New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-09
THE ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE.
TESTIMONY GIVEN BY sURGEoN-'EN-
ERAL STERNBERG.


Surgeon General Sternberg was risidy questioned
about his administration. The Medical Department,
he said. equipped only for an army OF COW"
when the war broke out, and from year 10 year
the estimates he had submitted mad peen fnatet'a"y
reduced by Congress in policy OF economy. As
soon as there was a prospect OF war ne had begun
preparations. though not causing any expense. ne
had models OF chests made. he said and equipment
developed but when he suggested TO secretary
Alger the proprcty OF making purchases LOT ms scr
vice. "the policy was to wait" He said al one Tune
there were as many $50 contract surgeons en-
poyed The appointees were mostly from thirty 10
forty years old with hospital or active professional
experience. but when permanent camps were es'aD-
lshed In this country he did not KNOW they were 'o
be permanent. He conceded that II was mistake
not to have appointed more contract surgeons from
W served in the Civil war. for theif
experience would have been invaluable but ne was
ignorant at the outset OF the permanency OF the
camps It had been Impossible for him even 10 reau
the great volume OF reports submitted. OWING 10 oe
ing overwhelmed with matters requiring personal
attention. The regimental surgeons. he SAID were
good bad and Indifferent. but he recolected no IN
stance OF dismissal for incompetence.
Threshing over the controversy between 'esi-
mental and division hospitals ne credited the es'dp
lshment OF the latter to their success IN TWO years
experience in the Civil war At the outset the
maximum capacity Of the division hospital was 20"
beds but this capacity quickly found tar mace.
quate. He could recollect whether the ch'ei
surgeon at Camp Thomas had reported that tHe
sanitation there was bad. The Department now ne
said has ample evidence that typhoid cases were
largely mistaken for malarial fever until they
reached the division hospitals. and that malaria also
had been diagnosed typhoid
General Sternberg's recollection was tnat prior 10
the inspection tour which was made o. the camps
by Secretary A'ger. Quartermaster-IeheraI huui"s
ton and himself. the Information in his hahus Oh
unsanitary conditions at Camp Thomas was un-
Official He said that with time IL was pracucaDie
to secure a fairly large number Of nurses Dut '"eir
trimming took time and he admitted in war time
might be at the expense Of the patients ne ac-
knowledged the services of volunteer aid assoca-
lions and said the trained female nurses were salts
factory though he had received some reports to the
contrary.
OCCASIONAL DEFICIENCIES IN SUPPLIES
He admitted a real deficiency IN medical supplies
az times At Santiago thor landing was delayed
oufng TO exigcncy OF the times and railroads failed
TO get them through In time at otner points ne
contended. however that there had been very little
lack Of medical supplies in the war, the great ui-
Guilty being that frequently preferred otner
than the 'held supply" and an unaniicpated ty-
phoid fever outbreak had also considerably taNel
the field resources. Purchases. however had Deeh
made largely from hand 10 mouth. due 10 lack OF
storage facilities and lack of time for calling for
bids All the principal drugs have been available
for purchase IN large quantities on demand. lie
thought II would save time 10 nave hedCal sup
shipped
destination, without depending on the 3uaI'ea naa :
ter-Genera's Department for transporsa,lo ION "a $500
now necessary. Delays frequently had beeh cduSed
o ot,IesF want o. a'"''' -" '"e D' . ,.,or
In Quitting the John Engs, which was pur-
chased on May is as hospital snip Genera osern
three weeks in which no work had been done, Una.
she sailed for CUBA on the date q vd ns
the nedca! supplies at the 6atte-ground "o QUO
fha daf "
Hat 4 nss1 1 M6n sfRGF an to non P
duty because Of bad haos. he said there had been
s anS " sp now s' or duty at Jefferson barracks
General Ssrnber n s@q Rosp nf ha
while experience had taught good deal, the the
cries OF the Department as to medical admin's'ra-
Coming to the history Of the Santiago movement.
Gens5a % fPaH oct sns and eF appes
10 Santiago and said the trouble so far as ne
fG e ea@ qdTT RsG That he co DO
his office han sen9 Supplies w nrdb NJ TO- reo
tons Al! this he declared most positively had
General Beaver asked. Were. you At any time
hampered in the discharge OF the duties o. yogr
General Sternberg hesitated considerably and
said: NO certainly not to any appreclable ex-
There was pause at this point and General
stcrnberg FASTENED 70 add; Y9u VII unaessta ana
there we're occasional decays in getting the ear Of
the Secretary. but nO'nine beyond lnlS
SUSTAINED BY HIS sUPERIORs
Then" said General Beaver we are 70 under
stand you had at all times the hearty support and
goodwill Of those over you In forwarding the work
OF your Department."
Yes" was the reply: most undoubtedly"
As to the general condition OF troops in moblza-
ton camps. he said. the trouble could nearly all
be summed up In the two phrases neglect OF sam
iary measures" and letting the troops remain
too long in camp
You have to do one OF things" he said
the sanitary Conditions OF civilized lie or You mus
follow the Indian method and shift your camp when
as what you can DO II any P@riSuIsr case e.; f iii
/ can make rules which Il followed viii insure
reasonable immunity from typhoid but cannot
Just YOU can boil water for camp use but you
:annot compel men to drink it. This was fire.
As to a new ration for the tropics. General Stern
berg said he had made no specific recommendation
the methods of the British army in jamaica and
hoped % be @Gs to msk sfnbrE In
lux lie said the War Department was GET
ting acquisitions now for bureaus. rocking chairs
and other things which were unknown under the
General FagIcr. Chief OF Ordnance Vas the last
technical details o, small arms and smokeless
powder
MR. VEST PROPOSES An INTERPOLATION.
Washington. Dec S-Mr Vest TO-DAY introduced
in the Senate resolution providing for the APP
pontment Of a joint commission 10 investigate the
charges Of corruption I'm the conduct Of the war
with Spain. The preamble To the resolution re,ites
that charges have been made In the public uIoss
over the signatures OF responsible parties that i'm
proper and corrupt means have been used TO 'ure
contracts from the Government for the purchase
OF vessels for the Navy and Tor thu furnishing
of clothing and other necessary articles for the
Army OF the United states during the win
Spain at excessive ana eNo:biiani rates The
resolution calls for the appointment Of three SEN
ators and i've members Of the House. and imposes
on them the duty Of "inquiring To the truth OF
all such charges and making report b. bill other
wise" The Senator'S - be appointed by the
President of the Senate and the members Of the
House by the Speaker
HARRY WINAN WINS 4 SUIT.
The suit Of Harry Wiman against The New-York