Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-11
TIRED OF BLUNDERS.
Secretary Alger Determined to Have
No More Mismanagement.
The CONCHO and SENECA CASES.
Tho Secretary Of War Makes Statement
and Sends out Dispatches Concerning
the TRANSFORMATION OF Sick and
W0unded-Supplies Unl0aded.

| the transportation OF SICK anu
wounded-supplies Unloaded.
Washington, Aug. 4-Profting by
past experiences, Gen. Wade's expedi-
ton to Porto Rico is going to be the
most complete in details Of any that
have yet left our shores and the SOL
diers will be protected In their health
and comfort to the utmost degree
Secretary Alger has himself conducted
an inquiry into the conditions that led
up to the fearful experience Of the
wounded soldiers who returned to the
United States on the Concho and he
has taken the necessary steps to pre-
vent repetition Of the bad manage
ment exhibited In that case. Thus
there may be some delay in getting
the troops away with Gen. Wade, in
view OF the determination to have
everything shipshape before the men
are put on board, and as the transpor.
tation department was taken some
what by surprise by the suddenly an
nounced decision OF the secretary of
war to start this expedition, some
days must elapse before the necessary
transports can be gathered at ports OF
embarkation
Col. Charles Ieyl, of the inspector
generals office, has returned to Wash
ington from New York, where he went
at the direction OF Secretary Alger to
make an examination to fix the re-
sponsibility Of the official who sent
the transport Concho to New York
from Santiago in an unfit condition
for carrying the sick and wounded
Col. lIeyl reported verbally to Secre-
tary Alger the result of his inquiries,
but refused to talk for publication.
Later in the day, however, the secre-
tary made the following statement
concerning the Concho as well as the
Seneca, which reached New York
about two weeks ago after suffering
many privatons, owing IL is alleged,
to the unfit condition of the vessel:
At the time they left Santiago the general
desire OF c0nyalesccnts to come home doubt
less overcrowded both ships From the COM
mencng OF the Santiago campaign until within
few days the terrible conditions on that
nod ,ha nj I'D nj
ways with o high surf made the landing Of
troops, supplies, ammunition. artillery and
medical stores very difficult. and there Is no
doubt much inconvenience and suffering were
thereby caused that were unavoidable. The
lighters that went with Gen Skaters fleet
were lost on the way Two lows Of lighters
were subsequently sent which were also lost
and 1t was impossible to get supplies ashore
except with the boats from the ships and those
supplied by the navy Later on a 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 ex-
cess Of what had been anticipated there was
no doubt much suffering, especially among the
sick at Santiago
The captains OF the Seneca and Concho did
not report to Gen. Shafter nor to Quarter
master Humphrey that they needed water
Had they done so, Of course II would have
been provided Then also 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 conditions will be possible hereafter,
and no one regrets more than the secretary Of
war that anything Of the kind should have
happened. The general commanding that
army, the surgeon general and the quarter
masters and commissary departments have
done the best they could, but unforeseen cir
cumstances named above, prevented the con-
venences 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 Gen.
Shafter at Santiago. o..
Whenever 1t becomes necessary to use
transports for sick or wounded purposes, 1t
should be made the duty of some experienced
and competent medical officer to see that only
such transports as are In good sanitary condi-
ton and are best suited for the purpose are Sc
ected that the water supply on board is am
pie in quantity and wholesome in quality; that
sufficient supply Of food, medicines, dressings,
hospital stores, including dellcacies where pos
sibe to obtain Them ice, etc, are placed on
board; that u sufficient number Of experienced
medical officers and nurses accompany the sick
and wounded on the voyage that there Is no
overcrowding Of the vessel, but that there are
suitable accommodations for all; that the de-
parture Of these ships be telegraphed to the
adlutant general and surgeon general
A similar dispatch was sent to the
commanding generals of the army at
Porto Rico and Manila
SUPPLIES UNLoADED.
New York, Aug. 4--When the trans
port Breakwater returned to this city
from Santiago the army officers of the
department Of the east were surprised
to find that thousands Of pounds Of
food which had been sent south had
never been unloaded from the vessel
and was still in the hold. A board of
survey was appointed by Col. Giles
pie, commanding the department of
the east, to determine for whom the
stores had been intended and why
they were not unloaded. The board
has reported that the stores were not
unloaded because there was immedi-
diat need of the vessel to transport
the sick and wounded. The board de-
clares that 1t is unable to fix the re.
sponsibility for the failure to unload
the supplies.
They Would Defeat Fusion.