CAMP WIKOFF AND ITS LESSONS.

Now that the days of this camp are drawing to a close it is profitable to recall its unique history and gather up some of the lessons it has taught us.  Despite all the sensationalism, investigations, testings, experimentation, and general condemnation, the camp at Montauk accomplished what was intended, and was itself a humane and patriotic establishment.  It is not for me to say whether a better site might not have been selected, or whether the camp might not have been better managed.  I will take it for granted that improvement might have been made in both respects, but our concern is rather with what was, than with what “might have been.”

To appreciate Camp Wikoff we must consider two things specially; first, its purpose, and secondly, the short time allowed to prepare it; and then go over the whole subject and properly estimate its extent and the amount of labor involved.

The intention of the camp was to afford a place where our troops, returning from Cuba, prostrated with climatic fever, and probably infected with yellow fever, might receive proper medical treatment and care, until the diseases were subdued.  The site was selected with this in view, and the conditions were admirably suited to such a purpose.  Completely isolated, on dry soil, with dry pure air, cool climate, away from mosquitoes, the camp seemed all that was desired for a great field hospital.

Here the sick could come and receive the best that nature had to bestow in the way of respite from the heat, and pure ocean breezes, and, taken altogether, the experiences of August and a good part of September, have justified the selection of Montauk.  While prostrations were occurring elsewhere, the camp was cool and delightful most of the time.

As to the preparations, it must be remembered that the recall of the whole Army of Invasion from Cuba was made in response to a popular demand, and as a measure of humanity.  Bring the army home! was the call, and, Bring it at once!

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Such urgency naturally leaps ahead of minor preparations.  The soldiers wanted to come; the people wanted them to come; hence the crowding of transports and the lack of comforts on the voyages; hence the lack of hospital accommodations when the troops began to arrive.  Haste almost always brings about such things; but sometimes haste is imperative.  This was the case in getting the army out of Cuba and into Camp at Montauk in August, ’98.  Haste was pushed to that point when omissions had to occur, and inconvenience and suffering resulted.

We must also remember the condition of the men who came to Montauk.  About 4,000 were reported as sick before they left Cuba; but, roughly speaking, there were 10,000 sick men landing in Montauk.  Those who were classed as well were, with rare exceptions, both mentally and physically incapable of high effort.  It was an invalid army, with nearly one-half of its number seriously sick and suffering.