The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-28

however, that an examination would be
made of the conditions prevailing at
Chickamauga hospitals. This was prac-
tically decided upon yesterday.
The department is being besieged by
communica ticns from all parts of the
country in favor of a searching examina-
tion under official auspices of all the dis
puted questions regarding the conduct of
the various military departments in the
campaign. Many kilograms and letters
have been received by the Secretary OF
War urging that official action be taken
and personal advice to the same end has
been given by persons of prominence
Up to this time the Secretary has said
nothing TO indicate that ne is unquaii-
fedly favorable TO an investigation. AdJt.
Gen Corbin is opposed TO it.
Gen. Eagan's Denial.
The subsistence officers who have been
criticised so severely profess TO be ready
for an investigation, but they assert that
there is no basis for the criticisms which
are being made. Cemmissary General
Esgan said yesterday that he had asked
the chairman Of the House Committee on
fiuence i5Jr the appointment Of Congress
s.Ozral investigation committee as soon as
the session begins this Winter. There IS
nothing 10 investigate" said Gen Eagan,
-fout since there is such a demand for an
inquiry. let US have one. ] prefer. # an
Investigation is 10 be made, that il he
-o5cldUJ.e5 10y a committee OF Congress
rather than by a military court. Ii con-
duc-ed in the latter way. and 1t were
Wind Gated as you'd certainly be rhe
case. many people would declare that the
court Of Inquiry had been packed by
friends Of rqle commdssary general.
The talk about lack of proper food at
Montauk Point is absolutely false. Be
fore any of the troops arrived there l0o-
900 rations had arrived. There was no
need for any soldier 10 go without food
fitted for his condition of health, provided
the medical department did its duty. The
surgeons We're authorized TO avail them
selves of the law allowing the commits
sary general TO commute rations. thus ex-
pending the money which would ordi-
narily be used for purchasing regular ra-
tions TO buy delicacies and dietary arti-
cles for those on the sick list. Since this
agitation began / have looked in vain to
find one definite criticism, but there have
been plenty of glittering generaiities
which were INTENDED to convict the sub
sistence department Of gross inefiiciency.'
An Investigation Ordered.
AS q result of the storm of indignation
aroused by the reports of the condition of
affairs in the hospitals at the various
camps throughout the country and the
treatment or neglect of sick and wounded
soldiers on board transports, Surgeon
General Sternberg yesterday requested
that an investigation be made of the af-
fairs and administration of the medical
department Of the army, and Secretary
Alger has ordered that it be done
The War Department is greatly stirred
over the terrible reports which appear
daily from camps all over the country
but each head of a bureau in the depart
ment believes that an investigation will
eXonerate him and his bureau.
AdJJ Gen Corbin refused to say any
thing on the subject of the proposed in
Vestigation last night, except that the re-
ports are exaggerated and the result of
the investigation would be welcomed by
the officials.
Surgeon General Sternberg gave out the
following statement yesterday afternoon:
No complaint from the army as TO the
condition Of the sick or the conduct of
ment has been received by the surgeon
general
Later the surgeon general stated that
the published statements that the hospf-
tais at Camp Thomas, Ga. We're not sup
Piled with sufficient blankets, MOSQUITO
bars, etc, were not true. HIS report
shows that up 10 August s the hospitals
at that camp had been sent 3. .42s cots and
bedsieads, 6,5S6 gray blankets. 1888 cot
ton sheets, and 3 $50 mosquito bars.
The surgeon general firmly holds that
the reports have not indicated any lack
of care or attention by mis- department.
and claims that the investigation Will
show this to be true
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn also de-
Tended his department in strong terms
when questioned as to the coming inyes-
tigation. He claimed that the War De-
partment had made every effort to ale
viate the suffering in the camps.
stat,me About Nurses.
In answer to the charge made by DR..
Alexander Kent, that the number of
deaths in the camps was due to lack OF
proper nursing and that the department
was opposed to the use of female nurses
in the hospitals, Secretary Meiklejohn
has prepared the following statement
showing the number of nurses at the diff
ferent camps:
Statement showing sihe number of con-
tract nurses IN service or under orders
for duty August q. IS9S-F,ort Myer. Vir-
ginia. 6S: Fort Mcpherson, Georgia. (ten
en- route), as; Fort Thomas, Kentucky
thve en- route, I5; Fort Monroe, Virginia,
IS; hospital ship Relief, 81; hospital ship
Hudson. 2: hospital snip Missouri, 10; hos
pital srain 3, at large, !; Key West, Fla.,
(Bhree ordered TO Huntsville. Ala), 8;
Santiago de Cuba, 179; Letter, Ch.cka-
mauga Park, Georgia, five en- route IS;
hospitals al Chiekamauga Park Georgia.
other than Letter en- route or on duty, ,2l9;
Sheridan Point. Va, ?: Fernandina. Fla.
en- route or on duty. 20; Camp Alger, Va,
10; Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point, y. Y,
en- route or on duty. IS; Tampa, Fla, II;
jacksonville Fla, en- route or on duty.
50; Porto Rico. 6. Total SIS. OF this
number but 1s2 are ma,es.
In addition TO the above list there are
over S 600 members Of the hospital corps
whose services are available as nurses.
Governor Black had conference today
with Adjt Gen. Corbin in reference 10
the mastering out Of New York yolun
teers. and the removal Of sick soldiers be-
longing to New York regiments to Fire
Island
Not one Of the questions in regard TO
the disbandment of regiments or the care
of the sick has been settled" said the
governor after the conference. 81 am go
ing TO lay the matter before the Secre-
tary. and hope that favorable arrange
ment can be made.
Rev. ksnt's Charges.
Stephen Z. Barton. of the Red Cross
Society, New York, has received this let
ter from Surgeon General Sternberg:
Your letter of August %, inclosing a