The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-04
NEGLECT Of SICK ON VESSELS
UNFIT CONDITIONS DUE TO cum
AVoIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES
But Secretary Alger Promises It
Shall Not Occur Again-Investi-
cation Failed In It's Object.

Washington, Aug. 3.-Colonel Charles
Heyl of the inspector generals office
has returned to Washington from New
! York, where he went at the direction
of Secretary Alger to make an examin-
alton TO fix the responsibility of the
/ official who sent the transport Concho
to New York from Santiago in con-
| dition unfit for carrying the sick and
wounded.
After Colonel Heyl had reported to
the war department, Secretary Alger
made the following statement concern
ing the Concho, as well as the Seneca,
which reached New York about two
weeks ago:
Concerning the unfortunate occur
renceS on the ships Concho and Sen
eca that brought home sick and wound
ed from Santiago, the secretary of war
gives out the following statement, at
ter careful investigation:
AT the time they left Santiago the
general desire of the convalescents to
come home doubtless Overcrowded both
ships. From the commencing of the
Santiago campaign until within few
days, the terrible condition on that
coast, where our ships had no shelter
and where there was always a high
surf, made the landing of troops, sup
plies, ammunition, artillery and medi-
cal stores very difficult, and there is
no doubt much inconvenience and suf-
fering was thereby caused that was I'M
avoidable. The lighters that went
with General Skaters fleet were lost
on the way. Two lows of lighters were
subsequently sent, which We're also
lost, and it was also impossible to get
supplies ashore, except with the boats
from the ships and those supplied by
the navy. Later on lighter was fur
nished 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
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 General Shafter nor TO Quartermas-
ter Humphrey that they needed water.
Had they done So of course it would
have been provided. Then, also, a large
number of civilians rushed aboard to
get away. and they occupied many
state rooms that should have been
given over TO the soldiers. No recur-
renee of such conditions will be posi-
BILE hereafter. and no one regrets more
than the secretary of war that any
thing of the kind should have hap
pened. The general commanding the
army, the surgeon general and the
quartermaster and cOmmissary depart
mentS have done the best they could,
but unforeseen circumstances named
above prevented the cOnveniences be
ing provided that otherwise would have
been furnished"
Secretary Alger made the statement
that no further trouble of the kind shall
occur. if in his power to prevent it. He
sent the telegram to Santiago:
Whenever it becomes necessary to
use transports for sick or wounded
purposes, it should be made the duty
of some experienced and competent
medical officer to see that only such
transports as are in good sanitary con-
dition and are best suited for the pur-
pose are selected; that the water sup
ply on board is ample in quantity and
wholesome in quality; that sufficient
supplies of food, medicines, dressings,
hospital stores, including delicacies,
where possible to obtain them, ice, etc,
are placed on board; that a 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 departure of the ships be
telegraphed to the adjutant general and
surgeon general"
a similar dispatch was sent to the
commanding generals of the army at
Porto Rico and Manila.