The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-09

" rb49OSs
Washington, Aug. Sturgeon Gener-
al ~Sternberg has received the following
report concerning the conditions exist
ing at Santiago. The report explains
what has been don by the medical de-
partment and gives the disadvantages
under which the department operated
{ III Cuba:
Tampa Heights, Fla, July %. 1898. To
h Surgeon General United States
Army. Washington, D. C.
Sir: In view o. 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, [
nave 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 Quitting of the hospital transports
Iroquols, Cherokee and Breakwater will
possibly give value to such report.
Drugs, medicines, dressings, instru-
mentS, hospital Uentage and supplies
were loaded on the transports at Tam
pa 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 was with the organized hos
pitfalls, he regimental equipment was
largely in excess of its needs and was
INTENDED to be called in to supplement,
If necessary, the equipment of these
hospitals. The landing on Cuban soil
was made as rapidly as possible, each
organization accompanied by the med
zeal attendants assigned to it, and
troops were pushed forward with no
other equipment and supplies than
could ~be~carried by the soldiers. Hav-
ing no means of transportation for even
the field chests, the ~regimental medical
officers had absolutely no al
their command except such as were
provided by the orderly and hospital
corps pouches and the first aid packets
carried by the soldiers.
TRANSPORTS DISAPPEARED.
4. Having once left Their SHIPS the latter
were promptly ordered out of the small
bays at SibOney n Baiquiri to permit
the unloading of other ships. These
partially unloaded ships, in obedience
to their orders, then proceeded to sea
from five to Is miles, where they re-
manned i've to. Such orders were |
given the transports carrying the re-
serve and the first divisional hospital. |
The one carrying the reserve hospital,
in obedience to its orders, proceeded to
join the naval blockading squadron off
MORO Castle, where it remained five
days and nights, the other transports
disappearing, if I was correctly in
formed, for an entire week. During this
time the fight at La Quasina had &C
CURED and large numbers of sick n
wounded were requiring treatment. In
the meantime a report of the conditions
nrpN-ai1inU inchnf.a Wnc npoda fn tho
chief surgeon, who promptly laid the
case before the commanding general,
requesting that a launch be placed I'M
der the control of the medical depart
ment for the collection of medical sup
plies from the various transports. 1t
also requested that a pack train
be organized, in the proportion of one
pack mule TO each regiment. to trans
port supplieS-especially the field chests
to the front, for proper distribution;
and I was suggested by the chief sur
as available for the performance
of these duties.
NO TRANSPORTATION.
The exigency of the situation did not
appeal to the commanding general, and
for two days the medical department
was unable TO get the transportation
OF any kind to the other ships or to
the shore. although there were a large
II III 10 q Gin "a
employed on various other duties. On
the third day, by order of the adjutant
general, one rowboat was turned over
to the medical department for the pur-
poses above named, and at the same
time an order was issued for and
transportation to carry medical sup
plies to h front, mot TO exceed one
team"
On getting into his BOAT with sup
plies from the headquarters transport,
t was directed by sundry staff officers :
o take them on various errands. On
ny refusal to recognize their authority. K
heir commanding general, who had 6
appeared on the scene, positively re-
the previous order and directed. z
the landing of the supplies al
eady in the boat, that it should return
delay. Presenting the order
or and transportation to the quar-
ermaster on shore, l WAS informed T
hat only pack mules had as yet beer
anded; that neither wagon nor har-
had been brought ashore; and,
inally, that the road was impossible -
or wagons. After this boat had been :
AIKEN away the chief surgeon was e
any means of communication 81
ritn the medical officers on shore or m
n transports. or of finding out their f,
ANTS or remedying the many already S
nown 10 him.
NOTHING FOR WOUNDED. Sc
This condition of things remained &c
ntil after the fight at La Quasina, at -,
-hich time there were absolutely no
ressings, hospital tentage or supplies q.
. ~ oH SnoIe "IthIn reach or OF
ews of the Quasina fight being re- y.
ortcd to the chief surgeon. he was a,
naliy able TO get on board the Olivette nj
nj send her to Siborey. where She =,
the wounded. Within the fol- ~
~ ~ 49, ~ % az uansPottS carry th
tails were found and u%nloaded of 80
Ieir hospitaDcontents the latter final 10,
obtaining limited transportation to 90
Ie front. After a couple of days duty -
l the Oliyette, / was directed to put ~
=. ~ 70 receive pa w;
'ari. While doing this I was enabled -