Hutchinson gazette., 1898-10-13
DUE TO FORESIGHT.
Tho Naval Medical Corps Fine
War Record.
WERE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES,
The Greatest Care Exercised In soIeo'-
Ing Volunteer Medical Officers
Only One Surgeon Killed
During tho War

During tho Whr'
Washington, October ll.--l'roDaply
no better Illustration can be Iouhd
of the foresight exhibited by the navy
In preparing for the war Than Is az
forded by the history OF the med'eal
corps during the struggle, ans is
set out IN the annual report OF oHr-
rcon General W. X, Van Reypen'
Which Is the first Of the navy bureau
reports submitted for publication
Surgeon General Van Reypen be-
Gins win q modest tribute to the
good judgment and foresight OF ms
predecessor, General Tyron, VINO, IN
putting In order and equiPplng sew
eral naval hospitals, was OF incalcu-
liable service to the bureau, enabling
Il to properly care for the sick ana
wounded OF the navy during 'he war
When the Maine was blown up, sur
geon General Van Reypen was IN
charge of the bureau, and began
preparations Immediately for any
contingency. The hospitals were fully
equipped; plans were prepared 10
furnish medical and surgical supplies
In any quantity NO auul,lono. lna.,'aI en
pense was incurred uhtll war ,,'S se.n"su
immlnenti then every 'essel my ~
be engaged was given u full outht OF
medical supplies lor "aF' ~ "na,un
patton OF a large ihcreuse VI Wv, WV "",yi ma
proper oulhls were moue Ie"SS ""u
boxed for u large hummer VI sn'ps ,a
ready lor ea1' la'vnV m,a ,,'', i'' . " sold the
an instance during lhe war; So,u wy
surgeon general 'ol any Nessel n",
ing had TO wait Tor her l''o''"'
stores ,,..,
~ was KNOWN u'"t Wv i",''S So,,
corps was Inadequate III hhh'pvr loi
war, yet there was no law a~utholl@. ~
ing the employment on Noiun'esl
medical officers but 'neu'cu' ,l, Vo"tns .'S
were sent ouI IN ANTICIPATION 10 .i,e
principal cities TO examine oPPlleonss
for appointments, ana as cohse-
quence when war broke out Tue iheu-
ical department hau at manu- iIoni
which to make selections OF volunteer
surgeons long liSd OF wen euue"'eu
men, and thlrty-seven OF 'hese were
appointed out OF 2'OOO aPpheoh'S'
Surgeon General Van Reypen SAYS
"Ihey have rendered eiiieleht ser
vice, and have been creult 10 the
navy, Some have had llhusual ana
trying experiences, but they nave ac-
commodated themselves to thelr en-
vironments, and have Justtleu uhelr
appointments" go, q,
Only one medical oHicer was k'''eu
during the war, Assistant surgeon
John Blair Gibbs, VINO fell at uuon-
tanamo, serving with the marine DAT
talon,
The medical department hNd loh8
desired to establish hosPllal service
at sea on speelaIIS selected NeSSeh
and the approach OF war gave II an
opportunity to demonstrate Hhe WIS
dom of Its propositions ana the en-
cheney Of It's methods Ihe steamer
Creole was purchased, and Wlbh Vhe
valuable assistance OF Naval Con-
struct0r Woodward, was converted
into an ambulance ship within slN.
teen days, iilling every oPpI'ahce Oh
modern surgery, dlsnresIing appa-
ratus, cold storage, laundry and ele-
vator, She was pioneer IN her work,
indicating n step in advance Phat II
we'll became the United States to
take. The report gives a succinct
history, of the valuable services rem
dered by the Solace in carlng lor lhe
sick and wounded, and distributing
stores and supplies, and also dellca-
cies and comforts, which had been
supplied in abundance for the sick
and wounded by generous ANA patri-
otic individuals and societies from
every part of the United States.
Says the surgeon general: I'm this
war woman has done her perfect
work, and the medical department OF
the navy Is profoundly grateful for
the money contributed and supplies
furnished for the aid OF the sick and
wounded of the navy. Patriotic wo-
men have ably supplemented the eff
forts of the government, and their
nssistance has been thoroughly ap-