New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
U. 5. Army investigator
Finds HOmesickness
Behind Most Criticism
Health Good, Food
Excellent, He Says
Camp Pontanczen Also i'm
Perfect Sanitary Condi-
ton. Declares Major

The first detailed report by q return
ing United States officer of conditions
at Camp Pontanezen, near Erest, was
given to The Tribune by Major Gran
Vile Fortescue Major Fortescue ar
rived Friday night on the Aquitana,
fresh from thorough investigation of
tho American embarkation camp.
Major Fortescue, former war CORE
spondent and officer OF the 314th Field
Artillery, was sent to Brest as a spc-
cial Investigator by Major General
James G.. Harbord, commanding gem
eral of the service of supplies. He was
selected as the man best fitted, BY his
military and newspaper experience, to
report on the criticisms lodged against
the camp.
Major Fortescue is prepared to go
before the Senate Military Committee
and report his findings. He will leave
for Washington to-day. He will tell
the committee that:
The biggest and most important
task right now is to get the soldiers
home as soon as possible.
Most of the criticism of camp con-
ditions is result of the psychologi-
cal condition of the men, who are
anxious to return and are uncertain
about Jobs or other affairs of the
future.
-~,..<-,sr.-.--
Sanitary Conditions Good
camp Pontanczen is now in OK
ccllent sanitary condition, in spite Of
mud caused BY heavy rains.
The meals are the best ever served
IN any camp of the United States
army.
The average Of illness has been
only 2 per cent in the last four
months, much Of it being brought
mo camp. The average admittancc
10 the hospitals has been one man in
thousand day for all diseases;
lhc total deaths since December.
1917, 2'023. Of which 1917 we're the
result OF sickness outside of Brcst.
me water supply heretofore has
s''n each man IN camp five gallons
oay and this amount has now been
Increased threefold
haVc never seen any camp, in
'u' United States or France. Whore
Eo2p. were SO we'll fed az at Brest. =
qa.p MAJOR fortescuc yesterday at the
~ -oafiton. Il saw the camp on
aeDruary 20 and can speak only Of
coAd tions at that time.
Inc great criticism of the camr
mas been the muu, The camp is sit.
usted on the highest ground in the
F'c,nlt ~, but climatic conditions arc
o1eh tnat there may be anywhere from
s'Neh 70 thirty rainy days d month
IN one year there were $50 rainy davs
Mud must eHIst Wnen conditions
are OF such sort, but there is moro
mua at Camp Lee, Petersburg, Va.
.han al brest. The men told me that
the meals.
81 have seen e,a5s troops fed II
'orty-t"o minutes. A typical meal
"a" consisted Of meat bic. notatcns
,Hrnips, ric" and gravy, coffee ant
Nfead and butter. The men went b,
MN both their mess tins piled high. =
Civilian Criticism Unfair
"aJor tcrtcscue said that even IN,
nue was being conquered. lie sait
sha' eiTty miles OF blackboard ant
''sr1 walking had been built, unde,
supefVlslon OF Brlgadcr. General Jaw
"'n' o. tine Engineer Corps. and tn,
man roads macadamizcd.
''alor fortescuc SAID he found tina
my - pr cent of the tents we're no
noored. All the tents had stoves. h.
The men complain about the in
'etsant ram, in which they arc com
byiea 10 "ork," said Major Fortcscuc
nat 'hls, although unpleasant. ha
.''s ahected their health is indicate,
~ tho sick repori, which shows
i'rcentagc Vi between 1870 and 30
Nur'nX November. December, Januar
@np February. The aYeraqc admittanc
t"e hospital is one man per thousan,
per 0sy. Tho total number Of suicidc
"aa SIX ssnce The camp igns established
"ajor forcstcuc said that Brest wa
INC only rite where The cmbarkatiol
camp gould be located because the sol
aierS mad 70 be taken 70 place wher
tn"y could he marched on board
transport AZ soor az IL arrived.
Cheerful Letters Urged
ne real Cause Of complaint is tn
psychoioHicai condition Of the men,
@aih MAJOR fortescue. "They are home
siek, they are suffering from break
"'"n IN morale after the excitement o
80 s- ""y "t' worrying ADOut inei
''Ds; ,;. ihey are beget BY temptation,
me most essential thing is TO &c
mem out of France az rapidIv a
possible. Every cent and every cner
gy ought 10 be brought TO bear on thi
problem, Tor our own good. But. wbiI
tbe men are waiting, their friends an
Islatiyes, and the employers Of labo,
ssn 90 nm ineefimabDc service by wri.
,px cheerful Ietfefs, and by letting tb
msn '''',. Know that when they get bsck the
IN nave more substantial weleom
sssn brass band and three rousin