The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-17

Statement by Brig. Gen. George NJ.
Sternberg. surgeon general of the
army:
Ot the opening Of the war we had in
our depots medical and surgical sup
plies for $4,000 men. My orders hal
been to make nc emergency purchases
until war was declared: consequently,
/ could do nothing until the actual OUT
break of hostilities. Then, of course,
we lost no time In seeking to provide
everything that was required. Many of
the things we wanted, however, were
not on the market i'm quantities-such
things. for example, as cases of in
struments. medical and surgical chests,
~litters. and folding cots, chairs and ta-
bles for field hospitals. Time vas re-
quired to manufacture articles of this
sort, and thu 1t has happened that
the troops have lacked a good many
things that they ought to have had.
At the same time, no troops have gone
to the front without ample medical and
surgical supplies, and none will taxi
the field without everything that is
requisite in this line. For common
sense reasons, we have furnished sup
plies first TO those who were to go first
to the front. On the other hand, the
regiments at Camp Alger. and some of
those at Camp Thomas, are still in
sufficiently supplied with field outfits.
though all have been provided with ev-
erything necessary for immediate use.
The only reason why full outfits have
not gone to all regiments is that IL has
been impossible to get them from the
contractors. The latter have been con-
stantly urged to make haste, but fire.
quently they nave disappointed us. A
manufactures. for instance, promises
us a certain number OF medical chests
within ten days. and at the end of the
time he offers an excuse for delay. We
cannot very well go TO somebody else.
because the somebody else would not
be prepared to produce the goods i'm
mediately. Nevertheless, full outfits
are being rapidly sent to the front. and
by July 20 all the troops in the field
will be completely provided.
This department has completely
equipped a steamship. the Relief,
which is TO be used as an army am
bulance vessel. It is a superb floating
hospital, provided with everything that
IL latest and best in the way of hos
pital improvements, including ma
chinery for making thousands of
pounds Of ice per day and an N-ray
plant for the use of surgeons in dag
nosing bullet wounds. We have also
fitted up an ambulance railway train.
which consists of 10 tourist sleepers.
two kitchen and dining cars. and a
combined passenger and baggage car.
II has been placed under the charge Of
trained nurses. and Will be kept per-
manently at Tampa. except when car
rying sick and wounded to points des-
ignated by the proper medical officers.
Statement of Brigadier General John
NJ. Wilson, chief of engineers Of the
army.
There has been neither delay nor
lack of energy in my department. We
have been carrying on with great rap
idity the construction of a large num-
Der of permanent batteries. the cree
ton of temporary batteries at de-
fenceless places. the overhhuling Of old
ornaments at existing works, the pur-
chase OF submarine mines and search
lights. the maintenance Of mine fields.
and the buying Of siege material. tools
and instruments. EmplacemenIs have
been built for a large number Of coast