The Portland daily press., 1898-12-09
GIN. STERABERG'S STORY.
Surgeon General Tessifies Before
Investigating Board.
TELLS OF FAILURES AND SUCCESS
Es OF HIS DEPARTMENT.

Hints Thai He Was Handi capped Some
what BY Alger-Anima;ed Discussion
Over Delay in fitting Out John Englis
for nospital Ship-Deciares Female
Nurses To Bs An Exp nsive Luxury.
Washington, December Sat today's
session of the war investigating commits
sion, Surgeon General Sternberg TESTIFIED
that just previous to the war when ne
suggested to Secretary Alger the pro-
priety of making purchases for his SER
vice, the policy was to walt.
Z DR.. Sternberg also said that typhoid
cases during the war were largely mis-
taken for nalarial fever.
General Sternberg's recollection Sas
that prior to the inspection tour which
was made Of the camps Ey Secretary
AIger Ouarterinaster General Ludjngton
and himself, the information in his hands
of unsanitary conditions at Camp Thomas
was unofficial 81 said that with time,
it was practicable to secure fairly large
number of nurses but their training took
time and, he admitted, in war time,
He acknowledged the services of volunteer
aid associations and said the trained
female nur.es were satisfactory though ne
had received some reports to the contrary.
Witness admitted a real deficiency In
medical supplies at times At Santiago
their landing was delayed owing to
exigenoy of the times, and railroads
fsiled to get them through in time at
other points. He oontended, however,
hoI
medical supplies during the war, the
great difficulty being that surgeons
frequently preferred other than the Held
supply and an unanticipated typhoid
fever outbreak mad also considerably
tapped the field resources. Purchases.
however, had been largely made from
hand to mouth owing to lack Of time for
calling for BIDS All the principal drugs
should BIS available for purchase in large
quantities on demand. He thought 1t
would save time to have medical supplies
shipped directly to the surgeon in charge
a5 destination without depending on the
uuartermaster general S department Ior
transportation as was now necessary. De-
lays frequently had been caused through
want of delivery to the proper officer.
There was an animated discussion over
delay IN Quitting the John Engiis, j
Whi3h was purchased May 10, as
hospital ship.
General Sternharg said that after her
purchase there was a lapse of three weeks
during which no work had been done;
that she sailed for CUBA on the date OF
the battle of Santiago and that had she
sailed tive days sooner, the medical sup
plies at the battle-ground would have been
ample. The witness refused to say that
the delay was unnecessary or to state on
whom the resp Jnsibilitysk should rest.
Asked If it had Deen officially reported to
him that there were surgeons at Montauk
r.fh fa1 h0H "a hEl
said there had been one who drank, who
came from Fortress Monroe and who was
now on duty at jefferson barracks.
Surgeon General Sternberg. concerning
The relative merits of division and regl-
mental hospitals said that while expert
en- had taught good deal, the theories
of the department as to medical admins
tration were borne out in the main.
Coming to the history of the Santiago
movement, General Sternberg explained
that there had been an abundance of
medical officers and supplies sent to San
Jiago and said the trouble, as far as he
could Judge, arose in their landing and
distribution. He said emphatically that
he could do no more In his office than
send supplies where he thought they were
needed and respond promptly to requisi-
tiors All this, he declared, positively
had been dons.
General Beaver asked-"Were you at
any time hampered in the discharge Of
the duties of your Office by any of your
stiperiors in the Department.
General Sternberg hesiGated consider
ABLY and said: "No. certainly not to any
;sppreciable extent
There was q pause at this point and
General Stsrnberg fastened 30 add: You
will understand that one man cannot do
every thing at once, and there were COCA
sionai delays In getting the ear of the
Secretary, but nothing beyond this"
s'Then, said General Beaver, 1--WE are
to understand you had at all times the
hearty support and good win of those
over you in forwarding the work of your
department.
"Yes, was the reply, tmost un-
doubleday"
As to the general condition of troops in
mobilization camps. General Sternberg
said the trouble could nesrly all be
of sanitary measures, and Letting the |
tfoop+ remain too long in camp.
You bave to do oae Of two things"
said he. HYou must maintain your per-
1nanent camp uluer the sanitary con- /
ditions of civilized life, or you must fol- |
low tie Indian metho. and shift your |
camp when you foul your ground, But |
You cannot prophesy as to what you can |
do in any particular case till you FIND the |,
the actual conditions you have to face. I |
can make rules, which If followed, will |
insure reasonable immunity from typhoid |
but cannot insure their being followed |
by the men in the field. just so, you can |
boil water for camp use, but you cannot !
compel men to drink it. his was %
frequent experience.
AS to a new ration for the tropics, Gen. |
Sternberg said he had made DO specific