Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-04-07
WAR MATTERS.
Gen. Brooke's Sanitary Report Porto Rico S
Customs Notes.

Washington. April 6.-Major General
John r. Brooke has forwarded to the
ad1utant general copies Of the report ~
sanitary measures taken in the depart
ments Of Santa clara nd Matanzas.
Major j. II. Hysell. chief surgeon Of the
department Of Santa Clara, in report
dated at Cienfuegos. Feb. 36. says
Since the departure Of the Spanish
troops. Feb. g. there have been employ
ed in cleaning up the different hospitals
and barracks about 1000 men. mostly
members of the late insurgen; army.
The cities of this province were in a
dirty ana filthy condition when the
troops arrived ana /; has required
large amount of labor and money u
place them in a good sanitary Condi-
tiun."
There has been seven cases of yellow
fever among the troops at Sancti Spir-
titus. with one death. The source of
the infection was an old church for
merly used BY the Spanish soldiers a.
hospital. Other buildings where there
were cases OF small pox and other dis
eases We're destroyed by the Amerl-
cans.
Lieut. Col. Timothy T. Wilcox. chief
surgeon Of the department Of Matan-
ZaS. reports under date Of March ..
He had visited l3 different towns in the
department and says that the rationS
ana medical supplies have been dis
tributed in these places and greatly
relieved the suffering. The condition
Of the people has greatly improved.
1t appears that the limit of safety for
unacclimated troops in this province
is May |. After that date paldull
! fevers as we'll as yellow fever may he
expected. This is the concensus n
| opinion Of medical men throughout the
province visited. Schools We're found
4 in operation and apparently We'll at
\ tended.
! Major f. F. Taggart. chief commits
sary Of the department Of Matanzas.
also made a report. He says tina:
| there can be no doubt about the wis
/ dom of having furnished assistance ~
the destitute. The conditions Were
such that if food had not been furnish
ed. starvation would have resulted in
I many cases on account of the i'm
proved conditions all over the province
he SAYS that one-third of those who re
! ceived rations during the past month
are now able to provide for them
| selves"
1t is said at the navy department
| that there is no reason why any mys-
terry should attach to the movements
Of the cruiser Montgomery, now fitting
out for long cruise at the Norfolk
navy yard. 1t is the intention to send
| her to the south Atlantic station one
small Gunboat. the Wilmington. now on
| her way up the Amazon, is the sole
| representative Of the United States ma
| val forces on the station and it is
deemed prudent to supplement her With
, the Montgomery. inasmuCh as the flag
ship of the station, the Chicago. will
4 not arrive there for at least four
months.
Acting Secretary of War Meikleiohn
made public. today, the following state
ment of custom receipts from the is
| land of Porto Rico: Week ending
! March II. $35.3SS: week ending March
| IS. $lS314. Estimation of these figures
! the receipts from the island of Porto
/ Rico for the month of March viii far
exceed those of either January or Feb
ruary.
Gen. Weston has assumed command
J Of the commissary department as act
ing commissary general.
| Surgeon General Sternberg. today. re-
ceivcd a cable from Major Bradley in
charge of the hospital ship Relief. an
nouncing the arrival of the vessel at
Singapore with all well on board. The
Relief will reach Manila. April H.
The Nashville has arrived at Neuvi-
tas. The Rcsolute has arrived at Ha-
| vana.