New-York tribune., 1898-10-17
STERNBERGS ANSWER TO ORR.
THINKS THERE WILL BE no NEED or
FURTHER RELIEF WORk-WHERE HE
SAYS FAULT LIES.

Washington. oct. 16-The following letter from
-.e Surgeon General OF the Army written In
reply 10 one sent to tho President by A. f. Orr,
vice. chairman Of the Red Cross Relief Committee:
have received the copy Of your letter to the
President In answer TO your question as to why
the intervention Of the Red Cross Relief Commit
tee should be longer needed. and why the Govern
ment does not see TO 1t that its own sick are pro-
vided for | would say:
The emergencies OF the war made the assistance
OF relief associations most valuable. nowithstand-
ing the fact that fl is the intention Of the Gov
ernment to provide literally for the care Of sick
soldiers But. as you know. with ample means
and good intentions. supplies cannot always he
1Sa s aG s hc and oae %e Of n. var
the arrangements made for providing light diet
of peace. were inadequate under. the condition;
which prevailed In our camps of instruction and
this reason the presence OF Red Cross agents with
their abundant supplies Of decaces for the sick.
made by general order published August 10 &c.
O il6, by which surgeons in charge Of h9spitalsm
~ cents day for each sick enlisted man OF the
Army in lieu Of his reeYlar ration Up TO that
80 cents.
HOW FOOD Is OBTAINED FOR THE SICK.
The Medical Department does not supply food for
the sick in hospital. This is obtained from the
Commssary Department or by purchase whenever
it can be procured. ! ncioso herewith list show
Ing the articles which can be purchased from the
commissary. Which list, as YOU VIII see, lncludes
nned soups. tapoca. crackers. jees. tea. butter.
g..
purchased wherever they can be obtained. Tne
Medical Department furnishes few articles under
the head OF hospital stores" including condensed
milk. and tea. but no other food supplies are
Furnished by the Medical Department. or can he
properly paid for from the medical and hospital
appropriation. or course If the Commissary De-
pa sment faile 20 provide these supplies, and they
cannot he purchased I'm the vicinity Of a camp or
hospital. the difficulty OF providing proper food for
the sick will be very great. and under such cond-
ticns the supplies of the relief assoc.at tions have
been most welcome. But the amount now allowed
by the Government is ample to provide everything
necessary in the way OF suitable diet for the sick,
and when there IL any failure To provide this ii Is
a failure in administration by those Immediately in
charge and not failure Of the Government to
provide the necessary means.
You Will no DOUBT. agree that 90 cents day for
the raw material from which 10 prepare proper
diet for the sick Is most liberal provision. The
experience Of medical officers show that II Is not
only ample. but excessive. and that for sick men.
living for the most part upon milk weak soups and
farinncoous foods this Is much in excess OF any
reasonable requirement.
Under these circumstance ! think that those
patriotc and liberal citizens who have contributes
SO freely TO aid in the Of sick soldiers may
now leave the matter in the hands OF the Govern
mont without any apprehension as 10 the result