The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-01
MADE A STUDY OF CUBA.
DIR. BRUNNER BROUGHT MUCH IN
SIDE INFORMATION.

Had the Original Reports From All
the Spanish Hospitals for Months
for Small COnsIderatfon-Made
Maps and Plans of the FortIfca-
lions Around Havana Which Have
Been Placed in Possession of the
War observation-disclosures to Wash
ington for the Purpose of Giving
This information TO the AutbOri-
ties.
DR.. w. F. Drummer returned yesterday
from Washington, where he has been for
several days having been called there for
the purpose Of giving the officials of the
war and health departments information
in his possession regarding the sanitary
conditions and the fortihcations around
Havana
While he held the position of sanitary in
spector for the United States government
at Havana, DR.. Drummer gathered much
valuable data directly from official
sources, all of which he has placed in the
hands OF the authorities. He furnished
much interesting informa ton TO Surgeon
General Wyman with regard to sanitary
and health conditions in Cuba, and per-
haps no man could have been better pre-
pared to do so than he was.
During almost all of the time DR.. Brun-
ner was in Havana he had the original re-
ports from the hospitals An which
the sick and disabled soldiers were kept,
brought to him, for the sum of $3.50 a
month.
There was man who brought me
these reports regularly" he said "and I
had no trouble in keeping we'll posted as
TO what was going on in all of the hospi-
tails. Once he struck on me, but a few
words convinced him it would not be the
wisest thing to do and had them as be-
fore. There are ffty-six military hospitals
on the island, and these reports showed
that there were in them daily from SO 900
to $500 Spanish soldiers. This terrible
condition is due in part to the unsanitary
conditions surrounding the troops, as well
as to the fact that they are poorly cared
for. The hospitals themselves are made
quately supplied, and the government was
sometimes five months behind In its pay
ments to the contractors"
A large. percentage of the sick soldiers
Is right in Havana, DR.. Drummer said, and
they are about as poorly cared for in ,he
hospitals there as elsewhere. DR.. Brunrer
did not have copies of reports from the
hospitals, but the originals themselves,
which were replaced by dummies and
their loss was not discovered.
In the same manner in which he secured
this Information DR.. Drummer also learned
all about the coast fortifications around
Havana. He had draughtsman at work
for some time, putting the information In
shape as he secured it, and he sent the
plans of every fort on the coast around
Havana to Washington by Capt. Sigsbee.
few of these papers, which were not
completed, he brought over when he came,
and has placed them all in the possession
of the war department. After seeing Sur
geon General Wyman DR.. Drummer had a
conference with Gen. Miles and Secretary
of War Alger. The information he gave
them was taken down geographically.
DIR. Drummer not only had the plans of
the coast Notifications, but he had the
caliber and description of ali the guns
mounted on them, their systems of meas
urements, length of their base lines, the
quantities of their ammunition and high
explosives and the location of mines in the
harbor These mines, Or. Drummer said,
were planted between IL o'clock at night
and 2 o'clock in the morning. He was In
the harbor two nights and saw the force
put out eight of them. He was advised not
to go out the third night, SO he did not
know whether further work was done at
that time or not.
The Spaniards are practically without
any land fortlfcations," DR. Drummer said.
but they would no doubt throw up earth
works TO fight behind. believe all of the
soldiers will soon be gotten into Havana,
and the regulars there with about 10000 or
$500 volunteers, which they will secure
Will give them an army of at least $1,000
men, all of whom are armed with the
Mauser rifle"
DR.. Drummer does not think an invading
army should be sent into Cuba before fall
. He thinks the mortality from yellow fever
and other fevers would be great, though
perhaps not so large as in the case of the
Spaniards on account of the fact that the
American soldiers will surround them
selves with better sanitary condition, and
Will be better taken care of both in the
hospitals and around the mess table
In his opinion fresh meat is somewhat
of an eXtravagant luxury In Havana just
now. All of the supply of that article was
secured from America, Mexico and Hon
duras. The source of supply being cut
off, the people there are short on it, and
with exception of a few of the chosen, il
is his opinion that the people have been
using jerkad beef from the Argentine Re
public as their meat diet. DR.. Brunner
will remain in Savannah for the present,
but IL called upon 10 do so he will go TO
Cuba with the army OF invasion.