Evening star., 1898-08-03
THE CONCHo INVESTIGATION.
Maj. Heyl in New York to Conduct
the Inquiry.

the inquiry.
From the New York Herald Today
That the army authorities intend to pro-
ceed promptly with the investigation to
fix the responsibility for the disgraceful
condition of affairs on board the transport
Concho was shown yesterday by the arrival
from Washington of Major Charles H.
Heyl. assistant inspector general, who is
charged with the duty of conducting the
inquiry in New York. and by the fact that
Surgeon General Sternberg has telegraphed
to Major Harvard, chief surgeon with SHAFT
ter's army, asking for a report at once on
the responsibility for the alleged msman-
agement.
Immediately on his isal Major Heyl
went TO quarantine, accompanied by an Of
ficial stenographer, and had long consul
tation with Health officer Doty. after
which he took the testimony of a large
number of patients who had come up from
Cuba on the Ccncho. These proceedings
were held in private. Major Heyl, on his
return from quarantine in the afternoon,
went to the army building and had long
&C inference with the medical officers sta
tened there. When asked about his mis-
sion Major Heyi said:
II have no opinion to express at present,
All car say is that l am here for the pur-
pose of making as thorough an investiga-
ton as possible
To Report in Few Days.
On leaving the army building Major Heyl
said that he intended to take the testi-
mony of former Park Commissioner McMil-
Ian and DR.. A. Monas Lesser of the Red
Cross Society, both of whom came up on
the Concho. He intimated hat he would
return Immediately to Washington and
that he would make his report within day
two.
Colonel Charles c. Byrne of the army
medical dap1 "A the
condition of the Concho to Washington yes
tel day. Speaking of what he had observed
Colonel Byrne said yesterday afternoon
"It sh Guild be borne in mind that the con-
dition of war makes a great difference in
circumstances. One cannot judge of the
condition Of affairs in Santiago by what we
see here. l understand that from the first
there has been scarcity of medical sup
plies in Cuba. Some of the supplies were
left behind when General Skaters army
started from Tampa, after delays and un-
der urgent orders to sail Immediately.
When the army reached its destination it
was impossible under the conditions to un-
load Ill the supplies, and for this reason
a great part of the supplies was taken back
to Tampa in the transports.
e..Nhen the Concho started back from San
tiago | imagine that the authorities were
in a difficult predicament. While there was
scarcity of supplies. they found that they
had on their hands a large number or con-
yaleScents whose condition made it neceS-
sary that they should be got away from
the island and sent home as rapidly as pos
sible. Had they not been sent away the
authorities feared that they would con-
tract feverS, which in their deDllltated con-
d.ion would almost inevitably result fatal
ly 1t was most unfortunate that many of
the men suffered relapses on the way home.
but this was one of those unfortunate
things that could not have been foreSeen-
Il have received no instructions from
Washington in reference to an inyestiga-
ton and my report has been substantially
Al,.-
of overcrowding. but that the Concho was
without proper and sufficient medical and
hospital stores.'
York states that Health Officer Doty said
yesterday afternoon that he found affairs
on the Concho in a deplorable condition,
and that it would take days to thoroughly
cleanse the ship. He said he was surprised
that the sick men on board lived to reach
New York.
Surgeon General Sternberg has received
the following telegram from DR.. A. Monas
Lesser, the surgeon-iu-chief of the Ameri-
can National Red Cross Association, who
was aboard the Concho on her trip from
Santiago to New York:
Every unfavorable criticism of persons
belonging to the regular medical depart
ment of the United States army navy
published as being my statement is not au-
thentic and has not come from me. | have
only the highest praise for Them
This dispatch from DR.. Lesser was en-
tirely voluntary and is source of gratifi-
cation to General Sternberg, who feels that
the officers of his department have met.
far as they were able, all demands upon
them and have done their work in a salts
factory manner.
Another dispatch which the general re-
ceived last night came from Chief Surgeon
Harvard. on duty with Skaters army, and
simply said, No ice needed. Abundant
supply On hand