The Washington herald., 1919-02-21
DEFEND
BREST AS BEST
CAMP IN FRANCE
Officers and Men Alike
Deny Charges That 1t
Is "Pest Hole" L"
DEATHS THERE 2,191
This Total Includes Victims
Of Flu Epidemic and SO
Who Died at Sea. .

Brest, Feb. 2o-Brest may not be
tho best military base in the world,
but It is far from the worst, in the
opinion of officers and men perma-
nently stationed here.
Investigation, conducted under such
circumstances as the situation will
permit, failed to substantiate charges
that Brest is a pest hole" or that
the men are victims of mismanage-
ment. II is true that In common with
much of Western France, there is a
superabundance of mud. but this is
due to climatic and geological condi-
tions. This could not be avoided, as
Brest was selected as a base because
OF strategic and geographical reasons.
Reports of shocking food and sani-
tary conditions are unfounded, accord
ing to the inhabitants of the camp
themselves.
Mortality Rumors Denied. .
Rumors are understood to have
been circulated in the United States
that 5000 American soldiers died in
Brest during September and Octo-
ber OF last year. The facts are, ac-
cordinE to figures given the CORES
lldl lIOnl ESONtrHptT, lSl '
when Camp Pontanezen-where SOL
diers are congregated to await
transportation home-wss estab-
lished. up to the first of the present
month. there were 2.ls1 deaths from
all causes. This includes victims
of the pneumonia and influenza cpl
demic during September and Octo-
ber, most of whom are said have to
become infested either enroute here
or before they left the United
States. It also includes go who
died aboard ship while coming over.
These figures were authorized by
Gen. Eli Helnick. base commander
Gen. Smedley Butler. commandant
at Camp Pontanezen, and Col. Guy
Edie, base surgeon. These Officers
assert that the sick and death re-
in Brest, which handles more
American troops than any other
port, is the lowest OF any camp in
France.
Food Best Ever,
A private from California admitted
that Camp Pontanezen is less attrac-
tive than Camp Lewis, that 1t prob
ably is less comfortable, and that
certainly the streets are infinitely
muddier, but declared that it is the
best camp in France"
Asked why, ne replied: Because
they feed You right here"
what do you mean by 'right?'
well, there's lots of It; it's good,
and you don't have to wait for IL
Why, they had hot chocolate and
things for us when we got off the
train and a hot dinner ready when
We got to camp, although II was IN
the middle of the night Don't let 'ein
kid you, this is a white mans camp. 8"
Afterward the correspondent talked
with many other men IN the rank
and the opinion of the California man
regarding the camp received unaRl-
nous Endorsement Personal invest
cation showed that the food avera geo
better than any found in a number or
American. British and French camps
which the correspondent had visited.
Face Terrific Task.
When Brest was first taken over n
an American base there was a ter
rife struggle under frightful difficUI
ties to get a million men through tn.
ancient, unmodernized port at a tim
when the only thing intolerable Wa
delay. The problem now Is that o.
getting even u greater number of met
home again, with health and spirits
intact, while tolerance for delay IL
not much greater than 1t was before.
This is being accomplished despite
hopelessly inadequate facilities-un-
less the figures given above are dis
puted.