The Mena star. (Mena, Ark.) 1898-1904, 1898-08-31
THE SICK At PORTO RICO.
Distribution of the Supplies Sent
to the Sick Soldiers by the
Relief Commission.
THE ARMY SICK LIST IS INCREASING.
An Alarming Condition, the Msdtest Au~
thoritiss ssy, May Bs Expected unIsms
Barracks Are rrovidsa for ths Array
and abe sick rrcops Tr~nsfsrrsd nesas
Relief for Cabs.

sno shs SICK troops EFAnsferrsd Mosns
Relief for Cabs
Philadelphia, Aug. so.--Ths yacht
May, which arrived in this city to-day
from Porto Rico via Newport News
brought the report of the representa-
tives of the national relief committee
who went TO Porto Rico to superin tend
the distribution of the supplies seat to
the sick soldiers by the commissions.
The May left this city on August sud
reached Ponce August IL. The report
states that tho com missioners reported
TO Gen. Miles and wss by him refsrrsa
TO Col. Greenlsaf. chief surgeon Of the
army In the fsld Col Greenlssf or
dersd the 10 tons of medical supplies
to be taken from the May and placed
in the lower floor of the custom house..
which 10 now being used as the head
quarters of the army In Porto Rico
After giving details of the distributicn
Of the supplies. the report says:
In almost every instance we found army sur
geons most anxious TO have at their disposf<s
tion money for the purchase OF needed Iux
uries for the sick, such as fresh milk. ice (whes
obtainable) and canned goods. and we are hap.
by to report that In every we have been
able to meet tho demands made upon US There
are about 1900 American soldiers In Porte
Rico and on tho day OF our departure. August
2I, there were over |. 600 men on the sick list.
or this number one-half were cases requiring
prompt and careful treatment There was o
large number OF typhoid cases, but the z3d
inst this disease was not on the increase, 81
fact which indicates that tho malady had been
carried from the camp at home and is not In.
digenous to Porto Rico However, there was q
-
dengue or breakbone fever, aud sven malavfab
disordera due " the hot. unhealthy rainy sea-
son just commencing. which causes the wassr
supply to be filled with malnrial germs fronss
constant decaying vegetation
All medical antheriaies In TIE array IL ps-s=
Rico agree that tbs sick list is increasing snh
that an alarming condition amay bs expected
unless the war department promptly arrsnxos
barracks for the army OF occupation and ifnrAe.e
diately provides additional transports (th4
hospital ship Relief being insuficient) 70 re-
move such Of ths sick men be safely
transferred home, the eonvaleseents and those
snervnted by climate conditions It Ia impos-
sible for men from northern climate TO rcca-v
perate In tropical country during Its most un-s
healthful season In conclusion. we are glad
to report that we reached Porto Rico with
our. medical and hospital supplies jIist
at the time whom they were most needles
-, c-.:: &c :ss lack .: steam isssss;s-ss
with which TO unload the vessels In the hss-
Dor and those hard aground on the coral reef
the medical department could not secure fts
supplies promptly and our consiaumens has
been most carefully selected. containing mAny
useful articles not supplied in the hospisal
equipment OF tho army We cabled TO the rer
tional Red Cross commission the 29d 70 for
ward TO Porto Rico . consignment Of Light
groceries, such ~ condensed cream, cereals
canned soups. clam broth etc: also pajamas
and underciothng. all cf which are much
needed In the hospitals aud are not obtslnsbls
on the island
Attached 10 the report is . lsttes
from Gen. Miles thanking the commits
sioners on behalf of the army for the
supplies and for big consignment OF
American flags; also a letter from Col.
Greenleaf expressing thanks for the
gift of an ice-m aking machine, In
which he says:
cannot adequately express the satfsfaetton
with which the results OF this donation will be
received by the sick Ice in this country IL -
expensive luxury, costing $50 per ton in Porte
Rican money which neoessitates the exercise
OF rigid economy on the part OF our medical
officers In it's use. To have the output OF such
a machine ut our disposal lis blessing. the
benefits OF which car only be appreciated by
those who have served in these hospitals
4 teller supplies for Cuba.
New York. Aug. so. "A cabIegram
from Miss Clara Bar ton at iiavana TO
the central Cuban relief COMMITTEES
said that she needed a steamship to
use in the distribution of supplies and
Stephen +. Barton, chairman of the
committee, has chartered the San An.
tonic from G. II. Mallory & Co. for two
months with the privilege of extend
ing the time to six months. The San
Antonio is sister ship of the State ot
Texas, which was in Miss Barton's
service during May, June and July.
Her capacity is about 500 tons She
will be loaded with Cuban relief sup
plies and will sail probably on
Thursday in charge of Capt Young,
who was the commanding oslices
of the state of Texas, while in Miss
Barton's service. Several agents will
go ON the ship to assist in the re-
lief work. 1t has not yet been deter
mined to what port the ship will &C
first to report to Miss Barton, but IL
will probably 20 TO Havana as Miss
Barton has large quantity of sup
plies there. The plan will be to touch
at all Cuban ports, giving special at.
tention first to those on the NORTH
coast which have had no relief since
the outbreak of the war. The cargo
of the San Antonio will include gem
eral assortment of food and clothing
similar to what has been sent on pre-
yious shipments.