The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-01
REPORTS COME IN
More About the Inefhciency of
the Army's Medical Staff.
DR.. GREENLEAF'S ARTICLE
The Celebrated Surgeon Gives His Expe.
riences in ~Cuba-There Are Many
Heroes in the Medical Corps.
Who Deserve Much Credit.

turning detachment of the volunteer
army come new reports regarding the
alleged neglect and inefficiency of the
medical department. There is no doubt
that these reports are too highly col
ored and that there is much to be aid
in defense Of the surgeons of the volun-
teer and regular armies. IL is a fact
that there are many instances i'm which
the devotion and bravery Of the sur
geons have excited the admiration Of
the country. Notable in this respect is
the heroic conduct of Major Ebert, for
merly post surgeon at Fort MissOula,
a sketch of whose gallant conduct was
recently given in these dispatches. But
ii is equally true that there have been
many appointments in the volunteer
service hat have not been made on any
basis of efficiency, but simply on ac-
count of political pull or personal IA
voritism. In this connection, there Is
a case that comes close to home for
Missoula- 1t was the illness of Lieuten-
an Cave of Missoula in Camp Thomas
that first demonstrated the inefficiency
and Indifference of the first regimental
urgeon of the Sd volunteer cavalry,
the Grigsby rough riders. Charges We're
at once preferred against him and he,
rather than face the court martial, re-
signed his position and returned to
North Dakota. Blu at present il is
perhaps true that too much is being
said against the medical department
without that department having an OPP
~portunity to speak for itself. The regu-
lars do not talk much. They are school
ed to silence. n experiences of some
of them have been harder than those
of some of the volunteers, while others
will probably testify that the medical
service that they received was all that
could have been desired. There Is one
instance that has come to the knowl-
edge of the Standard, but which IAN
not be given at present, that demon
strates that the regulars We're treated
with even greater Indifference than the
volunteers. 1t will all be made public
in time. as the military men who have
been seen here all agree that the in
v~estigation will he "A close and thorough
one. In the meantime. the following
article Will be of interest. 1t was writ
ten for the New York Medical Journal
by the celebrated surgeon. Henry :.
Greenleaf, NJ. D., who served i'm the
Santiago campaign:
on returning to the United States af-
ter my experiences gained i'm Cuba. !
feel that it is but just that facts learn
ed and observed there as to the great
~ AA'AA' ~ 'Ni nv tNAdAtE TX hlAl
army and medical corps should come
before the public notice. and especially
before that of the medical profession.
Where only great praise and gratitude
should be expressed for their heroic
work N suffering, | am astonished to
find the daily press and. in some in
stances. medical journals, CritiCising
and finding fault and only placing the
where they are most personally
Fortunately, our records will show,
in due time. where the real merit lies.
but, unfortunately. il is at this present
they need the Encouragement af-
forded by the praise that they SO rich
~ deserve and have earned at a cost
that their country can Y repay. Al
most enough has been said To show the
gallant work of our volunteers. but in
the enthusiasm for those in whom per
sonal interest is felt. we have sadly
neglected To place the credit where it
was most deserved. e.. with the reg
army for its perfect discipline,
GOODNESS, under circum-
which those only who were
present can understand. our standing
army. with the aid of the volunteers.
has placed our country i'm the front
ranks of the soldieTy of the world. Ii
was with great pride that l heard. per-
sonally, a foreign military attache
with wonderment OF the aston
ishing discipline, GOODNESS, and determ-
inat1on of our troops. 1t would be both
impossible and %unErateful to detraci
from the credit of the gallant work of
most OF our volunteers, but the fact re-
that the brunt of the fight was
borne by the regular army, according
to the policy of the campaign, and they
not received their share of glory.
In the medical department is this es-
pecially the case. 1t is with NORTH
cation that ] have heard and read ev-
My the most harsh crit
icism awarded 10 the most excellent
work that our medical officers have ac-
complished, which is i'm no respect sec
Dndary to the work lone by other
branches of our army and navy and
difficulties which appeared insur-
mountable. on the Sth of July we ar
rived of Siboney in the hospital ship
Relief, and some Of Il officers. fnclud-
Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Sem
and Major George NJ. Torney. were
ashore in a launch from the bat
Oregon, The sea during the
part of the day was so rough
that this was only accomplished with
great danger TO the launch and 10 the
lives of those who We're TO make the
trip. On the following day we managed
% secure an anchorage and get our
UNI all'dAF bhN hbl until We ndu LOST /
pne anchor and damaged one Of the
launches. l mention these facts as IL
.ustrating the difficulties met in land
ing The supplies from our ship. This
lad 10 be done entirely i'm small row
when they We're not i'm use for
transporting the wounded. and during
the few hours that the conditions of the
water allowed
II Is true the city Of Texas had and
u was landing, many OF her sup
plies. but she is a much smaller vessel
and could anchor near shore where the
was quiet for the greater part
1f the day. Moreover. through the
Of the navy, there was placed
Al our disposal the launch from the bat
Oregu with an officer and a
Nell-disciplined crew. II the difficulties
hat the Relief battled with i'm the
landing OF her supplies and wounded
are understood. II is plain that similar
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