The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-30
THE HOSPITAL SCANDAL
Hsuso Of Commons Considers Re-
ports From South Africa.
wyndham. Parliamentary Secretary
for war, Discusses Statements Con-
CerninE Conditions Mt Bioemfon-
tein-EnEIsnd Doing All in Her
Power Reply of Burdett-COUtts.

LONDON. June 29.-In consequence of
Hon. Mr.. BuTiett Coutts' alarming des-
patch to the Times that I'VE lack an
efficient staff and medical comforts and
attention to the soldiers in South Africa,
especially at bloemfontein.' which report
created q sensation throughout the coun-
try, the Government profrered the House
OF Commons an opportunity TO debate the
whole question.
1t was stated that General Roberts
courted the fullest and most complete en-
Quiry and the Government suggested that
. soall committee of medical men and
ether experts be se1t to South Africa to
study sAd report on the matter.
In the House OF Commons today Mr.
George WynAham. Parliamentary Secre-
tary for War. expressed surprise that Mr..
Burdstt- -Cputts, who is q member of Par
liaDent fer Westminster, had not opened
the debate. He thought tha: the honorable
0S0bsr having made certain statements
desired . reply from tho Government.
Mr.. wyndAAm admitted that to lament
able extent it vas true that the woinded
and sick At Dlosgnfoatein bad been ex-
posed to terrible hardsaips, the fun ex-
tent Of which could. perhaps, not always
be appreciated by those who had not seen
war The Government, Mr.. Wyndham
said, was convinced that it had much ID
learn By experience, but he would not
admit that it had gene to war without
making tho necessary preparations In
anticipation OF an epidsmic OF fever the
medical oAcials had been Instructed TO
apply for ali they might require in addi-
ton to the articles supplied in the ordi-
nary course
Mr.. Wyndham stated that in January tae
number Of coctoTs employed by the Wsr.
Oaice was 4s7: it was nov 916s The Iun-
Der Of nurses employed in January was 50:
now it was oss. Tie difficulties that had
arisen. Mr. Wyrdham said. we're due not to
tho stintine OF supplies, but to the almost
insuDeTahle difsculty Of getting supple; to
the front. MI WyrdnaIn declared that The
mortality compared with tho number Of
wounded in the present oampag gn was Ear
less than In the Soudan. Matabele. or most
Of Ensiand's recent wars. Mir. Wyndham
concluded a fellows:
England is rich, but even the money
which has been voted usstinisg'y, ard tie
devotion which has been shown en- every
side could not entirely mitigate the recess
ary ssFrows OF the war which the British
forces have so unshrinkiEgly borne."
Mr.. Burdett- -Cout:s. in reply. said he was
quite conscious OF the grave responsibility
he had undertaken, but was prepared to
stand by everything he had said- He COM
planned that at Bioerafoatein the PATENTS
were unreasoaabiy crowded. though tie
town hall and other pubic and private
buildiuU could have been used for TIER
care instsad et being given up to the Use OF
stan oaicers
When communications had been res.orei
there was a great delay in forwarding fe-
male nurses. He closed by giving cases Of
alleged neglect. Compared with the let
ters fron Mr.. Burdett-Coutts. printed in
the Times" the speech was tame to a de-
gree.
The debate occupied the entire evening.
General Roberts explanation had been pre-
viousiy published, and the Government de-
Tended him against the charges An in
temperate speech, by Mr.. David Lloyd
George. member Of the Carnarvon district,
drew an angry response from Arthur Bal
four. First Lord for the Treasury. who con-
tended that tie whole debate had resolved
itself iato Al unworthy and unjustifiab;e
attack On General Roberts and his staff
Mr.. Balfour said there had undoubtedly
been hardships. but military exisencles
made them unavoidable. 1t was neither
war nor humanity for a general to limit
the strength of his blow for medical con-
aesrations. The true way to end the war
and to limit suffering was - strike rapidly
and hard. though it might increase the
noElen.ary suffering.
Tho House agreed to the Governments
estimate, which had been 1
formally introduced to enable the debate on |
Gr. Burdott -Coutts'Y charges