The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-17
ARE NO LONGER NEEDED
General Sternberg's Reply to the
Red Gross.
CAN CARE FOR THE SICK
The Amount Now Allowed for Deiicacies
for Soldiers In the Hospitals 10
Ampie-Explsins the
First Neglect.

Washington, Oct. 16.-The following
letter from the surgeon general OF the
army was written in reply to one sent to
the president by A. Z. OFT, vice-chsir-
man Of the Red Cross relief committees:
Il have received the copy Of your let
ter to the president In answer to your
question as to why the Intervention of
the Red Cross relief committee should
be longer needed. and why the govern
ment does not see to IL that its own
sick are provided for would say:, The
emergencies of the war made the assist
ance of the relief associations most val
liable, Notwithstanding the fact that 1T
is the intention of the government TO
provide literally for the care of sick SOL
diers. But as you know, with ample
means and good intentions supplies
cannot always be provided at the prop
er place and time to meet an emergen-
cy. Moreover, at the outset of the war
the arrangements made for providing
light diet for the sick. which had prov
ed satisfactory in the time of peace
under the careful management OF ex-
perienced medical officers, were made
quate under the conditions which pre-
vailed in our camps of instruction and
among the troops engaged in active
operations. For this reason the pres
tHte VI fSeu tTOsS dRcnls WIFI lntIl
abundant supplies of delicacies for the
sick has been of inestimable value. But
provision was made by a general order,
published August 10 &c. o. 116). by
which surgeons in charge of hospitals,
general, division or regimental. are en-
abled to draw 60 cents per day for each
sick enlisted man of the army in lieu of
his regular ration. Up to that time the
Communication value of a ration was on
iy 30 cents.
The medical department does not
supply food for the sick in hospital.
This Is obtained from the commissary
department or by purchase wherever IL
can be procured. I enclose herewith a
list showing the articles which can be
purchased from the commissary, which
list. as you will see, includes canned
soup. tapioca, crackers. %jellies, tea. but
ter. etc. Milk, chickens and eggs. fresh
vegetables. etc, are purchased wherever
they can be obtained. The medical de-
partment furnishes a few articles I'M
der the head of hospital stores includ-
ing condensed milk. sugar and tea, but
no other food supplies are furnished by
the medical department or can be prop
eriy paid for from the medical and hos
pital appropriation. OF course, IL the
commissary department fails 10 provide
these supplies and they cannot be pur-
chased in the vicinity of a camp or hos
pital. the difficulty of providing proper
food for the sick will be very great. and
under such circumstances the supplies
OF the relief associations have been
made welcome. But the amount now
Above by the government is ample to
provide everything necessary I'm the way
of suitable diet for the sick, and when
there is any failure to provide this it
Is failure in administration by those
Immediately in charge and not a fall
ure OF the government to provide the
necessary means.
You will no doubt agree with me
that 60 cents a day for the raw material
from which to prepare a proper diet
for the sick is a most liberal provision.
The experience OF medical officers shows
that II is not only ample, but excessive.
and that for sick men. living for the
most part upon milk. weak soup and
farinaceous food. this amount Is mucn
in excess of any reasonable require
ment.
Under the circumstances, I think
that those patriotic and liberal citizens,
who have contributed so freely OF their
money and tim to aid I'm the care OF
our sick soldiers. may now leave the
matter in the hands of the government
without any apprehension as to the re-
g,,It -