Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-08-12

Washington, Aug. 9.-The most vaiu-
able contribution to the discussion as to
the causes of and the responsibility for
the hardships undergone by the sick and
wounded in and on the way from San
tiago has been supplied by Surgeon
General Sternberg. 1t consists of a re-
port by a member of the ambulance
corps, and unless confuted, the state
ment relieves the medical department
of the sweeping charge of gross inef-
ficiency The document reads as fol-
lows:
Sir-In view of recent charges made
affecting the efficiency of the army
medical department at Santiago, and
especially with reference to the con-
ditions prevailing on the hospital trans
ports sent north with wounded, l have
the honor to submit the following facts.
believing that my position as adjutant
10 the chief surgeon, Fifth corps. and
as the officer in charge of the outfitting
Of the hospital transports, Iroquois,
cherokee and Breakwater, may pos
sibly give value to such report.
Drugs medicines, dressings, instru-
ments, hospital tentage and supplies
were loaded on the transports at Tampa
in quantities to meet the needs of the
santiago expedition. These supplies
We're divided up on the various vessels,
each organization having its own equip
mtnt. While the bulk of the supplies
was in the organized hospitals, the regi-
mental equipment was largely in ex-
cess of its needs and was intended to
be called in to supply, if necessary, the
equipment of the hospitals.
The landing on Cuban soil was made
as rapidly as possible, each organization
accompanied by the medical attendants
assigned to 1t, and troops were pushed
forward with no other equipment and
supplies than could be carried by the
soldiers. Having no means of trans
portation for even their field chests.
the regimental medical officers had alb
solutely no resources at their command
except such as were provided by the
orderly and ship corps pouches, and the
first-aid packets carried by the soldiers.
Having only left their ships, the lat
ter were promptly ordered out of the
small bay at Siboney and Baiuuiri to
permit the unloading of other ships.
These partially unloaded ships. in ODE
dience to their orders. then proceeded
to sea from five to fifteen miles, where
they remained hove-to Indefinitely.
Such orders were given the transports
carrying the reserve and the first di-
visional hospitals. The one carrying
the reserve hospital, in obedience to its
orders, proceeded to join the naval
blockadirg squadron off Moro castle.
where it remained five days and nights.
the other transports disappearing. if
l was correctly informed, for an entire
week
During the time the fight at Guasima
had occurred and large numbers of sick
and wounded were requiring treatment.
In the meantime a report of the condi-
lions prevailing on shore was made to
the chief surgeon, who promptly laid
the case before the commanding general.
requesting that launch be placed I'M
der the control of the medical depart
ment for the collection of medical sup
plies from the various transports. 1t
was also requested that pack train be
organized, in the proportion of one pack
mule to each regiment to transport
supplies, especially the field chests, to
the front for proper distribution, and it
was suggested by the chief surgeon as
available for the performance of these
duties.
apparently appeal to the commanding
general and for two days the medical
department was unable to get transpor-
tation 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, by order of the ad-
jutant general, one rowboat was turned
over to the medical department for the
purposes above named, and at the same
time an order was issued for land trans
portation to carry medical supplies to
the front mot to exceed one six mule
team" On getting into this boat with
supplies from the headquarters trans
port, | was directed by sundry staff
officers to take them on various errands
On my refusal to recognize their au-
thority, the commanding general, who
had appeared on the scene, personally
revoked the previous order and directed
after the landing of the supplies already
in the boat, that it should return with
out delay.
Presenting the order for land trans
portation to the quartermaster on shore,
I was informed that only pack mules
had as yet been landed, that neither
wagons nor harness had been brought
ashore and, finally, that the road was
impossible for wagons, After this
boat had been taken away the chief sur
geon was without any means of COM
munication with the medical officers on
shore or still on transports, of finding
out their wants, or of remedying the
many already known to him. This
condition of things remained until after
the fight at Las Guasima, at which time
there were absolutely no dressings, hos
pital tentage or supplies of any kind
on shore within reach of the surgeons
already landed.
The news Of the Guasima fight being
reported to the chief surgeon, he was
finally able to get on board the Olvette
and send her to Siboney. where she re-
ceived the wounded. Within the follow
ing day or so the transports carrying
the reserve and first divisional hospitals
were found and unloaded of their hos
pital contents, the latter hospital finally
obtaining limited transportation to the
front. After q couple of days duty on
board the OliVette, l was directed to
put the Iroquois in condition to receive
patients and to take the full capacity
of the ship on board. While doing thls'
was able to set ashore considerable
hospital tentage and supplies found
aboard of her, and having control or heI
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