The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-09

to the front for proper distribution, and
it was suggested by the chief surgeon AS
available for the performance of these
duties. The exigency of the situation
did not apparently appeal to the COM
manding general, and for two days the
medical department was unable to get
transportation of any kind to the ships or
to the shore, although there were large
NUM- Der of naval launches and boats en-
ployed on various other duties. On the
third day, by order of the adjutant gen.
eral one rowboat was turned over to the
medical department for the purposes
above named, and at the same time an
order was issued for land transportation
to carry medical, supplies to the front
mot to exceed one six mule team
"On getting into this boat with sup
plies from the headquarters transport, l
was directed by sundry staff officers to
take them on various errands. On my
refusal to recognize their authority, the
commanding general who appeared on
the scene, personally revoked the previous
order and directed, after the landing of
the supplies already in the boat that it
should return without delay. Presenting
the order for land transportation to the
quartermaster on shore was informed
that only pack mules had as yet been
landed. that neither wagons nor harness
had been brought ashore, and, finally,
that the road was impossible for wagone.
After this boat had been taken away,
the chief surgeon was without any means
of communication with the medical
officers on shore or still on transports, of
finding out their wants or of remedying
the many already known to him. This
condition of things remained until after
the fight at Las Quasima at which time
there were absolutely no dressing, hospital
tentage OF supplies of any kind on shore
within reach of the surgeons already
landed. The news of the Guasima fight
being reported to the chief surgeon he
was finally able to get on board the
Olivette and send her to Sibony, where
she received the wounded.
"Within the following day or so, the
transports carrying the reserve and first
divisional hospital were found and I'M
loaded of their hospital contents, the lat
ter hospital finally obtaining limited
transportation to the front. After q
compile of days duty on board the Olivette,
1 was directed to put the Iroquois in
condition to receive patients and to take
the full capacity of the ship on board
While doing this, was able to set ashore
considerable hospital tentege and sup
plies found aboard of her, and, having
control of her boats, I was able to visit
other transports in the harbor and land
medical supplies from them. While sub
SEQ uently outftting the Cherokee and
BreakWater this work was continued rs
we'll as opportu nifty and limited facilities
permitted; getting supplies from per-
haps third of the transports composing
the feet. Outside of this 1T is believed
that no other regimental medical property
was ever unloaded up to the time OF my
departure with the wounded on July 10.
Appealing on several occasions for the
use of lighter or small steamer to collect
and land medical supplies I was informed
by the quartermasters' department. that
they could render no assistance in that
way and the medical department was
compelled to rely entirely on Its energies
and improvise its own transportation. l
feel justified in saying that at the time
of my departure large quantities of
medical supplies urgently needed on shore
still remained on transports, number of
which were under orders to return to the
United States. Had the medical depart
meut carried along double the amount of
supplies, it is difficult to see how, with
the totally inadequate land and water
transportation provided by the quarter
masters department, the lamentable con-