The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-04
ILL TREATED SOLDIERS.
The Sick and Wounded Brought by
the Concho and Seneca.
SECRETARY ALGER's STATEMENT
Civilians Were Allowed to Crowd Out
tho Sick Fighters-Measures Have
Of the Outrage.

Civilians Were Allowed to Crowd Out
tho Sick Fighters-Measures Have
Been Taken to Prevent Repetition
| of the Outrage,
| Washington, Aug. 4.--Colonel Charles
II. Heyl. OF the inspector generals Of
fee. has returned to Washington from
New York. where he went at the di-
! rection of Secretary Alger to make an
examination to fix the responsibility
| of the official who sent the transport
Concho to New York from Santiago in
| an unfit condition for carrying the sick
| and wounded. Later in the day the
secretary made 8 statement concerning
the Concho. as well as the Seneca.
which reached New York about two
weeks ago with sick soldiers after suf-
fesng many privatons. owing, it is al
legged to the unfit condition Of the ves-
sci. The secretary says:
AT the time they left Santiago the
general desire of convalescents TO come
home doubtless overcrowded both
ships. From the commencement of the
Santiago campaign until within few
days the terrible conditions on that
coast, where our ships had no shelter
and always with a high surf, made the
landing of troops, supplies, ammuni-
tion, artillery and medical stores very
dl1iiCult and there is no doubt much
Inconvenience and suffering was
thereby caused that was unavoidable.
The lighters that went with General
Skaters feet were lost on the way.
Two tows of lighters were subsequently
Eant which al
Impossible to get supplies ashore except
with the boats from the ships and those
supplied by the navy Later on
lighter was furnished by the navy,
which was the only one there for many
days
"On account of the great number of
sick and wounded, which was in excess
of what has been anticipated, there was
no doubt much privation and suffer-
Ing especially among the sick at San
tiago. The captains of the Seneca and
Concho did not report to General Shat
ter, nor to Quartermaster Humphrey,
that they needed water. Had they
dCne so, of course 1t would have been
provided. Then, also, a large number
of civilians rushed aboard to get away,
and they occupied many staterooms
that should have been given over to the
soldiers. No recurrence of such condi-
tions will be possible hereafter, and no
one regrets more than the secretary Of
war that anything of the kind should
have happened. The general COM
mandng that army, the surgeon gen.
eral and the quartermaster and COM
missary departments have done the
best they could. but unforeseen circum-
stances, named above, prevented the
conveniences being provided that
otherwise would have been furnished"
Secretary Alger. who is determined
that no further trouble of the kind
shall occur if in his power to prevent
It, sent the following telegram to Cen
eral Shafter at Santiago:
whenever 1t becomes necessary to
use transports for sick or wounded pur-
pose it should be made the duty of
some experienced and competent medi-
cal officer to see that only such trans
ports as are in good sanitary condition
and are best suited for the purpose are
selected: that the water supply on |
board is ample In quantity and whole !
some in quality; that sufficient supplies
Of food, medicines, dressings, hospital |
stores, including delicacies. where pos |
sible to obtain them, ice, etc., are
placed on board: that sufficient num- |
ber of experienced medical officers and |
nurses accompany the sick and wound |
ed on the voyage; that there is no |
overcrowding of the vessel, but that
there are suitable accommodations
for all; that the departure of these
ships be telegranhed to the adjutant
general and surgeon general"
A similar dispatch was sent to the
commanding generals of the army at
Porto Rico and Manila.
Yale and Harvard Still Naval Vessels
Washington, Aug. At has been
finally determined that the cruisers
Yale and Harvard. chartered by the
navy for auxiliary naval purposes shall
remain in possession of that depart
ment for the present. The naval
branch. however, has no further neces-
sity for these vessels, but they will be
loaned to the war department, which
will bear the expense incidental to
their charter and use. The vessels
will be manned and differed by the
navy.
Pennsylvania First's New Colonel.
Harrisburg, Aug 4.-Lieutenant Col
onel J. Lewis Good, of Philadelphi'.