The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-30
SURGEON GENERAL EXPLAINS.
DENIES THE CHARGES OF HOSTILE
TY TOWARD THE RED CROSS.

Objected to Sending Female Nurses
Into the Field Because lie Thought
They Would Prove an Encum-
brance Rather Than an Aid-Dfdu't
Think the Government should
Show Preference to an 0rganiza-
tiOn-Red Cross Society Had Been
of Invaluable Service to the Sick
and Wounded-AIwaysE kindly Dis
posed Toward the Red Cross.
Washington, Aug. 29.-Surgeon General
sternberg gave out statement to-day de-
nying the charge that he is hostile to the
Red Cross Society, that he had refused to
accept its assistance in the care of sick
and wounded soldiers. He says he only OBJ
jected to the sending of female nurses
with troops In the field engaged in active
operations as he was of opinion that such
nurses would be an encumbrance to troops
during such times.
Gen. Sternberg further says: 80 soon as
serious sickness developed in our camps,
and it became necessary to treat typhoid
fever cases in our field hospitals, L gladly
accepted the services of trained female
nurses for the division field hospitals and
in our general hospitals we have employed
them from the first The general testimony
from the surgeons in charge of these hos
pitals has been that their services have
been. of great value.
VERY many of these trained nurses have
been obtained through the kind assistance
of the Red Cross Society for maintenance
of trained nurses, auxiliary No. 3, and
desire to express my high appreciation of
the valuable services rendered to the med
ical department of the army by this or
ganization.
MY attitude toward relief organizations
is shown by an Endorsement dated May
upon letter addressed by Rev. Henry c.
NIcCook Of Philadelphia TO the President,
and referred to me for remarks: May 5,
1898: Respectfully returned to the adjutant
general of the army. The plan proposed
for the organization of a relief association
appears to have been well considered, but
the object in view will commend itself to
every patriotic citizen. But it is question
whether the President should give special
privileges to any particular organization.
Other prominent individuals in different
parts of the country may be organizing
for the same purpose. One such proposition
has come to me from Chicago. While / ap-
prove in a general way of organizations
for the relief of work proposed, it appears
to be that it win be best not to give, in
advance, exclusive privileges to any one
particular organization. In case of need,
assistance should be accepted from any
organizations prepared TO give it,
This has been my guiding principle
throughout, that relief when needed
should be promptly accepted without
reference to the source from which it
comes The relief afforded by the Ma
tional Red Cross at Siboney was promptly
accepted by surgeons ON the spot, but it
is evident that 1t was entirely inadequate
to meet the emergence
"a committee of the National Red Cross
Society called on me at my Office in
Washington some time in advance of the
landing of our troops in Santiago, making
an offer of assistance. 1 received them
most courteously and advised them to use
their resources In fitting UP a hospital
shipA
Furthermore, the American National
Red Cross Association has he'd full au-
thority to send agents and supplies to all
our camps since June 8, 1898, and if there
has been suffering for want of needed sup
plies they must share the responsibility
with the medical department of the army
for such sufferings."
Gen. Siernberg concludes his statement
by quoting from a number of letters writ
ten by him showing his kindly feeling for
the Red Cross.