Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-27
U.S.G0vERnIAENT
TO HELP COMBAT
SPREAD OF FLU"
Measures Taken for Relief oil
Communities Where Dis
ease Has Become
Epidemic.

The "a hours ending at noon today
o,13o new cases of influenza in army
camps had been reported to the
office of surgeon general of the
army. One hundred and seventy
deaths, resulting chiefly from pneu'
monia, following influenza and 72l
new cases of pneumonia also were
reported.
Two camps, Kearney, California
and Eustis, Virginia, were added
today to the list of those where in
tluenza has made appearance, leav-
ing only IS camps free from the
disease. The total number of cases
of influenza in all camps was placed
at 35,l46 with 1896 cases of pneu-
monia.
Medical and nursing units today
were modified in communities
where the epidemic has gained con-
siderable Roadway under the general
direction of central committee, rep
stnting the public health service, the
army. the navy and the American
Red Cross.
Immediate relief for localities
where influenza has gone beyond
control of the local authorities will
be the main task of the committee,
organized yesterday after word was
received that in the east, particular
ly Massachusetts, conditions were
serious.
Massachusetts Asks Aid.
Boston, Sept. 26.-Massachussets,
which has always responded liber-
ally and quickly to requests for help
from stricken communities in all
parts of the world, is tonight itself
in need of outside aid to check the
spread of influenza and pneumonia.
Direct appeal for assistance to
President Wilson, Governor Ora
ham of Vermont, Governor Milf
kan OF Maine, Governor Beckman
of Rhode Island and the mayor OF
Toronto, Canada, was made tonight
by Lieutenant Governor Coolidge.
The one day death record of the
epidemic in Boston was exceeded
today, the mortality reports show
ing 123 deaths from influenza and
80 from pneumonia. The largest
previous total for one day was 100
on September "a. Since Septem-
Der IA, there have been 1853 deaths
in this city.
State Health Commissioner En-
gene R. Kelly has urged the War
department to postpone the Undue
ton of college students into bar
racks under the student army train
ing corps plan until the emergency
has passed.
The state health department to-
night issued a statement regarding
control of the disease. The prin-
cipal warning was to avoid crowds
and seek medical advice as soon as
sickness developed.
Sailors Must Write.
Great Lakes, ILL.,, Sept. 25.-Each
of the $4,000 sailors at the naval
training station here has been par
ticularly ordered to write home ana
explain to anxious relatives that he
is still alive. Vicious rumors con-
corning the influenza epidemic
which have been spread broadcast
through neighboring states have
brought a food of kilograms and in
quiries from "home folks" and the
station authorities have found it al
most impossible to answer all of
them.
In announcing there had been n
deaths from Spanish influenza yes
terday, Capt. William A. Moffatt,
commandant, said that these fatali-
ties were among cases which were
taken to hospitals when the epidemic
began and that new cases develop
ing in the past few days show a
lower death rate. Coupled with this
decrease in virulence, there was re-
ported dimunition in spread of the
disease. Physicians said the out
break at this station has been
brought under control. Thus far
there has been 8.475 cases reported.
Spreading in New York.
New York. Sept. 26.-The spread
of Spanish influenza in this city
shows no signs of abating. The
health department received reports
of la new cases during the last "a
hours, against 172 reported yes
terday.