Evening star., 1946-05-23
Bride Ship Conditions
Investigated by u. s.;
Six Babies Are Dead
BY the kssoeioted Press

NEW YORK, May 23-The death
toll Of babies stricken i'll aboard GI
bride ships mounted to six today
when 5-month-old girl, in this
country only four days, died in
Pittsburgh.
The child. Vivian Smith, arrived
here with her mother, Mrs. Howard
Smith, whose husband lives in Bur-
bank, Calf, on the S. S. Brazil last
Sunday.
The death, which physicians dag
nosed temporarily as acute diarrhea
and malnutrition, was the first re-
ported among the Brazil's paSSen-
gers.
Five infants who travelled on the
hrideship zebulon Vance have died
from mysterious ailment which
struck them as they crossed the
Atlantic.
L. S. Investigation Begun.
A Federal investigation was be-
gun after mothers complained OF
overcroWding and unsanitary con-
ditions aboard the vessel.
The Vance docked here Monday
after 13-day voyage from LIE
Havre. Four babies died at the Fort
Hamilton Hospital-Where Is others
originally were taken-and one at
Paris, Ill. Several ailing infants
have since been transferred from
the Army hospital to other hos
pitfalls or their homes for private
treatment.
Robert Ball, 9-week old son of
Mr.. and Mrs Robert Ball died
Tuesday night at Paris of what the
attending physician diagnosed as
"malnutrition developing into pneu-
monia."
The childs' mother said he had
refused a food formula prescribed
shortly before sailing and took no
nouriShment after the ship left LIE
Havre May 7.
One of the veterans wives, Mrs.
John ALBERT. formerly of Keer-
bergen, Belgium, said cabins aboard
the Vance were so crowded that in
the cabin in which I came over there
were 18 women and 10 babies"
Her 2-months-old son. Anthony,
is seriously i'll in New York hospital
The baby is skin and bones, like
the victims of the horror camps at
Dachau," said the infants father,
former staff sergeant of Portland,
Me.
Mrs. ALBERT said the baby was
healthy when she boarded the ship
and added that although the baby
became i'll there was no medical eX-
animation except a perfunctory
scrutiny of the childs hair the day
before the ship landed.
Sanitation "DeplOrable."
Another bride. Mrs. Jeannlne Bat
tenfield, 20, said sanitary conditions
aboard the Vance were "deplorable.
Her child, Myriam. months, is i'll
at New York Hospital
Earlier, her husband. DR.. John
Battenfield, a former Army doctor
and now director of health services
for the University of Oklahoma said
he believed the illnesses were caused
by poor sanitary conditions aboard
the Vance
The Federal investigation into the
cause of the illnesses was launched
by Dr.. Roy E. Bodet chief quar-
antine officer of the United States
Public Health Service for the New
York Port of Embarkation.
While the port said it would await
the outcome of autopsies before
committing itself on the cause of
deaths DR.. Israel Weinstein. acting
New York City health commissioner.
said the outbreak resembled sum
mer diarrhea'
Earlier, Col. John U. SchieSs.
chief of public relations for the port,
said the Vance was equipped with
enough medical officers and supplies
TO handle any ordinary situation
that might occur"
India's Maharajah of NaWanger
has bought Ia American surplus
oircra fl for SS3 mn