The daily morning oasis., 1918-09-27
ARMY HEALTH RATE
BEST EVER KNOWN
DEATHS FROM DISEASE REMARK.
ABLY FEW, BOTH AT HOME
AND IN FOREIGN LANDS.
TWO NAVY HEROES ARE CITED
Rowed Through Flames to Rescue
Men From Burning Spanish Steam
ship--Work of Chldren's Year Is
Proving Very Effective.


A health rate which as far as known
has never been surpassed has been es-
tablished by the American armies both
here and overseas, according to re-
ports received by Surgeon General
Gorgas.
For q recent week the combined re-
ports Of the American expeditionary
forces and of troops stationed in the
United States show an annual death
rate for disease of 10 per 1000, less
than two men per 1000 per year. The
annual death rate from disease Of
men Of military age in civil life is 81
per 1000
This new rate Is based on approx
mate strength of 100000 men, and
includes men living under abnormal
conditions. The overseas record was
made while American soldiers were
participating in the heavy fighting in
the Marne salient, when they were
compelled frequently to sleep and eat
under the most primitive conditions.
That this record is truly representa-
tive of the general health of the troops
is shown by the combined reports
which indicate the figure of 2.8 per
1000 as the average death rate from
disease during the past two months.
An idea of the progress being made
In military sanitation is gained by a
comparison with the following: During
the Mexican war the annual death rate
from disease was 100 per 1000. Dur
ing the American Civil war the rate
in 1862 was 40 per 1000, while during
1868 the rate jumped to go per 1000.
The disease death rate for the Spanish
American war was 25 per 1000. As
far as available records show the low
est figure heretofore recorded was 20
per 1900 during the Russo Japanese
war.
Two men Of the American navy
proved themselves heroes and won
commentator from Secretary Dan
iels for the rescue of seven men from
tes July Is last. They are William e.
King, seaman, and Clarence F. Ready,
machinist's mate, second class, U. S.
N. R. f., of the U. s. s. Isis.
The two men took the port launch
Of the Isis to the side of the burning
ship and rescued from the burning
forecastle seven men who were
hemmed in by flames and who were
too panic stricken to Jump into the wa
ter
The launch's trip to the Serantes
was made through an area Of burning
gasoline and the rescuers were In con-
slant and imminent peril. Their COM
manding officer reports that the con-
duct Of King and Ready during this
time was cool and courageous. They
probably owe their own lives and the
lives of those they rescued to their
steady nerves and cool judgment. Their
commentator was for bravery and
their initiative In undertaking the res
cue.
The army general staff has complet-
ed plans for expansions at some of
the camps and changes at training CEN
tiers. Additional plans are being
worked out and will be put into eff
feet.
Camp Hancock, Georgia, is to be a
machine gun center and will be en-
larged to accommodate between $4,000
and $4,000 men. The officers training
school now housed in tents at this
camp will be provided for in barracks
and quarters similar to those at other
environments. These improvements
outside of enlargement of the camp,
will cost about 100000.
1t has been decided to make Camp
Grant an infantry replacement camp
to accommodate between $1,000 and
10000 men. The present capacity of
this camp is about 1900. The altera-
lions and changes necessary will be
made after the division now located
there has been removed.
Field artillery firing centers are to
be located at West Point, KY, Camp
Jackson, S. c., and Fayetteville, N. G.
Options on sufficient land for this pur-
pose have been secured at all these
places. It is planned to locate six
brigades at Fayetteville, six at West
Point and four at Jackson.
It has been decided also to erect
permanent buildings for the officers
training schools at present housed In
tents at Camps Lee, Gordon and Pike.
These schools have capacity Of about
5000 men. The estimated cost OF
these improvements is about $4,000
600.