Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-09
WHOSE THE FAULT?
GENERAL sHAFTER ENTERS AN EN-
PHATIC DENIAL.
ASSISTANT SURGEONS STORY
TELLS WHY MEDICAL SUPPLIES
WE'RE NOT AVAILABLE.
General shafter Refused to Furnish
Transportation - Abundance of
Equipment on Transports,
but No Means of Land
Ing 1t.
ASSISTANT SURGEONS STORY


In report to the war department, emphat
ically denies that he is responsible for the
inadequate provision made for the sick ant
wounded brought from Santiago de Cuba
to the United States on the Seneca anG
Concho. Everything possible. he says was
sent with the sick and wounded. The mat.
ter of shortage of water, he says. Is mex.
cusable. He concludes his report as fol.
lows:
There is no excuse for lack of food, as
there has at all times been plenty of that
have no doubt that many more were put
on the ship than should have been, owing
to the great desire to get home. as they had
the fear of yellow fever, and We're almost
wholly without hospital accommodation.
THE sick and wounded had only the
clothing on that they wore into battle. and
of course, that was ragged and worn out
by the time they reached home. There was
none to 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 rem.
edied by the means at hand that was not at
tended to. The surgeons have worked as
well as any men that ever lived. and their
complaint has been universal of lack of
means and facilities.
i do not complain of this for no one
could have foreseen all that would be re-
quired, but / will not quietly submit to
having the onus laid on me for the lacking
of these hospital facilities
General Shafter speaks in high terms of
Dr. LaGarde, and says that he has worked
under the most disadvantageous circum-
ha IL
Tampa until the present time he says there
have never been sufficient medical attend
ants or medicines for the daily wants of
the command. Three times since reaching
CUBA has the command he says been
almost entirely without medicines"
rms statement, he says, is made to him
by the medical directors, and on one occa-
sion they suggested taking medicines away
from the Spanish hospital.
Surgeon General Sternberg has received
the following report concerning the con-
dirions existing at Santiago, medical sup
plies, transportation and other features
connected with the expedition to Santiago
under General Shafter. The report explains
what has been done by the medical depart
ment, and gives the disadvantages under
which the department operated in Cuba:
Tampa Heights. Fla, July %. 1898.
To the Surgeon General, United States
Army. Washington, d. c. Sir:-In view of
the recent charge made affecting the ef-
hctency Of the army medical department at
Santiago. and especially with reference TO
the conditions prevailing on the hospital
transports sent north with wounded, have
the honor to submit the following facts.
believing that my position as adjutant to
chief surgeon, Fifth corps, and as the Of
ffcer In charge of the outfitting of the hos
pital transports IroQuois, Cherokee and
Breakwater may possibly give value to
such report:
Drugs, medicines. dressings. instru-
ments, hospital tentage and supplies were
loaded on the transports at TAMPA in
quantities sufficient to meet the needs of
the Santiago expedition. These supplies
We're divided upon the various vessels. each
organization having its own equipment.
While the bulk of the supplies was with
the organized hospitals, regimental equip
ment was largely in excess of its needs
and was intended to be called In to sup
p'emeht' II necessary, the equipment of
these hospitals.
The landing on Cuban soil was made
as rapidly as possible each ORGANIZATION
accompanied by the medical attendance as
signed to IL. and troops were pushed for
ward with no other equipment and supplies
IMAM could be carried by the soldiers Hay-
ing no means Of transportation for even
neld chests. the regimental medical officers
had absolutely no resources at their COM
mand, except such as were provided by the
orderly and hospital corps pouches and the
irst aid packets carried by the soldiers.
Having once left their ships the latter were
promptly ordered out of the small bays at
siboney and Daiduari to permit the un-
n Shi
loaded ships. in obedience TO their orders.
Then proceeded to sea from five TO fifteen
miles, where they remained hove 10 in
definitely. Such orders were given the
transports carrying the reserve and the first
divisional hospitals. The one carrying the
reserve hospital, in obedience to its orders.
proceeded TO join the naval blockading
squadron off Morro castle. where il re-
mained five days and nights. the other
transport disappearing. If / was correctly
Informed, for an entire week.
During this time the fight at Quasina
had occurred, and large numbers of sick
and wounded We're requiring treatment In
the meantime. report of the conditions
prevailing on shore was made to the chief
surgeon. who promptly laid the case before
the commanding general: requesting that a
launch be placed under the control of the
medical department for the collection of
medical supplies from the various trans
ports. Ii was also requested that a pack
train be organized. in the proportion of
one pack mule TO each regiment, to trans.
port supplies-especially the field chests
to the front for proper distribution: and I
was suggested by the chief surgeon as
available for the performance of these du-
ties.
The exigency of the situation did rot ap-
parently appeal TO the commanding e neral
and for two days the medical department
was unable TO get transportation of any
kind to the other ships or to the shore al
though there were a large number of naval
launches and boats employed on various
other duties.
"on the third day. by order of The ad-
jutant general, one row boat was turned
over to the medical department for the pur-
poses above named. and at the same time
an order was issued for land transportation
10 carry medical supplies TO the front not
10 exceed one six-mule team
"On getting into this boat with supplies
from headquarters transport, / was direct
ed by sundry staff officers To take them on
various errands. On my refusal to recog-
nize their authority. their commanding gen.
eral, who had appeared on the scene. per
sonaily revoked the previous order. and d.
rected, after the landing of the supplies al
ready in the boat, that 1t should return
without delay.
Presenting the order for land transpor-
tation to the quartermaster on shore 1
was Informed that only pack mules had
as yet been landed, that neither wagon nor
hs<Sess had been brought ashore, and,
finally, that the road was impossible for
wagons.
After this boat had been taken away.
the chief surgeon was without any means