The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-17

standing the shortage OF supplies. the
men had as good attention there as they
could have had at any other hospital.
DIR. Edward l.. Munson. who was for
a time on duty at Tampa and i'm Cuba,
being for time on the Olivette and
also adtutant 10 General Pope. chief
| surgeon OF the Fifth corps said he had
understood that acquisitions were
promptly approved and that all the
dihculty there was in getting medi-
| cines and supplies was due to lack OF
| transportation. Each regiment had
| been expected to take the supplies that
would be necessary. There were no or
ders to leave any of the medical sup
| plies except the ambulances at Tampa
He had understood that the medical
supplies in Cuba were short. They were
taken on the transports, but 1t was i'm
possible to get them landed.
DIR. Pope had made application to the
quartermaster's department for trans
portation for this purpose. but was told
that there was none to be had. Later
a small boat had been furnished for one
trip only. General Shafter had ordered
the use Of the boat for this trip and
had afterwards revoked IL to the extent
OF having the boat take some officers
aboard. As fact. the medical depart
ment had tn rely upon its own energies.
As result. there were medical sup
DIR. Munson had outfitted some of the
hospital ships going north, and on one
occasion had seized from the commits
sary department a large quantity OF
delicacies which had been left on the
Iroquois.
DR.. Munson said the condition OF the
army before Santiago was lamentable
owing largely to the fact that the men
were without tents. For the first two
or three days there were practically no
supplies on shore. So far as he could
determine, the quartermaster's depart
ment had made no effort to assist the
medical department. leaving II entirely
to its own devices. He thought there
was sufficient dressing for the wounded,
sufficient medicines and sufficient sur
gical instruments. but there was a lack
OF tents. cots and of suitable diet. The
actual necessities were thus met by the
medical department. but IL the fighting
had continued for several days. he did
not believe II would have been possible
for the department to have taken care
Of the wounded. at least not until the
arrival Of the relief on the Fourth of
July. He knew that DIR. Pope had pro-
tested agains the sailing until the sup
plies which had been ordered could be
received.
Col. w. ". Forwood. who was the
chief medical officer at Montauk Point,
testified that his instructions were to
have on hand at all times tents. beds,
etc. and representations that they were
not there were not correct. There was.
however. some lack of transportation
facilities and there was difficulty In
getting supplies from the station, this
fact being due largely TO the limited
capacity of the railroad depots. The
hospitals were overcrowded at times,
but only for n few hours.
He asserted that mot for a minute"
had patients remained outside the hos
pitals without some protection from the
Weather. though there We're times when
cots were not on hand. In these cases
the patients were laid on hair mat
tresses. spread on the tent floors. DIR.
Forwood said that much of the crowd
ing Of the hospitals was due to the fact
that many soldiers sought to gain adj
mission as a means Of getting a fur
Tough home. This condition OF Affairs
might have resulted in keeping deserv-
ing men out. I'VE did not do much
business with the letter pad" said the
witness. I'VE did not use the pen or
resort to red tape. but got on our horses
and went with a vim TO do what was
to be done" General Dodge announced
at the close OF to-day's session that the
commission would leave here at II
o'clock for New York. The first meet
ain - h.II sA....z