Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-03
ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
Reply to Adverse Criticism Thereof
Red-Cross Opinion.

Major George H. Torney, surgeon
United States army, made public yester
day statement by Northumberland
Sem, chief of the operating staff with
the army before Santiago, replying to cri
ticisms which have been made upon the
medical department of the army and It's
care of the i'll and wounded.
Colonel Sem defends the department.
warmly, and praises the ability and re-
cords of surgeon-G General Sternberg and
his associates and subordinates. Taking
up the intimation that the department did
not take advantage of Red-Cross assist
ance as It should have done, the Colonel
says:
1.-The surgeon-general accepted the le-
| climate services of the Red-Cross Asso-
citation and had reason to expect aid from
| this source should pressing contingencies
present themselves. The medical officers,
the wounded and sick have every reason
to be grateful to Miss Clara Barton for
what she did in furnishing ice, delicacies,
and medical supplies. The State of Texas
did excellent work in aiding the Medical
Department, but this Is no reason why
those connected with the Red-Cross AS
ISOLATION should claim all the credit and
undertake 10 criticise a department OF
our government which has done all that
1t possibly could do in anticipating the re-
quirements of sudden emergency.
1T is a source of great regret that
there should be any friction whatever be-
tween the Medical Department and the
friends and supporters of the Red-Cross
Association. 1t must be clear TO every
unpreJudiced mind that the treatment Of
the sick and wounded must remain under
the direct care. control and management
OF the Medical Department, and that the
legitimate function OF the Red Cross is
rather auxiliary TO 1t than as an indie
pendent organization, IL the greatest
amount of good is TO be realized from il.
THE hospital ship Relief brought an i'm
mense amount Of medical supplies. delica-
cies, cots. pillows, and blankets. When
we arrived at Siboney we knew our pres
ence was much needed, and looked in vain
for some one in power to inform us where
and how to land. The precipitous and
rocky nature Of the shore and the i'm
mense depth of the ocean made it impos-
sible TO secure anchorage for several
days. A single lighter attended to the
demands Of necessary transport ships. i
am sure no one could blame the medical
department for the unavoidable delay in
unloading the supplies. The little steam
launches did what could be done In bring
ing to the shore what was most needed.
Major Torney worked night and day In
having honored the acquisitions made by
the surgeons In the field and hospitals.
NO RED TAPE.
There was no red tape here. All they
had to do was to inform him what was
wanted. and It was delivered as soon as
II could be brought to the shore. The
lack OF proper transportation facilities
for the landing Of aid TO the front can
NOT be charged TO the medical department
It took more than week OF the hardest
kind of work to land all the supplies, and
considering the limited facilities avaia-
BILE, Il is and always must be regarded
as a source of satisfaction that 1t wa.
made possible at ALL The Relief brought |
a thousand cots and an ample supply or |
blankets, which reached the hospitals with |
as little delay as possible.
Lieutenant Crabbs. OF the Eighth Cav |
airy, showed a creditable degree Of inse- |
nuity, energy. and. often. OF courage in |
landing the supplies.
THE complaint that the sick and wound
ed lacked medicine and dressing material |
Is true only 10 a certain extent Some OF |
the medicines were exhausted owing TO 1
the unexpected enormous demand, but /
they were supplied as quickly as could /
be done under the existing circumstances. !