New-York tribune., 1898-10-10

COLONEL MAUS'S REPORT ON CONDI-
TIONS IN THE SEVENTH CORPS
VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS FOR OFFICERS OF THE
NATIONAL GUARD TO sTUDY-sHAFTER
SAID TO HAVE REFUSED SUPPLIES
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuxE.I

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington, Oct 9-The heathest OF the grea
Army camps, although the southernmost. has beer
that OF the Seventh Corps at Jacksonville, Fla.
under General Lees command and the most vau.
able of the official reports bearing upon the health
OF troops which has reached the War DEPARTING Is
that received from Colonel l.. NJ Maus chief sur
geon of that corps. This officer has been twenty
four years In the regular service, and there
fore able to utilize his experience most advantage
ousy. The obstacles he has had TO overcome in the
last few months make his recommendations for the
future OF great value, particularly to National
Guardsmen. few OF the most interesting portions
OF the report follows:
HOSPITAL CORPS--The Hospital Corps consists
Of enlisted men transferred from the volunteer
In getting company commanders and regmental
cooneis to agree 10 the transfer OF prfvates from
number OF Instances they were willing only to
transfer they did rot to retain in their
regiments although the surgeons who selected the
men were requested TO select only such men OF
character and intelligence as would be suitable FOR
this work A number OF the regiments up the
present have refused 10 permit the transfer OF any
men for this purpose. and for this reason the work
Of the Medical Department has been more or less
crippled for the want Of a sufficient number of
prlvates.
MEDICAL OFFGCERS.-The medical officers as
s.sned to the division hospitals and ambulance c. M
panes rule were taken from the regiments.
there being very few available from the general
saf for this purpose. As rule. two medical Of
one being taken for service in the hospital and am
huancs companies In s.,1 npm3,r Of instances IT
geons &c regmen;s 20 supply The medical service
there. for the reason that through sickness or
away and thus left their regiments without med
The regimental surgeons. as a rule. were intei-
gent and capable men. although some OF them had
%one Sa Of had any snoWedss Whatever of ad
ministrative duties. such as were required to
medical sanitary
Government. Their clerks also were inexperi-
Difficulty S has BEEN % Experienced in ms nstrucsng med med
cal officers in these duties feel quite sure that
of ncxpercnce on the part Of regimental surgeons
than for any other reason. These men were un-
able to appreciate the great value OF sanitation. al
though repeated Instructions have been given TO
them. Monthly reports Of sick and wounded have
been delayed in some Instances for months. al
though the surgeons have been supplied with the
necessary blanks and instructed how to prepare
them. Ii almost seems Impossible 10 expect from
the citizen military surgeon any prompt response
to these matters under n less period than year
CHIEF SURGEONS OF DIvIsIONs-Three Of
President for the positions OF chef surgeons Of d
vision. and have been assigned: Ola has resigned
absence. They men OF ability and professional
atainments though entirely entirely undeauainted with
have rendered very little service In the lines most
1t is not to be expected that medical
themselves TO places which require years OF milf
tary training for their successful administration.
MEDICAL SUPPLY DEPOT.-On my arrival at
| found medical supplies or hos
Dital equipment on hand. except a few articles |
hat Major Pitcher had brought with him from
after my arrival | sent him 10 Tampa with |
,equislton for a complete outfit for one division
hospital and ambulance company, the latter con-
,isting Of ambulances, escort wagons teams, etc.
IRE Surgeon General OF the Army had informed |
ne a few DAYS previous. while was In Washing !
on that ! should obtain my supplies from the !
,e pots AT Tampa. on Major Pilcher's arrival at |
o tho chief surgeon of the corps. Major Benjamin
: Pope who approved them, but Informed him |
hat IL necessary to get General Skaters ap- I
,roval also Major Pitcher informed me that Cen |
raj Shafter refused 20 allow him anything what |
yer stating that he would not let thing |
eave Tampa until his corps had left for Cuba. !
n addition 10 this he placed Major Pitcher on |
,utv m at Tampa and retained him there for abou,
wo weeks In the mean time was daily expecting !
uppiies from Tampa and lid not consider II proper
a make acquisitions Washington under the
circumstances However, | found II necessary 10
here cots sheets medical supplies. kitcnel
ouipment and other things for the hospital which
had organized from ma teria taken from the
egments. About June l. l. myself was orderen ]
o Tampa on n retiring board and there ootsined: /
hrough General Miles's approval. carload OF !
!, sntai supplies consisting OF hospital tents. COM
ermasters supplies together with twelve amou,
nces fourteen escort wagons and lW Inules, anu
n mn return from Tampa was thus enapeu "
rpanize the second Division Ambulance company
nd 10 complete the organization OF ni .n9 .nnnii.s
ave been furnished regularly from Wasmhns'%S: -. |
;ew-York ST Louis and other polnIs' u"eeo eenusst
ircrtion OF the Surgeon General. upon my IeOu
nns which were mostly telegraphic IN cns.ac,e.; 1
he Seventh Army Corps has. since the 's'u'~'