The evening times., 1898-08-31
Surgeons Testimony.

We should really like to convince the
War Department that the statements
concerning the needless sunerinSs OF
our soldiers are not merely the crea-
tions of newspaper fancy and malice
There is some evidence relating 10
Santiago that seems worthy OF lts al
tsntion. In the Medical Record. when
was at first almost as much disposed
to discredit the reports as the war De-
partment itself, two army surgeons
give rhe results of their experience.
One. DR.. Victor C. Vaughan. was at
tached to what he regards as mcdei
army hospital, where the wounded re-
cs;ved the most scientific treatment.
Rut even he admits there were no ar
rangements for bringing the wounoeo
from the firing line to the hospital
This is a defect to which we have caiied
attention often. because it is the leaSt
excusable and is responsible Tor the
very worst horror of the war-one that
can hardly be pictured without tears
or indignation. Besides the sonnet mes
intense suffering of the wounded as
tbev crawled or limped to the rear
through the heat in search OF hos
pital. there was the loss Of more imam
| sixty wounded mel of the S cond Brig
ade On the rolls they appear as miss
inc" and their fate can never be pos'-
t;yalv known. The probable eXplana-
tion and the only one that has been
offered. is that they, like the other
wounded men. tried to find the un-
known rear to which they should nave
| heen borne on litters. Losing their way
| in the tall grass. they were unable To
| go farther and literally starved to
| death. One man had crawled to tree
| There he was found sitting, dead. with
| a photograph of his wife in one hand
and of his baby in the other.
We think there never has been an
other battle worthy of the name, al
least in this century. in which nobcdJ
was charged with the important dut!
of taking the wounded to the rear.
The other surgeon, DR.. James S. Ken
pedy. was not in a model hospital
He says that four days after his ar
rival the supply of medicines for tn
frequent. distressing, and dangeIou
| dysentery and diarrhea was all gone
and he had only quinine for the feve
patients. On the steamer Olivette h
saw persons helping themselves freel,
to champagne, ice cream, and othe
delicacies, but mot one particle eve
reached a hospital"
Then he recites what ought to con
vince the War Department that some
body in the medical service was
least negligent. He vouches for tt
, | truth of the statement. On Thursda!
, August II, a regiment was ordere
aboard a transport for voyage HON
; | and all who. were able sailed ava!
with the exception of a private. VIII
, was left by accident. Not KNOWN
, where to go that night, this private n
| turned to the regiments camp groun
There he found ten sick men who ha
been abandoned. The officers suppose
, | the doctors would care for them, bl
E they were left alone, without docto
or a nurse, or medicines. or food of ar
a | kind, or water Being unable to wa
e and being remote from all human crei
: lures, there was nothing left for ther
{ as the surgeon states, but starvation I
j | suicide.
q After commenting on these thing
e the Medical Record advises Surget
r General Stefnberg to be more pressil
- - FL