Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-28
SKATERS MEN 70 STAY.
Until Yellow Fever Is Stamped Out
Soldiers at Santiago Cannot
Return Home.
WOULD SPREAD THE DISEASE AT HOME.
Surgeon General Ssernberg Wants an In
vestigation of the Charges Made That
the Wounded Brought Home In the
Seneca Lacked Needed Medical Supplies
Gen. Miles Expedition.

New York, July PA dispatch to
the New York Times from Washing
ton says: To the question What is to
be done with Gen. Skaters Fifth
corps, now at Santiago?" the heads of
the war department can find only one
answer. That is to keep it in Cuba
until every vestige of yellow fever is
stamped out of it. 1t can be stated
positively that there is no intention of
bringing the troops back to this coun-
try at the present time. The authori-
ties here believe that it would be dan
gerous and criminal to run the risk of
spreading the fever throughout this
country by bringing the men back
here SO long as the pest is among them
and it is agreed that the best place to
fight the disease is right where they
are now.
Adjt Gen. Corbin, when asked what
it was proposed to do with the Santi-
ago army, said: what can we do but
leave the troops there till they are
free from the fever? We cannot fight
it anywhere else as we'll as there. I'm
dertake to bring them back to this
country now and it would infect every
transport we have. and if we brought
them back, where would we land
that would not rise up in arms at the
very suggestion of landing fever-in-
fected army within it's limits AS
evidence that it is not in tended to use
the transports at Santiago to return
the men there to this coun try. an or
der has been sent to Gen. Shafter to
have all the ships he has with him
sent back here at once for use in trans
porting the Porto Rico expedition.
Complaint About Lack of Medical Su plies.
Washington, July 24.-Surgeon Gen
eral Sternberg, of the army, has re-
Quested through the adjutant generals
Office that an investigation be made of
the charges that the transport Seneca,
which brought sick AMI wounded
from Skaters army at Santiago to
New York. left the former place with
an inadequacy of medical supplies and
was otherwise unfit for the work as
signed to her. From letters which
have been received by Gen. Stern berg
it appears that specially unfavorable
weather conditions prevailed and the
surf was running high when the
ship was being loaded with her
human freight. though why
sufficient amount of medical supplies
was not put aboard the vessel is not
explained. There was plenty of quiz
nine and also plenty of morphine
available with the medical corps, but
it appears that not enough of the lat
ter drug was sent aboard the vessel
for all purposes necessary and on this
account some of the complaints have
arisen. The Seneca was not designed
for hospital ship, and consequently
there may have been some lack of nee
essary facilities for caring for the sick
and wounded.
Gen. Miles Expedition.
Washington, July 24.-It was as
sumed by the war department that all
is well with Gen. Miles and that his
flagship the Yale, with the remainder
of the fleet. would cast anchor Sunday
in the waters of Porto Rico. at the
point selected for the debarkation.
Thus it will again happen that Sun
day. which has heretofore been so
lucky day for American military and
naval operations during this war, will
be further distinguished as day upon
which the Porto Rican campaign will
be initiated. The navy is now ac-
lively cooperating with the army in
making success of Miles expedition
and will use every effort to land his
troops Unfortunately, nearly all the
available boats OF SIMPSONS feet
were damaged. in many cases beyond
service, in making the landing at San
tiago, but it is expected that their
loss will not be severely felt now that