New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-24
THE OFFICIAL ULTIMATUM.
WHY WOMEN MUST NOT GO AS NURSES
TO CUBA
INTERVENE ON THE SUBJECT WITH president
AND MRS. MKINLEY AND SURGEON
GENERAL. sTERNBURG.

G. W sternburg the Surgeon-GenefdA u
United States Navy. when seen by repo'
The Tribune in Washington yesterday. looheo iu',.
able to meet the requirements OF MS respo"'''
position.
He was asked about the official ultimatum ina,
M women would be sent as nurses to Cuba, ana
SAID gravey and In a decided way:
1T Is true. II is not my intention 10 seho any
women nurses to the Key West hospi'a' VI ~
Cuba We have Hospital Corps OF trained men
whose duty II Is to go with the troops IN the "e'e
and II we require additional assistance In CUBA OF
on the Gulf coast shall accept only those WV"
are immune TO yellow fever from having nad 'ne
disease or passed through one or more eploe'i'os'
In case hospitals are established further Nor'h' !.
is possible that may require the assista"oo %
trained women nurses. large NUMBER nave al
ready volunteered their services. All appncationS
are placed upon file for future reference. ana IL Is
impossible to say at present "netner '"o '''''0N"
OF any can be accepted.
"A large number OF patriotic women. VINO nave
had no special training as nurses nave ALSO 'o'u"-
teered their services. While fully approaching the
motives which lead to this offer. 1t Is evident thac
there Is no probability that their services can De
utilized in the care OF the sick and wounded OF our
armies"
The Surgeon General said further
II am receiving daily great many letters from
physicians In all parts OF the country. YOUNGER
ing their services in any capacity In whlch they
might be required. 7 have already on file more
than twelve hundred such applications many or
them from prominent surgeons. and a considerable
number from surgeons who have seen service dur
ing the Civil War There Is reason TO believe
that any great number OF these will be required.
Certainly no one will be sent with the troops 10
Cuba who IA not immune from yellow fever 10
send non immune physicians or nurses would De
simply to provide additional patients to be taken
care OF. and would be great wrong;
While the Surgeon-General was speaking there
was much hurryng 10 ard fro. IN an orderly. auiet
wav and orders for folding beds. cots and other
things were being dspa tched In way that showed
Uncle Sam meant business. literally
THE PRESIDENTS AND MRS. MKrNLEY's
VIEWS
When the reporter called at the White House II
looked TO be the most quiet spot In Washington.
but this quiet foreboded danger OF the gravest
possible character Business was carried on In
muf,ed tones and all the officers seen wore sub
dued air
John Addison Porter secretary 70 President Nc
Eirlev was seen and while he said that business
os the greatest possible moment demanded all his
time. he would gladly spare few minutes 70 en-
courage the patriotic spirit which to-day fills the
hearts Of all true American women
Mr. Porter asked what the President and
Mrs Mckinley felt about tho good work women
could do in this time Of
He said Both tho President and Mrs McKin-
ley feel that II the is OF long dura ton. women
will he Of service IN many valuable ways. but Just
ent time. Their uses. however will be determined
by the necessity for them" Mr. Porter added that
he voicng the Presidents and Mrs McKn
lev's feelings ms neither Of them will be inter-
viewed personally the chief Executive feeling that
his time should be devoted the vital questions
that are now before the country.