Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-08-12
THE RESPONSIBILITY
For the Fatal Blunders at Santiago.
Supplies We're On Transports Miles from the Military
Leaders Accused Of Incompetence and Indifference.

Appealing on several occasions for
the use of lighter or small steamer to
collect and land medical supplies, was
Informed by the quartermaster's de-
partment that they could render no as.
sistance in that way. and the medical
department was compelled to rely en-
tlrely upon its own energies and i'm.
provise it's own transportation. 1 feel
justified in saying that at the time Of
my departure large quantities of med
zeal supplies urgently needed on shore
still remained on transports. a number
OF which were under orders to return
to the United States. Had the medical
department carried along double the
amount of supplies, it is difficult to see
how, with the totally inadequate land
and water transportation provided by
the quartermaster's department the
lamentable conditions on shore could
have been in any way improved.
General Shafter emphatically denies
that he is responsible for the condition
of affairs. In a report to the war depart
nent concerning the Seneca and Concho
he says that the sick and wounded
who were taken aboard had only the
clothing on that they wore in battle.
and of course that was ragged and worn
cut by the time they reached home
There was none to issue to them at the
time they left, and their own extra
clothing they could not get at. There
has never been a case of suffering here
that could be remedied by the means at
hand that was not attended to. The
surgeons have worked as well as any
men that ever lived, and their complaint
has been universal of lack of means and
facilities.
II do not complain OF this, for no one
could have foreseen all that would be
required, but l will not quietly submit
to having the onus laid on me for the lack
of these hospital facilities"
General Shafter speaks in high terms
of DR.. Lagarde, and says that he has
worked under the most disadvantageous
circumstances. From the day the
forces left Tampa until the present
time he says, there has never been
sutficient medical attendance or medi-
cines for the daily wants of the COM
mand. Three times since reaching Cuba
the command has been almost entirely
without medicines This statement was
made to him by the medical directors,
and on one occasion they suggested talk
ing medicines away from the Spanish
hospitals.
Last evening General Shafter sent a
dispatch as follows: In connection
with my telegram of the 3rd inst. and
the letter of the general officers to me
OF same date, 1 have the honor to say
that since then 1 have talked with the
division commanders and they join me
in saying that the first report was made
so strong because of the weakened and
exhausted condition of the command.
more than 10 percent of which have been
i'll with very weakening malarial fever,
lasting from four to six days and which
leaves every man too much broken down
to be of any service and in no condition
TO withstand an epidemic OF yellow
fever. For strong and healthy regi-
ments coming here now and a little later.
with plenty of tentage to cover them
and not subject to any hardships and
with plenty of nourishing food, the dan
ger, in my opinion and that of the di-
vision commanders would be reduced to
a minimum"