Evening star., 1898-08-08
Alleged Neglect of the Sick at Santi-
ago.
TEE CONCHO AND TIE SENECA
Declares That Medical Supplies
Were Lacking.
HAD FOOD IN ABUNDANCE

Secretary Alger has been making a care
full investigation into the conditions at
tending the transportation Of the sick and
wounded from Santiago to the United
States. After getting the information in
/ the possession of Surgeon General Stern
berg he cabled General Shafter with spe-
sial reference to the Seneca and Concho.
He called the attention OF the general to
the report that thesa vessels came away
without attendants AMI medicines and short
of water. The reply of General Skater,
received today, states that the Seneca and
Concho were ordered 10 stop at Siboney
and report to the chief medical officer there
to carry convalescents home. Dr. La
Garde had charge of their NOV ements.
Colonel Humphrey looked after the water
supply Colonel Humphrey reports that
the captains Of the vessels made no re-
quest for water. SO 1t was taken for grant
ed that a supply was on hand
DIR. La Garde states that Surgeons
Hicks and Birds, who accompanied the
SeEeca, were furnished with such medi-
cines as could be spared. There were con-
valescents and walters enough to look after
the sick on a short voyage
The Concho was accompanied by Surgeon
Lesser Of the Red Cross and four female
all medicines that could be spared were
placed on the vessel. DR.. La Garde states
that he was Short of help and everything
pretty much" but that ne did all in his
power for the comfort of the men placed on
the vessels.
Medical Department Deficient
Gen. Shafter speaks In high terms of Dr.
La Garde and says that he has worked
under the most disadvantageous circum-
stances" From the day the forces left
Tampa until the present time he says that
there have never been sufficient medical
attendants or medicines for the daily wants
of the command Three times since reach
Ing Cuba has the command" he says been
almost entirely without medicines" This
statement, he says, is made 10 him by the
medical directors, and on one occasion they
suggested taking medicines away from the
Spanish hospital.
General Shafter emphatically denied that
he is responsible for this condition of af-
fairs. Such, he says, is not the case
Everything possible was sent with the sick
and wounded. The matter of shortage of
water, he says, is inexcusable. He con-
cludes his report as follows:
Plenty of Food.
There is no excuse for lack of food, as
IL
I 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 were al
most wholly without hospital accomoda-
ton.
The sick and wounded had only the cloth
irg 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 remecied
by the means at hand that was not attend
ed to. The surgeons have worked as well
as any men that ever lived, and their COM
plant has been universal of lack of means
and facilities.
Il do not complain of this, for no one
could have foreseen all that would be re-
quired, but l will not quietly submit to
having the onus laid on me for the lack of
these hospital facilities"
Surgeon General Sternberg has several
times stated that If there was any fault
attending the moving of the sick and
wounded from Cuba to this United States
that it was the fault of the officers ct
Santiago, General Skaters report states
that this was not wholly the case and that
all was done that means permitted. What
action Secretary Alger will take in the
matter Is not yet known.