The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-09

ing report concerning the conditions
existing at Santiago. The report ex-
plains what has been done by the med
ical department and gives the disad-
vantages under which the department
operated in Cuba:
Tampa Heights. Fla. July 60 1898.
To the surgeon general, l.. :.
y, Washington Sir: In view
OF the recent charges made
affecting the efficiency Of the
army medical department at Santiago,
and especially with reference to the
conditions prevailing on the hospital
transports sent north with wounded. I
have the honor to submit the following
facts, believing that my position as ad-
1utant to the chief surgeon of the fifth
corps and as the officer in charge OF the
outfitting of the hospital transports
lroquois, Cherokee and Breakwater,
may possibly give value to such report.
Drugs, medicines, dressings, instru-
ments. hospital tentage and supplies
were loaded on the transports at Tampa
in quantities sufficient TO meet the
needs Of the Santiago expedition. These
supplies were divided upon the various
vessels, each organization having its
own equipment. While the bulk of the
supplies were with the organized hos
pitals, the regimental equipment was
largely in excess of its needs and was
intended to be called in TO supplement-
II necessary,the equipment OF these hos
pitals. The landing on Cuban soil was
made as rapidly as possible. each or
ganization accompanied by the medical
attendants assigned to It and troops
were pushed forward with no other
equipment and supplies than
could be carried by the SOL
diers Having no means of
transportation for even the field chests
the regimental medical officers had alb
solutely no resources at their command
except such as were provided by the
orderly and hospital corps pouches. and
the first aid packets carried by the SOL
diers. Having once left their ships the
latter were promptly ordered out of
the small bays at Siboney and Baiqulri
70 permit the unloading Of other ships
These. partially unloaded in obedience
TO their orders. then proceeded to sea
from five TO Is miles. where they re-
mained hove to- Such orders were
given the transports carrying the re-
serve and the first divisional hospital.
The one carrying the reserve hospital
I'm obedience To its orders, proceeded to
join the naval blockading. squadron off
Morro Castle. where il remained five
days and nights, the other transport
disappearing, IL was correctly inform
ed. for an entire week.
During this time the fight at la
Quasina had occurred and large num-
bers of sick and wounded were reauir-
ing treatment. In the meantime a re-
port or the conditions prevailing in
shore was made to the chief surgeon
who promptly laid the case before the
commanding general, requesting that a
lauhch De placed under the control Of
the medical department for the collec-
ton of medical supplies from the vari-
Gus transports. 1t was also requested
that a pack train be organized in the
proportion Of one pack mule to each
regiment 10 transport supples-espe-
clally the field chests-to the front for
proper distribution; and / was sug-
gested by the chief surgeon as avail
able for the performance of these du-
ties. 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
other ships, although there were
large number of naval launches and
boats employed on various other du-
ties. on the third day, by order OF the
adjutant general, one rowboat was
turned over to the medical department
for the purposes above named. and at
the same time an order was issued Cor
land transportation TO carry medical
supplies to the front, not to exceed one
six-mule team
"On getting into this boat with sup
plies from the headquarters transport
II was directed by sundry staff officers
TO take them on various errands. on
my refusal to recognize their authority,
their commanding general. who had ap-
peared on the scene, positively re-
Noked the previous order and directed
that after the landing Of the supplies
already In the boat IT should return
o - al,
for landing to the quartermaster on [
shore I was informed that only /.
pack mules as yet had been landed. I
that neither wagon nor harness horses /
had been brought ashore, and finally, /
that the road was impossible for wag- /
ons. After this boat had been taken I
away the chief surgeon was without I
any means OF communication with the /
medical officers on shore or on the /
transports, or of finding out their wants I
after remedylng the many already 4
known 10 him. This condition OF things /
remained until after the fight at Ia 1
QuaSlnd. at which time there were alb .
spiutely no dressings, hospital tentage I
or supplies of any kind on shore within .
reach OF the surgeons already landed. E
The news Of the La Quasina fight be- I
ing reported to the chief surgeon. ha I
was tnally able 70 get on board the .
DiIEarte and send her 10 Sib0ney
" here she received the wounded. With /
I'm the following day or so the trans /
ports carrying the reserve and first di- 1
visional hospitals were found and un-
loaded Of their hospital contents. the I
latter finally obtaining limited trans
portati0n TO the front. After a couple I
days Of duty on the Olivette l was a. /
rected 10 put the Iroquois in condition
10 receive patients and to take the fun .
capacity on board. While doing this 4
was enabled to set ashore considerable
hospital tentage and supplies. AMI.
having control Of her boats | was able
u visit other transports in the harhor
and land medical supplies from them.
While subsequently Quitting the Cher
1kaP and Rreakwafar this work VAS ]