New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-23
NAVAL SURGEONS NEEDED.
GENERAL VAN REYPEN'S REPORT on
EFFICIENCY OF THE CORPS.

Washington Oct 22-Surgeon General Van Rcy-
pen OF tho Navy In his annual report, AFFORD
abundant evidence Of continued professional ana
executive efficiency In all work. the responsibility
OF which In greater OF less degree devolVed upon
the surgeons forming the corps. which won suc1
admiration professional well popular fof
their remarkable achievements IN tho war with
Spain. As peace was declared. according
10 the Surgeon General. the Meli.al Department
began to reduce expenses and 20 place iisef on a
peace basis. There had been no unnecessary ac-
cumulation Of stores material and r. had noth-
ing to condemn sell or destroy Everything pur-
chased for has since been utilized. on TIE
$4,000 appropriated by Congress for this bureau
for war purposes $4,000 has been returned 20 TIE
Treasury. The ambulance ship Solace. that rem
dered such effective service during the war, Is now
used partly "A TRANSPORT bat furnishes excelleni
accommodations FOR the sick In their transfer from
the feet Manila 70 the Naval Hospital AT Yoke
hama or Mare Island Those invaNds requiring
mainly OF climate and rest fOr recupcration
are disembarked Yokohama. and soon return %
their proper stations for duty. while The more
severe cases and those unfit for service are trans
ferred to the Naval Hospital at Mare Island for
further treatment or discharge from The service.
IMPROVING NAVAL HOSPITALS.
The rehabilitation and renovation Of al naval
hospitals which was started several years ago b.
the bureau, has been steadily oo7unued Tho
ward capacity in many OF them has been IN
creased.
Der OF beds has been more than doubled The
necessity TO- this large increase in hospital &C
commodations for the care ard treatment OF the
sick and wounded OF the Navy is readily nnosr-
stood when the several enactmenis made by Con
gress In the last few years are considered II
which liberal provision Is made FOR the increase ia
the personnel and material OF me naval es'A0-
lshment
To meet the extra demands made upon the Navy
BY the acquisition and establishment OF navy yards
and naval stations In several Of the haroors o.
new possessions and 70 ht them out with slits
bic equipment II became necessary for the Medlcsl
DEPARTMENT Of the Navy IN order 20 anticipate the
requirements OF the service TO make preparations
md provide ample accommodations for the treat
ment OF officers and men who were detailed FOR
duty IN the foreign possessions Of the United
States such action. moreover. was imperativey
necessary In the Philippine Islands. where. OWING
70 the assembling o, a large feet Of vessels anc
the further fact that these Islands are situated vel
within the tropics it was only reasonable % an
tcipate that much sickness would prevail and tnat
| the establishment OF a hospital at Manila was IN
dspensable to the efficiency Of the fleet and 70 the
| welfare Of the patients A naval hospital Win
Z. the necessary furniture Instruments. etc. and
complete administrative outfit has been organized
and placed in commission az caViie, Phiippin"
Islands and the building occupied FOR this purposs
IS so arranged and constructed that II can be en-
larged and its capacity doubled whenever the IT.
terests OF the service may require *
STATIONS N CUBA AND PORTO RICO.
The United States steamer Yosemite before leay-
! Ing the United States was attod out with medical
supplies Instruments and furniture for the estao-
| lshnent OF small hospital a. Guam. Ladrone
Islands should the requirements OF the service
! make II necessary At the naval stations az Ha-
| vana and san Juan small buildings have been pro
| cured FOR hospital purposes, and have been prop
erly fitted up for the reception q naval patients
whose illness may be- Of a temporary character
| and who can be comfortably cared for IN these es-
| tablishments until In a suitable condition 20 D
| transferred North
The steady increase IN the enlisted force OF tho
| Navy that has taken place IN the last TWO years
| anG also the passage ~ the Personnel Dill, "hicA
| has added more than three thousand officers and
men 20 the strength % The Marine corps. cals AT
7 tention forcibiy 70 the necessity for congress
act on in which suitable provision should be made
for an enlargement IN the number OF officers Ia
the Medical Corps. Regarding this necessity SUI
geon General Van Reypen says.
The reAsonabeness Of such proposed actiqn
should appeal strongly 10 at VINO ar lntet's'tl
the welfare u the Navy. and particularly - mos
whom the responsi6ty rests for maintaining the
present and future efficiency Of this branch o. the
| naval establishment The number " medical
9 2n9frg Ie o@ for hs versed which
they are called upon 20 perform ana u is earnest
II hoped that proper provision VIII be made Dy
Congress during its coming session o. Femeay -
condition which is Detrimental 10 me eihceney {, OF
me CORPS 70 the interests Of the service ana no
directly 10 the country AT large. IL Is imposspi"
10 meet tho requirements ~ the service WIN IN"
nresent number OF medical officers. Every on
Who is not sick is on duty and the Bureau ia 5
been unable 20 supply officers FOR needed recruiting
and other du'y
INCREASE N CORPS URGED
7 have the honor. therefore. to reques, that your
auuroval may be given proposed legislation Tor a
small Increase the lower grades OF the CORPS II
a. recommended that the corps be- increased nF''
surgeons and twenty assistant surgeons, ana ina
me volunteer assistant surgeons VINO served durlh
he war With spain and who are III service. De-
| transferred TO the regular nata service ana IN
oiuded in the number OF assistant surgeons allowed
! and that In their case the present legal Limit Or
aye on admission be waived There are now eish-