The evening times., 1898-10-10
Why There Was No Algerism
in the Navy Department.
CARING FOR THE HELPLESS
Before War Was Declared COmpe-
tent Surgeons Were Ready for
Service-The Transportation of the
Sick and WOunded-A Naval Hos
pitaI Corps.

ana WOUNDED In the war Win Spain IL
furnished in the annual report of DR.. w.
X. Van Reypen, the surgeon general of
the navy. This. the first annual report
of naval bureau chiefs to be made pub
lie, contains an interesting account of
how the work of getting ready for the
war was carried on by the Bureau of
Medicine and Surgery. and what was
accomplished while active preparation
was begun Immediately after the destruc-
ton of the Maine.
Preparing for War Before War.
1T was known that a corps of volun-
teer medical officers would be necessi-
ty,' says DR.. Van Reypen land before
war was declared or any law passed
authorizing their employment, medical
boards OF examination were established
In Boston New York, Philadelphia
Washington. Norfolk and Mare Island.
Cal, To examine applicants for appoint
msnt, such appointment being contingent
upon their services being required. AS
the result of their examinations a walt
ing list of well-educated. medical men
was ready, from which appoint tments were
made as soon as their services were re-
quired after the declaration of war. Over
1000 applications were received. but only
small proportion examined. Out of
this number thtrty-Seven were appointed
assistant surgeons. They have rendered
efficient service, and have been a credit
10 the navy. Some have had unusual
and trying experiences. but they have
accommodated themselves to their en-
vironments. and have justified their ap-
pointments.
''One Of their number, Asst. Surg John
Blair Gibbs. was killed in action at Guam
tanamo while serving with the marine
| battalion. He was the only medical Off
Ger killed during the war
The Hospital Ship SoIace.
Concerning the purchase and fitting out
| of the hospital ship Solace the surgeon
general says:
The question of proper care and trans
portation of sick or wounded at sea had
long been a subject Of consideration by
the bureau. The coming of war gave it
an opportunity TO demonstrate the wis
dom of its propositions and the efficiency
| OF its methods By direction of the Pres-
! dent. and by the authority of the Secre-
! tary of the Navy, the steamer Creole of
| the Cromwell Line between New York
| and New ORLEANS, was purchased and des-
| ignated as an ambulance ship. The vessel
| was sent to the yard of the Newport News
| Shfpbuilding and Dry Dock Company and
there fitted out on the plans of the bureau.
| In work was done under the Bureau of
Construction and Repair, and under the
| immediate superintendent of Naval Con-
structor ]. J. Woodward to whom the
| bureau is under lasting obligations for
| his advice, assistance and his energy in
| satisfactorily completing the work The
merchant ship Creole became the ambu-
| lance ship Solace in sixteen days, fitted
with a large and well-lighted operating
room, in which were all the appliances
| for modern antiseptic surgery, a steam
disinfecting apparatus, an ice machine,
| steam laundry plant. cold storage rooms
| and an elevator for taking patients from
the operating room and upper deck TO the
| wards below.
A Pioneer in the Work.
THE Solace is fitted out under the re-
quirements of the Geneva convention.
and flies the Geneva cross flag. She Is
the pioneer in her work and indicates
| a step in advance that it we'll became
the United States to take. Her fitting
out was easy of accomplishment The
chief of every bureau in the department
! having to do with the vessel gave his
cordial support and assistance to the
work. They gave the Solace everything
she needed. The vessel has been fortu-
nate in her personnel. Commander Dun
lap is an ideal commander. and the medi-
cal officers of the vessel Surgeon
Streets and Passed Assistant Surgeons
Stokes, Smith and Bogert, have shown
themselves thoroughly competent and
efficient in caring for the many sick or
wounded who have been under their
charge. Three hospital stewards, one of
whom was skilled embalmer. eight
trained nurses, a cook. four meSsmen,
and two laundrymen were especially
designated for service in the medical de-
partment. AS soon as the SoIace re-
ceived her stores she sailed for the block
| aiding squadron and arrived in time to
take on board the wounded at the bonn
bardment of San Juan. she then collect
ed the sick or wounded from the other
vessels of the squadron and sailed for
New York, where, on June s. fifty-seven
patients were landed at the naval hos
pital. On June she sailed for Guanta-
namo, and was present to take on board
the wounded marines in their fight with
the Spanish troops. As soon as the
Spanish fleet was destroyed in the battle
of July 3. she took on board the wound
ed from the Brooklyn and all the Span
ish wounded, and gave them the care
and attention that has never before been
given to the wounded of friend or foe in
any naval combat and that could only
be given by an ambulance ship"
WOman's Perfect Work.
In his report DR.. Van Reypen pays a
glowing tribute to the daughter of secre.
tary Long and the other women who to ok
their places as nurses in the naval hospi-
tails. He adds:
I'm this war woman has done her per-
feet work, and the medical department
of the navy is profoundly grateful for the
money contributed and supplies furnish
ed for the aid and comfort of the sick
men have ably supplemented the efforts
OF the Government, and their assistance
has been thoroughly appreciated"
The surgeon general calls attention tc
the fact that 1.-The medical officers of the
Solace have the honor of inaugurating
the first complete system of antiseptie
surgery at sea. They have adapted means
to ends, have improvised apparatus, have
been fertile in expedients, and have the
satisfaction of having demonstrated that
with skill and intelligence the percentage
Of mortality among the patients on g
| well-equipped ambulance ship will BE- nc
| greater than in the hospitals on shore"
| Of the establishment of hospital corps
for the navy. by authority of an act ap-
proved on June II. DR.. Van Repen says
1.-THE passage of this actis the culmina-
tion of the efforts of the bureau for many
years. 1t will give the service trained
| corps of men, who will now have some
reason for remaining in service, having g
hope of promotion and advancement as
the result of faithful service, sobriety
| and attention to duty. It's -geod results
are already manifest; changes are be-
ing made as rapidly as practicable, and