Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-08-06
I'LL TREATED SOLDIERS
The Sick and Wounded Brought by
the Conoho and Seneca.
SECRETARY ALeER,s STATEMENT

Been Taken to Prevent Repetition
of the Outrage,
Washington, Aug. 4--ColoneI Charles
H. Heyl, OF the Inspector generals Of
flee. has returned to Washington from
New York, where he Went at the di-
rection Of Secretary Alger to make an
examination to fix the responsibility
of the official who sent the transport
Concho to New York from Santiago in
an unfit condition for carrying the sick
and wounded. Later in the day the
secretary made a statement concerning
the Concho, as we'll as the Seneca,
which reached New York about two
weeks ago with sick soldiers after suf-
fering many privations. owing, 1t is al
legged, to the unfit condition of the yes
sci. The secretary says
"At the time they left Santiago the
general desire of convalescents TO come
home doubtless overcrowded both
ships. From the commencement of the
Santiago campaign until within a few
days the terrible conditions on that
coast, where our ships had no shelter
and always with high surf. made the
landing of troops, supplies, ammuni-
ton, artillery and medical stores very
difficult, and there is no doubt much
inconvenience and suffering was
thereby caused that was unavoidable.
The lighters that went with General
Skaters fleet were lost on the way.
Two tows of lighters were subsequently
sent, which were also lost. and ii was
impossible to get supplies ashore except
with the boats from the ships and those
supplied by the navy. Later on
lighter was furnished by the navy,
which was the only one there for many
days.
ION account of the great number of
sick and wounded, which was in excess
of what has been anticipated, there was
no doubt much privation and suffer-
ing. especially among the sick at San
tiago. The captains of the Seneca and
Concho did not report to General Shat
ter, nor TO Quartermaster Humphrey,
that they needed water. Had they
done so, of course 1t would have been
provided. Then, also a large number
of civilians rushed aboard to get away,
and they occupied many staterooms
that should have been given over to the
soldiers. No recurrence of such condi-
tons will be possible hereafter, and no
one regrets more than the secretary OF
war that anything of the kind should
have happened. The general COM
manding that army, the surgeon gen
eral and the quartermaster and COM
missary departments have done the
best they could, but unforeseen circum-
stances, named above, prevented the
conveniences being provided that
otherwise would have been furnished
Secretary Alger, who is determined
that 30 further trouble of the kind
shall occur If in his power to prevent
it, sent the following telegram to Cen
eral Shafter at Santiago
whenever it becomes necessary to
use transports for sick or wounded pur-
pose it should be made the duty Of
some experienced and competent medi-
cal officer to see that only such trans
ports as are in good sanitary condition
and are best suited for the purpose are
selected: that the water supply on
board is ample in quantity and whole
some in quality; that sufficient supplies
of food, medicines, dressings, hospital
stores including delicacies where pos
sible to obtain them, ice, etc, are
placed on board; that sufficient num-
Der of experienced medical officers and
nurses accompany the sick and wound
ed on the voyage; that there is no
overcrowding of the vessel, but that
there are suitable accommodations
for all; that the departure of these
ships be telegraphed to the adjutant
general and surgeon general"
A similar dispatch was sent to the
commanding generals of the army at
Porto Rico and Manila.