Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-06

NJ NAltdaUtttu anu nave uOl uttn
able to find another brother officer who
, could explain their presence on the face
of such narrowing disease and pesti-
lance that is prevalent now at the place
In my judgment there are from 5000 to
5000 men too many On that little area
of land.
Besides this force of military, there
are nearly 500 civilians, about half of
that number being the remainder of the
original inhabitants of the place. Until
about six months ago the high command
maintained still another group of people
about whose presence in the islanl the
less | write the better my readers sense
of deeeney would be satisfied. This is
female population, numbering from
600 to 800, whom, if | wished to be
charitable, l would term the unfortu.
nate elements. They are the refuse of
the large cities, imported from the main,
land as a consolation to the exile milf
tary inhabitants of the place. And, as
the natural result, all these conditions
have rendered the place a modern Sodom
in addition to its being first class
house of pestilenee.
In the mess room at our submarine
training station at the Hehgoland har-
Dor | have had numerous occasions to
discuss the conditions prevalent on the
island with mary officers and | have
not yet been able to comprehend of our
high command S inS,stenee in Eemain-
irg indifferent to the social conditions
which are undermining the physique Of
the garrison. Ii has become fashion
of thought to end these discussions by
saying, "tLe higher command knows
better. But lately there has crept
an attitude into the higher ranks which
questions wherther or not the higher
command does know everything better.
However, this cort of independent think
ing is not prevalent yet among an ap-
preciable number.
In the island there is very peculiar
disease to which a recognized name has
nor yet been given. This disease is
known as the itching disease,
/ have had an attack of this malignant
restilence, but very slightly, but would
have no doubt become one of its serious
victims had if not been my good for
tune to be stationed in the southeast
barber, which is comparatively immune
to the rage of the various and varying
diseases that rule supreme in the island
proper.
This itching disease makes its un-
welcome appearance in the form OF
singing itches just below the knee. The
itch itself is like flea bite; it stings
you q dozen places at once. When you
scratch the parts involved suddenly you
feel another similar attack on your other
knee. You feel as though a group if
intelligent fleas have conspired to cruise
over your body for the sole purpose of
tantalizing you constantly,
was in company with two brother
officers when | firIst felt the itch. My
first scratch brought about serious
of glances between my COM
panions. felt embarrassed, fearing my
fellow officers might think I was UNI
clean. The succeeding impulsive at
tempts ON my part to sOothe the singing
places by aggressively scratching turn
ed Che faces of my companions more and
more serious. Finally | told my COM
panions that l was perfectly clean and
tried to make explanations by telling
them that perhaps had been invaded
by fleas.
They smiled and one of them told me
that it was a certain form of disease
that had made its appearance in the
island since the last year or so. They ad
yied ne to at once go and be examined
by the specialists at the hospital. |
thought that they had spoken to me in
that way because they were too kind to
offend me.
Instead of going to the hospital i'm
returned to the training head !
quarters and subjected myself to a tor
uous hot bath. l had scarcely finished
this severe sNf-diseipline cruelty ad-
ministered to myself when l observed
that my whole body was covered with
pimples, each the size of the head Of a !
small nail On the legs their color was
Of dirty black, around the stomach
they became an ugly blue and around
my chest, shoulders and arms they were
a sickly looking red, By this time the
stings had became unbearable. My body