The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-09
Disadvantages Under Which Surgeon
General Sternberg's Assistants La
bored at the SibOney Landing.
DISPATCHES FROM SHAFTER
EXPLAINING THE GROUND ROBINs
WRITTEN BY HIS OFFICERS,
And Repudiating Responsibility for
and Concha-Daily Report.

WASHINGTON. Aug. S.-Surgeon General
Sternberg has received the following report
concerning the conditions existing at
Santiago, medical supplies. transportation
and other features connected with the ex-
pedition to Santiago under General Shafter.
The report explains what has been done
by the medical department and gives the
disadvantages under which the department
operated in Cuba:
Tampa Height Fla, July %.
'"ro the Surgeon General U. S. A., WASH
ington:
'Sir-In view of the recent charges made
affecting the efficiency of the army medical
department at Santiago, and especially with
reference to the conditions prevailing on
hospital transports sent north with
wounded. haye the honor to submit the
following facts believing that my position
as adjutant to the chief surgeon Fifth Corps
and as the officer in charge of the Quitting
of the hospital transports Iroquois. Chero-
kee !, and Breakwater may possibly give
value to such report.
Drugs, medicines dressings, instruments,
hospital tentage and supplies were loaded
on the transports at Tampa in quantities
sufficient to meet the needs Of the Santiago
expedition. These supplies were divided
up or the various vessels, each organiza-
tion having its own equipment. While the
bulk of the supplies was with the organized
hospitals the iregimental equipment was
largely in excess of its needs and was i'm
tended to be called in to supplement, If
necessary, the equipment of these hospitals.
1.-THE landing Ion Cuban soil was made as
rapidly as possible, each organization ac-
companied by the medical attendance as
signed to it, and troops were pushed for
ward with no other equipment and supplies
than could be carried by the soldier Hav-
ing no means of transportation for even
their field chests, the regimental medical
officers had absolutely no resources at their
command EXCEPT such as were provided by
the orderly and. hospital corps pouches and
the first aid packets carried by the soldiers.
Having once left their ships the latter were
promptly ordered out of the small bays at
Siboney and Daiquiri to permit the unload
ing of other ships. These partially unloaded
ships, in obedience to their orders, then
proceeded to sea from five to fifteen miles.
where they remained hove to indefinitely.
Such orders were given the transports car
rying the reserve and the first divisional
hospitals The one carrying the reserve hos
pital in obedieSlce to it's orders proceeded
to Join the naval blockadng squadron off
Moro Castle, where it remained five days
and nights. thesother transports disappear
ing. if I was correctly informed, for an en-
tire week. During this time the fight at
Las Quasimas had occurred and large NUM-
bers of sick and wounded were requiring
treatment.
SHAFTER CRITICISED.
''In the meantime a report of the condi-
tions prevailing on shore was made to the
chief surgeon who promptly laid the case
before the commanding general requesting
that a launch de placed under the control
Of the medical department for the collection
of medical supplies from the various trans
ports 1t was also requested that a pack
train be organized in the proportion of one
pack mule to each regiment, to transport
supplies-especially the field chests-to the
front for proper distribution, and l was
suggested by the chief surgeon available
for the performance of these duties The
exigency of the situation did not apparently
appeal to the commanding general, and for
two DAYS the medical department
able to get transportation of any kind to
the other shipsEor to the shore although
there were a large number of naval
launches and boats employed on various
other duties.
"On the third day, by order of the adju-
tant general one row boat was turned over
to the medical department for the purposes
above mentioned, and at the same time an
order was issueo for land transportation to
carry medical supplies TO the front. not to
exceed one-six mule team. On getting into
this boat with supplies from the headquar-
ters transport was directed by sundry
staff officers TO take them on various
errands. On my refusal to recognize their
authority the commanding general, who had
appeared on the scene, personally revoked
the previous order. and directed, after the
landing of the supplies already in the boat.
that it should rhturn without delay. Pre-
senting the order for land transportation
to the quartermaster on shore / was In
formed that only pack mules had az yet
been landed: that neither wagon nor har-
ness had been brought ashore, and finally
that the road WIS impossible for wagons.
After this boat mad been taken away the
chief surgeon whs without any means OF
communication with the medical officers on
shore or still on transports. of finding out
their wants. or df remedying the many al
ready known to him.
This conditions of things remained until
after the fight at Las Quasimas, at which
time there were absolutely no dressings.
hospitals. tentag9 or supplies of any kind
on shore within :reach of the surgeons al
ready landed. The news of the Quaslmas
hght being reported to the chief surgeon.
he was finally able to get on board the
Olvette and send her to Siboney where she
received the wounded Within the follow
ing day or so the transports carrying the
reserve and first divisional hospitals were
found and unloaded OF their hospital con-