The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-09

WASHINGTON, August s.-surgeor
General sternberg has received the FOL.
lowing report concerning the conditions
existing at Santiago. medical supplies
transportation and other features con-
nected with the expedition to Santiago
under General shafter The report ez-
plains what has been done by the med
ica1 department. and gives the ,dtsad-
vantages under which the department
operated in Cuba.
TAMPA HEIGHTS. Fla, July 90 1898,
To the Surgeon General, U. s. Army
Washington. D. c.:
sTR:-In view of the recent chargea
made Affecting the efficiency Of the
army medical department at Santiago,
and especially with reference to the con-
dltiOns prevailing on the hospital trans
ports sent north with wounded, I have
the honor to submit the following facts
believing that my position as adtutant
to the chief surgeon, fifth corps, and as
the officer in charge OF the Quitting Of
the hospital transports 'Iroquols,
Cherokee" and "Breakwater," may
possibly give value to such report.
Drugs, medicines, dressings, instru-
ments, hospital tentage and supplies
were loaded on the transports at Tampa
in quantities sufficient to meet the needs
OF the Santiago expedition. These sup-
plies were divided upon the various Ves-
sells, each organization having It's own
equipment, while the bulk OF the sup
piles was with the organized hospitals
and reglmental equipment was largely
In excess OF It's needs and was intended
to be called In to supplement, II neces-
cary, the equipment Of these hospitals.
The landing on Cuban soil was made
as rnpldly as possible, each organization
accompanied by the medical attendance
Assigned to II, and troops were pushed
forward with no other equipment ana
supplies than could be carried by the
soldier.
No transportation Facilities.
Having no means of transportation for
even their field chests, the reEimental
medical officers had absolutely no re-
sources at their command except such
MS would be provided by the orderly and
hospital corps, pouches and the first aid
packets carried by the soldiers. Having
once left their ships the latter were
promptly ordered out Of the small bays
at Slboney and DRlqulri to permit the
unloading OF other ships. These par-
tally unloaded chips, In obedience TO
their otders, then proceeded TO sea from
FIVE to fifteen miles, where they remain
ed hove to indefinitely. Such orders
were given the transports carrying the
reserve and the FIRST divisional hospl-
tails. The one carrying the reserve nos
pltal, in obedience to its orders, pro-
ceeded to join the naval blocKadin6
squadron off Morro Castle, where 1t re-
mained FIVE days and nights. the other
transport disappearing, II was cor"
rectly informed, for an entire week
During this time the fight at Guasima
had occurred and large numbers OF SICK
and wounded were requiring treatment
In the meantime, report OF the condt-
tion prevailing on shore was made to
the chief surgeon, who promptly laid the
case before the commanding general,
requesting that a launch be placed ui-
der the control OF the medical depart
mont for the collection Of the medical
supplies from the various transports,
II was also requested that pack train
be organized, in the proportion OF one
nack mule TO each regiment, to trans
mort supplies-especlally the field chests
-to the 'front.' for proper distribution;
and was suggested by the chief sur
geon as available for the performance OF
these duties.
Reflects on shaffer.
The exlEency Of the situation did not
apparently appeal to the commanding
general. ana for two days the medical
department was unable TO get trans.
portatlon Of any kind to the other ships
or to the shore, although there were a
large number Of naval launches and
boats employed on various other duties,
on the third day, on the order OF
tho adiutant general one row
boat was turned over to the
n,,.dicai department for the pur-
noses named above, and at the same
lime an order was issued for land trans
narration 10 carry medical supplies to
the front mot to exceed one slx-mule
team" on getting into this boat with
supplies from the headquarters trans
mort ] Was directed by sundry stan otli-
GERS to take them on various errands.
on my refusal TO recognize their aus
.thority the commanding general, who
had appeared on the scene, personally
revoked the previous order and direot-
ed after the landing OF the supplies al
ready In the boat that II should return
without delay. Presenting the order for
innd TRANSFORMATION 10 the quartermas-
ter on shore, was informed that only
pack mules had been landed; that
neither wagon nor harness had been
brought nshore, and, finally, that tho
rond was lmpassable for wagons. AZ
ter this boat had been taken away tho
chief surgeon was without any means
OF communication with the medical OIL
GERS on shore or still on the transports,
OF finding out their wants ur OF remedy
ing the many already known to HIM
This condition OF things remained until
after the fight at Las Gun0imas, at
which time there were absolutely no
Dressings, hospital tent1ge or supplies
OF any kind on shore within reach OF
the surgeons already landed.
The Plight at GunsImah.
The news Of the Guasimas fight being
reported to the chief surgeon. ne was
finally able to get on board the olivette
and send her to slboney, where che re-
celved the wounded. Within tho follow
inE day or 50 tho transports carrying
the reserve and flrSt divisional hospitals
were found and unioaded OF their hos
pitai contents; the iatter hospital ANAL
ly obtaining limited transportation to
tho front. After n couple Of days on
board the olIvette I was directed TO put
the Iruquots In condition 70 receive pa
tients and to take the full capacity Of