Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
snafter Wants a, Hospital Ship.

Shafter Wants a Hospital Ship.
In view of the many. sensational stories
that were circulated in regard to the dis
patch received. from Gen. Shafter this
morning concerning the alleged extent of
American losses in the battle of Santiago
yesterday, Adiutant General Corbin con-
cluded to make public the text of the dis
patch. 1t was dated in the field near San
tiago July 1, and was received at the War
Department at o'clock this morning. 1t
was follows:
Il fear I have underestimate today's
casualties. A large and thoroughly equip
ped hospital ship should be sent here at
once. Chief surgeon says he has use for
forty more medical officers. Ship must
bring launch and boats for conveying
wounded
(Signed) ''SHAFTER,
Major General, commanding"
The RELIEF Ordered to Santiago.
The officials of the War Department rec
ognized the seriousness of the situation as
indicated in this brief dispatch, and lost no
time In complying with the wishes of Gen.
Shafter. Orders were accordingly sent to
the hospital ship Relief at New York to
proceed Immediately to Santiago, and soon
after word was received from Col. Torney,
the medical officer in charge of the ship,
saying that he would start for Santiago
this afternoon fully prepared to meet all
demands that might be made upon them.
The Relief carries launch and boats, and
SO VIII meet the requisition of Gen. Shafter
IN that respect. The departure of the ship
mas been delayed by the fact that the
launch was not entirely completed un-
I'll this morning. The Relief will pro-
coed to Santiago with all possible expedi-
ton, and as she has a speed of twelve
Knots, 1t Is estimated that she will reach
there about Wednesday or Thursday.
The SoInce to he Used.
Immediately upon receiving Gen. Skaters
Telegram concerning the killed and wound
ed, Surgeon General Sternberg of the army
called on Gen. Van Reypen, the surgeon
general OF the navy, and the two held a
iorg consultation regarding the course to
DC taken. fortunately the ambulance ship
soiace is now in the vicinity of Gen. Shat
Ter s army, and she will be utilized for any
emergency cases which may arise While
the navy ship Solace is designed primarily
fer the use Of the fleet, she will be put at
the disposition of the army whenever that
may be necessary, and the navy and army
ships will 4be used Interchangeable. The
Solace is IS web adapted for treating tine
wounded as her sister ship of the army,
and has accommodations for several hun
dred men. When last heard from. the
solace was at Guantanamo bay, a short
distance from the cable station from which
the dispatches are sent
Medical ofHcers to De Sent.
Hurried preparations are being made by
the War Department to send to Gen. Shat
ter the medical officers he asked for to at
tend to the needs of the wounded as a re-
suit of yesterdays battle. The hospital ship
Relief, which, viii leave New York this
AFTERNOON, has Been fitted out in an admir-
able manner for the treatment of the sick
and wounded, and every comfort possible
Will be provided for the unfortunate. There
is surgeon in charge, with a full corps of
competent assistants and complete outfit
for surgical work. Accommodations for
probably 800 persons have been provided
and, in addition. there has been installed in
the ship carbonating plant and an ice
manufacturing apparatus, which has facili-
ties for making great deal more ice than
is needed aboard ship. and which will be
utilized in supplying the hospitals ashore
and in the Immediate vicinity of the ships
OF course, the greater number of cases of
sickness and wounds primarily will be
treated in the regimental and the division
hospitals, while the Relief will be utilized
to great extent in bringing back to the
United States such cases of convalescents
and the more serious cases of sickness
which it is felt should be brought north for
treatment. The vessel, however, is to re-
main at Santiago any other place to
which she may be sent to receive the sick
and wounded, after which she will return to
the United States.