The age-herald., 1898-08-09
CAPT. MUNSON
 MAKES REPORT | Concerning Sanitary Condition of
 Affairs at Santiago
 EXPLAINS THE DISADVANTAGES | Under Which Medical Depart. ment Operated in Cuba.
 SUPPLIES WERE ON TRANSPORTS And in the Hurry oi Disembarking Req mained Unloaded. NO ASSISTANCE WAS RENDERED By the aster, and the Medical Department Was Compelled to Reply Solely on Its Own En- ergies Report in Full.
And in the Hurry oi Disembarking Req
 mained Unloaded.
NO ASSISTANCE WAS RENDERED

Washington, Aug. 8.-Surgeon-GeneraI Sternberg has received the following re- port concerning the conditions existing at Santiago. It explaians what has been done by the medical department, and gives the disadvantages under which the de- pertinent operated in Cuba
 Tampa Heights Fla, July 29. 1saS
 "To the Surgeons General, U. 8. A., Wash>
 Sir: In view of the recent charges made affecting the efficiency of the army medical department Santiago, and es- pecially with. -S--.1S39ee to the conoitiors prevailing g-dn the hospital transports seRt, hoi'h with the wounded, I have the honor fsszsubmit the following facts. believing that my position as adjutant to the chief surgeon, fifth corps, and as the officer in charge of the outfitting of the hospital transports, Iroquois, Cherokee and Break water, may possibly give value to such re- port.
 Alfl medical supplies were divided up on the various transports, each organization
 All medical supplies were divided up on on Cuban soil was made as rapidly as pos- sible, each organization accompanied by the medical attendants assigned to it. and troops were pushed forward with no other equipment and supplies than could be car ried by the soldiers. Having no means of transportation for even their field chests, the regimental medical officers had abso- lutely no resources at their command ex- cept such as were provided by the orderly and hospital corps pouches and the first aid packets carried by the soldiers. Hav- ing once left their ships. the latter were promptly ordered out of the small bays at Siboney and Baiquir to permit the un- loading of other ships.
 Proceeded to Sea
 These partially unloaded ships, in obedi- ence to their orders, then proceeded to sea from five to fifteen miles, where they re- maned hove to indefinitely. Such orders were given to transports carrying the rev serve and the first divisional hospitals. The one carrying the reserve hospital in obedience to its orders, proceed d to i1 the naval blockading squadron eff Mcrro Castle, where 1t remained five days ard nights, the other transports disappearing, If l was correctly informed, for an entire week. During this time the fight at Qua ssla had occurred, and large numbers of sick and wounded were requiring t.eat- ment In the meantime a report of the conditions prevailing on shore was made to the chief surgeon, wko promptly laid the case before the commanding general, requesting that a launch be placed und>r the control of the medical department for the collection of medical supplies from the various transports. It was also reuue ste d that pack train be organized in the proportion of one pack mule to each regi- ment, to transport supplies to the font for proper distribution The exjgency of the situation did not apparently appeal to the commanding general, and after two days the medical department was unable to get transportation of any kind to the n ha chn a1tl were a large number of naval launches and boats employed various other du- ties. On the third day, by order of the one row boat was tlrr cd over to the medical department for the purposes above named, and at the same time order was issued for land trans- portation to carry medical supplies to the, front mot to exceed one six-mule team"
 On Various Brands
 On getting into this boat with supplies from headquarters transport, I was direct ed by sundry staff officers to take them on various errands. On my refusal to recog- 1ize their authority the commanding gen. .ral. who appeared on the scene personally evoked the previous order and directed, liter landing the supplies already in the )oat that 1t should return without delay Presenting the order for land transporta- ion to the quartermaster on shore I was informed that only pack mules had as yet been landed, that neither wagons nor har- ness had been brought ashore and finally hat the road was impossible for wagons. After this boat had been taken away the chief surgeon was without any means Of with the medical officers on shore those still on the transports, of hiding out their wants or of remedying the many already known to him. This condi- Ion of things remained until after the fight at La Quasina. at which time there were absolutely no dressings, hospital tent lge or supplies of any kind on shore with ifter landing the supplies already in the The news of the Quasina fight being report
 
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