The San Francisco call., 1898-08-03

which are alleged to be unsuitable for the work to which they were put. With this end in view, Surgeon General Sternberg has sent the following dis patch to Major Havard, the chief sur geon with Shafter's army:
 The management of the medical de- partment at Santiago Is severely criti- cized. Sick and convalescent sent on transports are said to be overcrowded, not properly supplied with medicines or medical attendance or with suitable light diet, Who Is responsible? Report in full and take measures to prevent similar occurrences in future. Acknowl- edge receipt"
 This investigation of the causes which are responsible for the deplor- able condition in which the Seneca and Concho arrived at New York may lead to a similar inquiry into the alleged friction between the surgeon generals of the department and the Red Cross Society.
 The arrival of the Concho with it's sick and wounded passengers, ill-fed and uncared for in every way, has only aggravated the already intense feel ing. It only serves to bring out the probable truth of the statement recently made by a prominent official that the conduct of the medical de- partment in Cuba had been ''sicken- ing failure"
 Returned wounded officers and men from the front unite in their testimony to the efficient and heroic service of the Red Cross physicians and nurses, with out whose ministrations many of them would have died. Not only were their wounds dressed by these faithful work CTS, but they were literally saved from starvation by the timely help of Miss Rarton's staff.
 In connection with this inquiry there will probably be an investigation into the postal service at the front. The entire control of this service has rested in the military and not. with the Post office Department. It Is only since the surrender of Santiago that the depart -ment Itself has taken the matter. in charge. It Is alleged that for weeks after the landing of our troops in Cuba there. existed the greatest confusion and delay in the management of the mail matter arriving at and mailed from the front. Hundreds of thousands of letters and papers were said to have been piled up at Baiquirf, with no at tempt having been made to distribute or dispatch them. When this state of affairs was brought to the attention of the military authorities it was. said to have been received with the utmost indifference.
 The difficulties and hardships en- countered in the management of the
 
 of this confusion, but they can hardly excuse the remark said to have been made by the general in commando:
 ITO = with the mall; we are here to fight, not to write"
 During the afternoon Surgeon Gen eral Sternberg received the following telegram from pr. A. Monas Lesser, the surgeon-in- chief of the American National Red Cross Society, who was aboard the Concho on her trip from Santiago to New York:
 Every unfavorable criticism of per- sons belonging to the regular medical department of the United States army or navy published as being my state ment Is not authentic and has not come from me. I have only the highest praise for them"
 This dispatch from Dr. Lesser was entirely voluntary. Another dispatch which the general received late in the day came from Chief Surgeon Havard, on duty with Shafter's army. and simply said:
 ''No ice needed; abundant supply on hand"