Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-09-01
LANDED JUST AT
 THE RIGHT TIME. The Yacht May Carried Medicines te Porto Rico When They Were
 Needed the Worst.


 Philadelphia, Aug 31-The yacht May, which arrived today from Por- to Rico, brought the report of the repre- sentatives of the National Relief conn mission, which was composed of Will jam Potter, William Van Rensallear, Louis c. Vanexum and Dr G. C. Graf, who went to Porto Rico to superintend the distribution of supplies sent to tho sick soldiers by the commission. 1he May, which was loaned to tho govern. ment by MT. Van RensaIlear, left Aug 6, and reached Ponce, Porto Rico, Aug II. The report states the commission reported to General Miles aid, and were by him referred to Colonel Greenleaf, chief surgeon of the army in the field. Colonel Greenleaf ordered the 70 tons of medical supplies placed on the lower floor of the custom house, which is now being used as the headquarters of the army in Porto Rico After giving de- tails of the distribution of supplies, tho report says:
 In almost every instance we found army surgeons most anxious to have at their disposition money for the purchase of needed luxuries for the sick, such as fresh milk, ice (when obtainable) and canned goods, and we are happy to re- port that i'll every case we have been able to meet the demands made upon us. There are about 6,000 American sol diers in Porto Rico and on the day of our departure, Aug. g, there were over 1000 men on the sick list. CT this number half were cases which required prompt and careful treatment There was a large number of typhoid cases, but on Aug. 9, this disease was not on the increase, q fact which indicates the malady had been carried from the camps at home, and not indigenous of Porto Rico. However, there was ] very large increase of diarrhea, dysentery, dengue, or break bone fever, and malarial dis orders due to the hot and unhealthy rainy season, just commencing, which causes the water supply to be filled with malarial germs, from constant decaying vegetation.
 All medical authorities in the army in Porto Rico agree the sick list s inereas. ing and that m alarming condition may be expected unless the war department promptly arranges barracks for the army of occupation immediately, provides ad- ditional transports (hospital ship Relief sick as can be safely transferred home, convalescents and those enervated by climatic conditions. It is impossible for the men from a northern climate to re- cuperate i'll a tropical country during it's most unhealthy season.
 In conclusion we are glad to report we reached Porto Rico with our medical and hospital supplies just at time when they were most needed, as owing to the lack of steam launches with which to unload the vessels i'll the harbor and those hard aground on coral reef, the medical department could not secure its supplies promptly and our consignment had been most carefully selected, con- taining many useful articles not supplied in hospital equipment of the United States army.
 We cabled to the National Relief com. mission on Aug. 9 to forward to Porto Rico 2 consignment of light groceries, such as condensed cream, cereals, canned soups, clam broth, etc., also pajamas and underclothing, all of which are much needed in the hospitals and are not ob- tainable on the island.
 Attached to the report is letter from General Miles thanking the commission CTS on behalf of the army for the SUD- plies and fora big consignment of Amer ican flags.