The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-20
COLONEL KESSIER'S ORDERS.
Red Cross Leaders Say They Were strin-
gent and Oppressive.

gent and Oppressive.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.
San Francisco, July 19.-The Red Cross
leaders are complaining of their treat
ment at the hands of Colonel Kessler, of
the Montana regiment. They allege
that he made the ship so uncomfortable
for Eugene Rosenthal. the Red Cross
nurse assigned to it, that Rosenthal was
obliged to come ashore on Monday and
seek a solution of his uncomfortable po-
sition. Kessler. 1t is said, sent him far
down into the hold of the ship, and
when Rosenthal protested said he could
take that or nothing, and thai he had
received no orders to do anything for
him, anyway. He refused to allow Cap
tain Duncan of Company l., who takes
his hat off to the Red Cross and has
thanked the women of the Red Cross
with tears in his eyes for what they did
for his men, to give his room to Rosen-
thai pending a rearrangement. 1t was
then that Rosenthal, In despair. hailed
a boat to take him ashore. He went di-
rectly to Mrs. w. b.. Harrington, state
Red Cross president, and without a mo-
ment's delay she ravel with him to
find Major Merriam of the army head
quarters. From one hotel to another
they went until they found some one
who could advise them what was to be
done. Instructions were given Rosen-
thai to be at the wharf early in the
morning to go with General Merriam
and other officers when they went out
to the Pennsylvania on the Mcdowell.
General Merriam attended to the
matter and Rosenthal sailed under the
charge of his commission. 1t trans
pired that no official order had been
received by Colonel Kessler. Rosenthal
was prepared for all that followed.
When he first went aboard he present.
ed a letter of recommendation from
Major Choate of the eth California.
Colonel Kessler looked at it, CAV it
back to Rosenthal. saying. II don
know this man." Rosenthal has had
charge of the Red Cross hospital at
Camp Merritt and Is a special favorite
Of the men of all regiments. He has
charge of all the Red Cross stores FIR
the voyage and part of the hospita!
equipment sent by the Pennsylvania.
The hospitality committee of the Red
Cross also complain of Colonel Kessle:.
1t appears that Colonel Kessler in
structed the police not to allow any II
on the dock while the men were rriEg
aboard. and, upon the suggestion that
the Red Cross women SHOULD be an eX-
ception. he replied, NO" and mo" it
came near being. despite the fact t1at
there were ample provisions and plen-
- ~ W ehc
ing Red Cross supplies were permitted
to drive on the dock, but the corps of
women who were to dispense them and
who were properly identified by passes
from General Merritt before he left,
were denied admission by the police.
A few of them had resorted to riding in
on an express Wagon to evade them.
One of the ladies went to Colonel kes-
sler and asked that he have his men
drawn up in companies, in which for
nation it would take them only a few
moments to get them coffee, sand
wiches and fruit. He is alleged to have
replied that ii would suit him better to
have his men go board and fed there.
One captain came up to the ladies and
asked IL they would not look after his
men, as they were starving. 1t was
then IL o'clock and they had their camp
breakfast at 5 o'clock. Mrs. Lowen-
berg was at first adverse to allowing
any liberties with Kessler's orders, as
one of the rules of the Red Cross con-
%stitutfon is that they shall never inter-
fere with military discipline, but al
WAYS stand ready to help. Later many
of the men were fed on the wharf.
Lunches were sent aboard to others.