Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-08-31
LANDED JUST At
THE RIGHT TIME.
The Y.ehs Nay Carried Msdisins. TO
Porto aies when They wsrs
Needed the worst.

Philadelphia, Aug. 80.-The yaelt
May, which arrived today from Pr.
b. Rico, brought Tho report u the rorr 4.
fentaiives of the National Relief com.
mission, which was compo.ed Of Win.
lam Porr. william Van Ransallear.
Louis q. vaneKum and @. q Graf,
who went 20 Porto Rico 20 superintend
the distribution 81 supplies sent to the
sick soldiers by the commission. Ihs
May, which was loaned 20 the govern.
inent by Mr Van Ren,allear, left Aug.
o. and reached Ponce, Porto Rico, Aug
-. The report states the commission
reported 20 General Miles aid, and wers
by him referred 20 Colonel Greenieaf,
chief surgeon Of the army In the field.
Colonel Greonleaf ordered tho 20 tons %
medical supplies placed on the lower
floor Of the custom house, which Il now
being used ~ the headquarters Of tho
army In Porto Rico Altar giving De-
tails Of the distribution Of supplies, tho
report says:
In almost every instance We found
army surgeons most anxious 70 have az
their disposition money for tho purchas'
Of needed Injuries for the sick, such ~
fresh milk, ice when Obtainable) anG
canned goods, and we are happy 10 re-
port that In every case we have beer
able 10 meet the demands made upon us.
There are about 5000 American sol
diors in Porto Rico and on the day Of
our departure, Aug. q, there were
over 1000 men on the sick list % thi.
number half were cases which required
prompt and careful treatment. Their,
was large number Of typhoid cases
but on Aug %, this disease was not on
the increase, a fact which indicates the
malady had been carried from the camps
At home, and not indigenous of PORT,
I Rico However there was a very large
increase II diarThea, dysentery, dengue
or break bone fever, and mhlarial dis
orders due % the hot and unhealthy
rainy season. Just commencing. which
causes the water supply 10 b. filled with
malarial germs, from constant decaying
vegetation.
All medical authorities in the army II
Porto Rico agree the sick list j. increas
ing aud that an alarming condition MAJ
b. expected unless the war department
promptly arrange. baTacks Tor theaTmj
Of occupation Immediately, provides al
diiional transports (hospltal ship Relic
being lnsuiiicientl. remove such % th'
sick NJ can be- safely Transferred home
convnlescents and those enervated bj
climatic conditions. II impossible fo
the men from n northern climate to ~
ouporato IN a tropical country during Ia
most unhealthy season.
In conclusion we are glad 20 report VI
reached Porto Rico with our medica
and hospital supplies just at time wbcI
they were most needed, ~ owing 10 thi
lack OF steam launches with which q
unload the vessels IN the harbor an,
those hard aground on \ coral reef. th
medical department could not secure 10
supplies promptly and our consignment
had been most carefully selected, con
tanning many useful articles not supple,
in hospital equipment Of the Unite,
States army
We cabled 10 the National Relief com
mission on Aug 20 20 forward 20 Port
Rico a cons gnmcnt Of light groceries
such A. condensed cream, cereals canine,
soups, clam broth, ETC., also pajamas an,
underclothing, al Of which are mucl
needed ia the hospitals aud are not OBJ
tainahle on the island.
Attached 20 the report IL a letter from
General Miles thanking tie commission
or on tehalf Of tho army for the sup
plies and iora big commitment Of Amer
lean flags.