The dispute between the Government and the Daily News as
to the health of the troops in Cyprus has suddenly ended, and in the way usual under the present Administration. The Daily .News asserted that fever was very prevalent among the troops, giving minute statistics, derived, as was afterwards stated, from the medical authorities in charge. Colonel Stanley, however, on being questioned in Parliament, knew nothing of any such un- pleasant facts, and only admitted a few cases of light fever. On Wednesday, however, the War Office published the following tele-
gram from Surgeon-General Sir A. Home, in medical charge of the forces in Cyprus :—‘, 71st Regiment in Dali Valley have had sudden increase of remittent fever ; thirty-eight admissions in two days ; eighty-seven now in hospital at Dali. One death yesterday, making thirteen since landing. 101st Regiment, Larnaca, shows also large increase ; Royal Engineers very sickly ; 25 per cent, of strength sick for the whole force,-2,640 men ; 307 in hospital. Have been ill myself ; now recovered." The telegram proves that the Government was either ill informed, or anxious to make things smooth, but it does not prove that Cyprus is unhealthy, but only that the troops must be treated as if they were in a tropical climate. Precisely the same attacks followed our first occupation of Rangoon, now one of the healthiest cities in Asia. The men want daily quinine, thatched huts, space, and above all, raised beds. It is madness to let them sleep upon the ground.
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