Summary

In Chapter 26, even though the enemy, which was falling apart as a result of the flu, offered peace, Wilson was not willing to consider peace or stop the war effort in America even to help the people. The government did not offer any help to civilians suffering from the flu. The military also would not help civilians. Even though Charles Richard, the acting army surgeon general and the chief medical officer, urged General Peyton March, the commander of the army, not to send troops overseas because of sickness, March ignored that request. He acknowledged Gorgas’ request that the soldiers be quarantined for a week before being sent abroad, but did not act on it. Within 48 hours of being loaded on ships, the soldiers began getting sick. Meanwhile, on the front, more soldiers were evacuated because of the flu than wounds. The sick...