The times., 1898-08-09
The PEST SHIPS SCANDAL
Surg. Gen. Stielrnberg's SIC Report
May Be Given Out To-Day.
SKATER REPLIES TO ALGER
He Refuses to BE Responsible for
the Shameful Condition of Affairs
There Was a Lnck of Drugs for
the Army After 1t Left Tampa for
Cuba

Surgeon General S.ernberg has prepared
an elaborate report of his investigation
into the deplorable conditions attending
the transportation of sick and wounded
from Santiago north on the Concho. the
Senaca and other extemporized hospital
ships. which viii probably ge given out
today. II was placed in the hands OF the
Secretary of War yesterday, but 1t was
decided not to make 1t public at once
Secretary Alger has also been inyesti-
eating the matter. He has collected
voluminous amount of data. which Is
now on file in his office, and responses
have been made to his demand for reports
from Gen. Shafter and subordinate Off
GERS who are responsible for gesting the
transports off without adequate eupplied-
Gen. Skaters reply states that the Sen
eca and concho were ordered to Siboney
to report to DR.. Lagarde, who was
charged with the movement OF the con-
vaiescents Col. Humphrey of the quar-
termaSters department, who looked atter
the water supply of vessels, states that
their captains made no request for wa
ter. and 1t was taken for granted tnat
they had plenty on-hand
Dr. Lagarde in his statement says
Surgeons Hicks and Bird who accompa-
MED the Seneca, were furnished with such
medicines as could be spared. and that
there were convalescents and walters
enough to look after the sick on short
voyage. The Concho was accompanied
by Surgeon Lesser. Of the Red Cross and
four female nurses. All available help
was allowed and all medicines that could
be spared were placed on the vessel.
DR.. Lagarde says that ne was short OF
help but did all in his power for the COM
! fort of the men placed on the vessels
| Gen. Shafter speaks in high terms of DR..
| Lagarde, saying that he has worked un-
! der the most disadyantageous circum-
| stances From the day the forces left
| Tampa until the present time there has
never been sufficient medical attendance
! or medicine for the daily wants of the
| command On three occasions the COM
! mand has been almost wholly without
| medicine.
Gen. shafter emphaticaliy denies that
he is responsible for the condition of af-
| fairs and concludes his statement as fol-
lows:
There is no EXCUSE for lack of food.
as there has at all times been plenty OF
that. r have no doubt that many more
were put on the ships than should have
been, owing TO the great desire to get
home. as they had the fear of the yellow
fever. and were almost wholly without
hospital accommodations. The sick and
wounded had only the clothing on tnai
they wore into battle and. course. that
was ragged and worn out by the time
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 remedfed oS
the means at hand. that was not attend
ed to The surgeons have worked as wed
as any men that ever lived, and theil
complaint has been universal of lack o.
means and facilities. I do not complain
of this for no one could have foreseer
all that would be required, but l will no
quietly submit to having the onus laid OF
me for the lack of these hospital facili
ties"
The following order has been issued b.
the Secretary of War:
"Au sanitary matters pertaining to IN
condition of transports and crews are I
he ndaced under the jurisdiction OF medi
cal officers of the United St-tes m rin
boso IA srvice. Ev ry We sci se
In the transport oserv.ce between ua
IT,fted States and Cuban or Pouto Ricd
rao..s is TO carry q m deal officer OF tn
. army or of the mar ne hospital service
wrose duty shall be ';hrt of sani ary n
s,Ds tor of the vessel. a d wh sha e
that n a foreign port no material or por
son Is taken aboard able % convey ye
L-,v f=ver: to keep the crews of the ans
ports unier surveillance. and on the re
turn voyage act as sanitary inspector