The age-herald., 1898-08-30
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great value. Very many of these nurses have been obtained through the kind as- sistance of the Red Cross society for main- tenance of trained nurses auxiliary No. 3, and I desire to express my high apprecia- tion of the valuable services rendered to the medical department of the army by this organization.
 My attitude towards relief organizations is shown by an indorsement dated May 5 upon letter addressed by Rev. Henry c. McCook of Philadelphia, to the president and referred to me for remark:
 No Exclusive Privileges
 {" May 5, 1898. Respectfully returned to the adjutant-general of the army. The plan proposed for the organization of relief association appears to have been we'll con- sidered and it's object will commend itself to every patriotic citizen But 1t is a ques- ton whether the president should give spe- cfal privileges to any organzation. Other prominent individuals in different parts of the country may be organizing for the same purpose. While l approve in a general way of organization for the relief work pro- posed, it appears to me that it will be best not to give in advance exclusive privileges to any one particular organization. In case of need, assis tance should be accepted from any organization prepared to give it.
 This has been my guiding principle throughout that relief when needed should be accepted without reference to the source from which 1t comes
 "A committee of the American National Red Cross association called upon me in my office in Washington some time in ad- vance of the landing of our troops in Sam tiago; making an offer of assistance I re- ceived them most courteously, and advised them to use their resources in fitting up hospital ship, telling them that an hospital ship was now being fitted up for the use ofithe medical department, but that it was not at all improbable that emergency would arise which would overtax our re- sources, and that in such an event hos pital ship properly equipped, having on board a corps of doctors and nurses, would be a most valuable auxiliary.
 s'Furthermore: The American National Red Cross association has had full author ity to send agents and supplies to all our camps since June 9, 1898, and if there has been suffering for want of needed supplies they must share the responsibility with the medical department of the army for such suffering.
 The following letter was sent by me to every chief surgeon of department or in- dependent army in the field on June g. 1898:
 Red Cross Society
 "The secretary of war has approved of the following proposition made by the Ametican National Red Cross association. Chief surgeons of army corps and divisions will cooperate with the authorized agents of this association for the purposes indi- cated:
 'We can put any desired amount of hos pital supplies-ice, matted milk condensed milk etc., into any of the volunteer camps in a few hours. If anything of any kind is wanted; open Red Cross station and send the supplies. We can do this. not in few weeks or a few days, but in a few hours, and can furnish any quantity of any de- sired luxury or delicacy for hospital use. We hereby tender our aid and put our or