New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-22
thing can. Hopin, you are having an ehJoS
able summer, | am sincerely yours. ,
~ r. A. ALGER.
RED CROSS WORK REVIEWED.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF SURGEON TO THE
ORGANIZATION.
up LESSER TELLS WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED

! DR. A. Monae Lesser. executive surgeon o. the
! American National Red Cross has submitted MS
report OF the Red Cross work during the war 10 me
president Of the American Nasional Red cross inc
report is divided into two parts the hrst de'iihs
! with the work Of the Red Cross from the time OF
| the declaration Of until the day OF the Dcsh-
ming OF active service In the field. and the second
part with the service in the field from the Tune Vi
arrival until the day OF departure from CUBA Inc
diseases met In Cuba and their treatment VIII be
embodied in a special medical report and presented
IN the star OF the Red Cross Hospital In present.
| ing the present report Dir. Lesser writes; i peg
to state that remark herein should be CONSTRUCT
| as unfavorable criticism my part for snail
simply endeavor detail the facts Of the situations
| as they existed in connection with hed CroSS
| work"
In the first part of the report DR.. Lesser de-
| orIhes how Immediately after the declaration of
war he was directed by the president OF the Amer
! lean National Red Cross to secure stan OF COM
! pe;ent physicians. male and female nurses anu
practical assistants for active service Applications
! for enlistment sent TO the fed 'rosS iio'
| pital. in this city and DR.. Lesser endeavored 10
! select staff by personal interview ana eNaih""-
tim with special reference to the applicants prop
! able susceptibility to disease He had however ~
rely largely on recommendations OF o'hefs III ''c
selection of his staff and had to depend upon the
| Judgment OF others to choose among those WHOM
! he had personally enrolled but not called
4
| DR.. Lesser then tells how, after the War De-
! partment had given Its approval and acceptance
Of the Red Cross in case of need. he called in the
capacity Of surgeon in-chief of the organization
on Surgeon General Sternberg, accompanied by the
sister-in-chief I'VE asked him for Information IN
regard 10 field service" proceeds DR.. Lesser. ana
were answered that no field service preparations
on our part would be necessary. The surgeon
| General repeated a statement previously made.
| that in his opinion hospital ship would De the
| only service that might render He. however
| referred US TO Colonel Greenleaf Assistant Sur
geon- General. who, he said, would have charge OF
tho field.
Before our departure the report continues. we
| again officially announced the Sureeon-Generai
that we would be ready for service with number
! Of American and Cuban physicians ana nurses
some OF them immune. and also with other nateriAi
aids TO assist in the war. We were then directed
by an attendant to Colonel Greenleaf. whom we In
/ formed Of our mission in regard 10 land service
| After a short interview the Colonel said that he
felt that there would be land service and that II
was always wise to be prepared All further con
versations we're Gu; off by the calling OF Colonel
Greenleaf 10 the Office Of tho Surgeon-GeneFai ana
! We returned to New-York tho same day
DR.. Lesser goes on to say that he called meet
/ ing of Cuban and Southern physicians many OF
| whom ne had met IN Havana. and who were thch IN
the city, and the etioiogy and teatmen. or tropical
| diseases were thoroughly discussed and agreed on
|
| formation as 10 precautions against disease ana
| treatment In case of attack Prepared with physi-
clans trained nurses and assistants. with whom ne
had become personally acquainted he then reporter
| ready 10 his superior officers and advised that
twelve trained nurses and three assistants selected
BY the sister-in-chief. and examined by him. shou'u
be sent on the State OF Texas. In addition 10 inc
four sisters OF the Red Cross Hospital who had
returned from Havana and were waiting IN 'he
South He also requested that ambuances. wagons
and outfits. with large and small tents. 'ose'he'
with Instruments and other utensils and articles
should be forwarded at once. lie acted on tho
principle DIR. Lesser says. that It was better 20 be
ready and not be needed than TO be needed and no'
be ready. why these nurses and assistants were
not sent" he adds. as well known to you
WORK IN THE FIELD
The report then tells OF Dr. Losers trip 20 Key
West where he and Mrs. Lesser Joined Miss Barton
and her staff the State OF Texas and on tho
following morning June 90 started FOR Cuba on
June 25 the State o, Texas directed 10 Guan'a-
namo by Admiral Sampson. and there on the 1"'h
reporter 0; a New-York paper informed Miss
Barton that battle hal been fought al me- ee, Gdi
at Siboney. The ship returned immediAtey 70 -
sone aIyqs Ma at sc on e thq Se aay e The re
port proceeds substantially as follows:
Upon arriving at siboney although i was late IN
the evening, was directed by MIS- tsi0n .o ~ az -
were any 70 present her ;b sts,e s ~
nal following
Texas sent to feed the refugees ana saai, ,h
Cubans Il carried some persons ana aItlclss lna,
crsss eens'aeYs it's first duty help those who
nea ar f 5SS ar I'm apn nd
G. c. Cot,rell. Mcdowell Elweu and Warner
slboney is not harbor but beach II MS IS YER. very
h ngS 20 on mace account Of tie breakers weyr Mr.
Warner one OF tho s,sn i, an bsh e wSr
transferred safely to shore on landing We found
in ia large b at he t f' Gos fs'@
pitched on the beach and extended far inland. and
v seels r IN S sm % Rs @ h
reced when asked for The ho.Pltal nT0du,s sa
compliments OF ne president o. The Rea CO.'S ana
the sess Of ReS Ta a a well the rs ph
clan in charge very cour,eopsy sn,wsred that ne
morning. and. not needing anything. thanked the
| Red Cross for tie offer.
e,agnan. water. Tents, were around i, as every
unSP WOODEN s Cottages e 3
| one which seemed TO have been some kind OF
was pointed out To- US as another hospital 1t the
| Same house which later was used IA postoflce.
fever but which was never used by the Red Cross
There were number Of sick soldiers lying around
mand. made the same offer to The Major as !
had made in the first place. and. The condition OF
| vices OF the Sisters, well as cots and blankets
% R M i'E ACCEPT tep w the cots and Sk bn that
he dd not eeus s n Miss ayon m bo TO the
| might select such articles service he desired
| CUBANS HELPED AT SIBONEY
| From there / went with tho staff to DR.. Virano
| surgeon Of the Cuban Hospital. making
| the same statement and offers to him. lie intro
| duced us to General Garcia and his staff. and
| thankfully accepted the offer of tho Red Cross
| HIS patients were lying on cots ard on the floor
little care. apparently, haylrE 9een given to put
| the house in IT and proper condition This ended
| our duty of the evening. and we returned TO the
ship.
| The next morning June q. Major Harvard
| visited Miss Barton the Texas as also did
| Cuban delegation: the former made a request for
cots and the latter for the assistance OF nurses
and food for the sick Sister Isabelle. Sister Minnie
| Sister Annie and Sister Blanche. under the direc
| zion OF Mrs. Lesser. 20 the Cuban hospital
| taking with them proper nourishment for the sick