The times., 1898-08-10
The Medical Officers at Santiago
al Fault, He Says.
NO SUPPLIES ASKED FOR
He Claims Tint the Only Requisi-
tfon Received From Cuba Was
Filled Promptly by the Hospital
Ship ReIief-Land TranspOrta-
tion on the Island Is Difficult.

Two of the officers most directly con-
cerned in the hospital ship scandals and
in the dispute regarding the delivery of
medical supplies in Cuba made statements
yesterday. one of them IN the form of an
official report to the Secretary of War.
The report of Assistant Surgeon Edward
L. Munson, in regard TO the medical ar
rangements in the Santiago. campaign.
has given new turn TO the controversy
as to the medical situation at Santiago.
The letter is so specific in its statements
and so circumstantial IN It's recital of the
details that there has been in some quar-
ters a reversal of the opinion which held
Surgeon General Sternberg almost solely
responsible for the defects in the medical
service at Santiago. and for the suffering
on the hospital transports Seneca and
Concha
Monday Gen. Shafter had his innings.
when he sent a telegram TO the War De
partment which apparently convicted the
surgeon general of ineficiency, while ii
exonerated himself from all responsible
ity Yesterday the commanding general
was severely criticised in the report of
Surgeon Munson, and the surgeon general
is. so far as this report goes. thoroughly
relieved of blame.
The portion of the Munson report which
has attracted most attention is the state
ment that Gen. Shafter disregarded for
two days request or the medical Off
GERS 10 have launch sent out 10 collect
some medical supplies from the trans
ports, which had been allowed to lie far
out at sea without having discharged all
of their cargoes
With the publication Of various reports
in regard TO the mediuai arrangements.
the chances of thorough official investi-
cation are increased, but there is as yet
no definite indication that any formal
method Will be adopted By the Secretary
OF War TO reach the truth in the matter
The result of this and of the continued re-
ports of inefficiency and irresponslbility is
to bring the whole subject into promi-
hence a large official scandal.
A logical outcome and one which is
confidently expected, will be a formal in
yestigation by military board of the
whole matter in controversy. The Sacre-
tary OF War mas not yet indicated that
he will order the appointment of any in
vestigation board. but he has been made
aware of the pressing demand from all
parts of the country that the matter be
sifted TO the bottom and the officers in
fault for the shortcomings of the service
exposed.
Although some persons are disposed to
place reliance in the report of Surgeon
MunsOn as conclusive ecidence that the
fault is not with the medical department
there Is by no means a general inclination
to hold the surgeon general of the army
blameless.
The following extract Of a report made
by Surgeon General Sternberg to the See.
retary of War was given out yesterday
afternoon:
When the regular. trpops were ordered
into the field the Commanding officers OF
regiments were directed to take with
them complete field outfit and medical
supplies for three months. 1 inclose
herewith a memorandum showing the
medical supplies which have been sent &c
the Fifth Army Corps at Tampa and
Santiago. The only requisition for medi-
cal supplies received from the chief sur.
geon of the Fifth Army Corps at Santa
go is one on July %, 1898, by cable as
follows:
Santiago de Cuba. July %.
." Surgeon General, L. S Army, Wash
inSton:
Wanted urgently: Quinine tablets
1000 bottles; strychnine tablets, 100 bot
! ties; calomel and soda tablets. 100 bottles
| caiomel. 200 grammes; nitric acid. in two
ounce vials. 100; test lubes, 1000; Fowle
| solution, 1000 bottles.
"'V. HARVARD.
" Surgeon U. S. A, Acting Chief Sur
geon.'
'The supplies asked for were sent b,
/ the Olivette in addition to a large quanti
| ty of medical supplies of all kinds. which
| had ordered to be put on board that shi
and delivered at Santiago-see memoran
/ dunn attached
| Il beg leave to remark that recent ad
/ vices indicate that a majority of tn
| cases of yellow fever now occurrin
! among the troops are malarial in char
| acter, and that there has been an ampI
| supply of quinine. which is the principa
remedy required in this form of fever
have made every effort to anticipat
the wants of our sick and wounded sol
diers in Cuba, without waiting for requi
! sitions, but as We had had communica
/ ton by cable, the fault does not res
! with me If, owing to the failure on tn
part Of the chief surgeon with Gen. Shat
| ter's army TO ask for necessary sup
| plies, there has been failure to NEE
| the requirements of the sick
| The hospital ship Relief, which arriv
| ed at Siboney July s, had on board med
| icines for twenty regiments for si
| months, calculated upon the basis of tn
| field supply table, and large supplies i
addition to the more important medicines
hospital stores, dressings, etc. If thes
supplies were inadequate, there was am
| pie time to inform me of the fact befor
the sailing of the Onvette on July 26.
81 inclose a copy of a letter Just re
ceived from Capt. Edward Munson, as
sistant surgeon United States army
which fully accounts for any deficiency O
| medical supplies at Santiago.'r
| The letter by Surgeon Munson review
| the whole subject at great length H
says ample supplies of all sorts were ia k
en- to Cuba on the transports. The trouble
was that the supplies could not be got
| ten off the transports.
! The partially unloaded ships. in obedi
ence to their orders. proceeded to sea fror
| 5 to 10 miles. where they remained hov
| to indefinitely. The one carrying the re
serve hospital, in obedience to its orders
proceeded to join the naval blockadin
squadron off Morro Castle, where ii re
| mained five days and nights the othe
transports disappearing for an entir
week During this time the fight a
| Ouasima had occurred and large number
| of sick and wounded required treatmen
In the meantime, report of the condt
tions prevailing on the shore was mad
to the chief surgeon, who promptly lai
the case before the commanding genera
requesting that launch be placed un
| der the control of the medical depart
ment for the collection of medical sur
| plies from the various transports. 1t wa
| also requested that a pack train be OF
ganiZed. in the proportion of one pac
| mule to each regiment, to transport SUI
| plies-espeeially the field chests-to tn
| front for proper distribution.
Ouarterma Ster General I'D in fytoY deem