The age-herald., 1898-08-09
MUNSON
 MAKES REPORT
[Continued From First Page l

ed to the chief surgeon, he was finally or dered to get on board the Olivette. l was directed to put the Iroquois in condition to receive patients and to take the full capaei- ty of the ship on board.
 While doing this l was able to set ashore considerable hospital tentage and supplies found aboard of her, and having control or her boats, 1 was able to visit other tlanS- poSss in the harbor and land medical sup plies from them. While subsequently, out fitting the Cherokee and Breakwater this work was continued as well as opportunity and limited facilities permitted. Outside of this it is believed that no other regi- mental medical property was ever unloadeu up to the time of my departure With the wounded on July 10. Appealing on several occasions for the of lighter or small steamer to collect and land medlcai sup plies I was informed by the quartermas- ter's department that they could render no assistance in that way and the redlca' department was compelled to rely entlrely lpon it's own energies. l feel Justineu in saving that at the time cT my departure large quantities of medical supplleS ui gently needed on shore still remained on transports. Had the medical depaflihei't carried along double the amount of suppnes # ;s difficult to see how, with the totally inadeuuate land and water trahsport"- ton provided by the quartermaster 5 oe- partment the lamentable conditions on shore could have been in any way I'm proved
 Experience Required
 The outfitting of transports for sick ana wounded is a duty demanding thought anu experience, and should never be intrusteo to any one except a regular medical of- ficer. It includes tho proper policing cf the portions of the ship to be used by the wounded the removal of hunks and par titions to give space and air the utliiza- tion of the ships blankets door mats rugs and carpets to render the hunks mere com fortable the securing of extra supplies tiie establishment of mess ana lauhurS anu the assignment of convalescents to specilic light duties which materially relieve the oyerworked hospital corps. Usually II ls necessary to overcome passive resistance and opposition on the part of the crews and a tendency on the part of the captains to disregard or modify orders. In SeVerai instances in my own experience this acton of the crew amounted almost to muthy and had to be dealt with by tnreats, d show of force and In one ihstahce os '''" use of the irons.
 While executive officer with the general hospital at Fort Monroe, l learned official ly that the captain of the steamer oeHeea positively refused to obey the orders ehie.ii- ating from your office, given him ny the contract surgeon in charge, to proceed t9 New York-he remaining nearly an addl- tional day at Hampton Roads with SICK and wounded, and asserting that ne Wouio obey no orders given by the medical de- partment c, ina which had to be settled by force, eHS- phasizes the fact that no one should DC nlaced in charge of such a ship who Is not aecustomed to command men and enforce obedience.
 With regard to the Red Cross society. if would seem as if the lofty principles or this organization were on the Santiago ex- nedition subverted to individual interests While at Tampa the Red Cross snip, stale of Texas was formally placed under tHe control of the chief surgeon, f1tth corps by pr. Egan, the representative or .u,,o .ne Ho- ciety, he acting under telegraphlc Hisu ue- tions to that effect.
 Red Cross No Assistance
 Colonel Pope accepted this offer and di- rected that the State of Texas accompany the expedition of General Shafter to it's destination Although this order was fuliy understood by Dr. Egan, the State or Texas did not accompany the expedition nor did it arrive at Siboney until the forces had been landed a battle fought ard our bosnitals established and in working order. The first offers of aid made by this society dealt largely in generalties and manifested reluctance to subordinate the organization to the medical department. Too much praise cannot be given to the individual efforts of Dr. Lesser and the Red Cross nurses. Their work was untiring and un- selfish and the assistance rendered by them was of great value.
 In conclusion, it is desired to emphasize lQnantahla prevailing in the army before Santiago were due to military necessity which threw troops on shore and away from the pos sibility of supply without medicines, instrq- ments dressings or hospital stores of any kind. Very respectfully your obedient ser want, EDWARD l.. MUNSON, Captain and Assistant Surgeon U. s. A., AI,,tillan CaIa--