lt was not difficult, however. to de-
tect certain serious faults. The con-
struction of the camp buildings must
have been unusually faulty, ms already
parts OF the walls arc drawing apart,
leaving large cracks. In particular, the
hospital has suffered. The hospital is
not even yet done, although it is fully
occupied, and recital of its shortcom-
lngs reflects seriously upon those re-
sponslblc for its condition. It's stcri-
izers are incomplete. 1t is short Of
all kinds Of surgical Instruments. The
walls of the operating rooms are not
only drawing apart, but were not sani-
tary or air tight when constructed, and
are not so built that they may be
washed down or sterilized.
In some of the wings the ventilators
in the roofs have been defectvely
built, allowing rain to beat in and leak
down The dark room is still light,
as there is no black paint in the camp.
In the head department the construc-
ton is the worst.
Unsanitary Walls in
Operating Rooms
"Thc operating rooms not only have
unsanitary walls, but wooden floors.
The hospital only has partial fire
equipment, and the fire house con-
nccted with it has never been built.
1t has not sufficient automobile trucks
Tor ITS business, and it has inadequate
telephone facilities. Unless these de-
fects are remedied promptly they may
we'll be the cause of serious consc-
quences.
The situation in respect of ord
nance is deplorablc, as elsewhere. Men
are training with disused Colt auto
mates. They have never seen the type
or machine gun that they arc to use,
and indeed do not know what it is to
be; so that they may study the designs.
There is no modern artillery in the
camp whatsoever, though there is some
old material for drills. There are no
automatic revolvers.
I'm equipment for the men there is
shortage OF large size overcoats and
OF the new and necessary winter caps.
Companies of men were still marching
about in the freezing weather with the
old style campaign hat. The military
police alone were adequately clothed.
The situation with respect to shoes
IS obscure, but many who had had two
pairs issued to them have been ordered
to return one pair for reasons un-
known. Many men have bought their
own shoes, as those issued were un-
comfortable. Other minor matters are
open to comment. There are not
enough schoohouses.
NO provision mas Dccn made TO meet
the spring thaw, and the natives
prophesy weeks Of impossible country
roads. There is lack of equipment
for the horses. The men, however, are
working on, looking forward with hope
to the day when they will go across,
but, no matter how much spirit they
show, they will never be a we'll trained
army until we put in their hands the
implements that they are going to use
at the front
CAMP MEADE
"The greeting at Camp Meade was a
heavy snowstorm, emitting this camp
to be classified with those further north
as not suitable for winter training. 1t
is far enough north TO be subject to
heavy snowfalls and yet not sufficiently
far to have the offsetting benefit Of
continued cold weather, which is not
unhealthy for warmly clad people.
cat Camp Meade there are freezing
spells and thaws, making it a fertile
field for colds and grip The South
ern negroes who have been transferred
to this camp for training have felt this
particularly.
Unnecessary
Sickness
"In this connection it is TO be said
that the policy which sent the Southern
negro north to snowy country for his
training can be justified only on ex-
ceedingly narrow grounds. It has re-
suited in unnecessary sickness among
their numbers and the timo ;c 0o;pe, ; -