The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-08-15
The Daily
German Lie

A story IS circulating in Los An
geles. Cal. TO the effect that Camp
Lewis is to be discontinued because it is
unhealthy" and that soldiers there who
have no families or close friends and
who do not want to take out Insurance
are practically forced to do so by their
officers"
AS this is a typical pro-German SIAN
der. the Committee on Public Informa-
ton has taken tho trouble to have II
officially reported upon by the command
ing general at Camp Lewis. He replies
The two statements are equally in
correct. Health reports Of Camp Lewis.
as well as census bureau records cover
ing this region. show that II is one Of
the heaIthiest localities in the United
States. The surroundings and climatic
conditions at the camp are exception
ally favorable. and the water supply.
sewerage system and general sanitary
conditions are excellent. Far from be
Ing discontinued. Camp Lewis is at pres
ent being enlarged IN order to accom-
modate more troops.
Notwithstanding these exceptionally
favorable health conditions. all men have
been earnestly advised TO AXE out gov
eminent war-risk insurance. but care
has been exercised to inform them h a
such insurance is a privilege only. and
that they are not compelled to apply for
il. Practically all insurance appIica-
tons at this camp are taken at the
mastering office by enlisted men who
are not in Of the soldiers
whom they interview. and who are there
fore not in a position to exercise even
the slightest coercion.
The d%esirability Of government war
risk insurance as a protection against
total disability and future non-insura-
btlity for soldiers having at present no
Immediate relatives is. of course. too
plain TO require comment"
In other words. part OF this story IS a
deliberate lie and part Of it is an obvi-
Gus misrepresentation. All such stories
OF III health in the camps are disproved
in the mass by the weekly reports Of the
surgeon generals office. These reports
show that the annual death rate from
all auses among our soldiers in this
country is 4s7 per thousand. while the
annual death rate among men Of mill
tary age in civil life is SIS per thou
Iand. The annual death rate from dis
ease among our troops in camps here
during the first three weeks of June was
about 3 per thousand. Contrast this
with a death rate from disease during
the Spanish-American war Of nearly %
per thousand per annum
A correspondent in Norton. Va, re-
ports a current rumor that only 10
per cent of the money collected by the
Red Cross goes 10 the relief and beneht
of the persons for whom subscriptions
are taken"
The credit so often given to such
charges against the Red Cross is prob
ably due to the general ignorance Of
the way in which the organization is
managed 1t is taken for granted that
because subscriptions to the society are
voluntary that it is a private charitable
association. That is not the case. The
Red Cross Is the governments agency
for war relief. President Wilson is its
president The secretary of the treas
ury is the treasurer of its war-relief
fund. Among its officers are the score
tary OF state. the surgeon general of
the army. the surgeon general Of the
navy. the comptroller of the currency,
and the solicitor general of the United
States. Moreover, it reports to con-
gress and its accounts are audited By
the war department.
1t would be as impossible for the Rec
Cross to misuse the. money it collects as
X would be for the war department it
self to devote only 10 per cent Of its
funds for the relief and benefit" of the
army. All these stories Of waste and
extravaganza IN the management of the
Red Cross are pro-German SANDERS de
signed to discourage loyal citizens in
supporting a necessary war work.
German propagandisst in this country
are busily ~denouncing as British lies
various authentic reports that the au-
thorities in Germany are encouraging
polygamy as a means to restore the
falling birth rate among the German
people. Tho Committee on Public In