The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-29
SUFFERING UNAVOIDABLE.
Roberts Advanced So Rapidly the
und Could Not BE Cared For.

LONDON, June 2S.4The exposures re-
garding the hospitals in South Africa,
which began with a three-column letter in
the Times, on Monday, from Mr.. w. A.
Burdett-Coutts. Conservative member of
Parliament for Westminster, detailing the
great suffering endured by soldiers, owing
to mismanagement, led to a number of
questions in the House of Commons to-day.
In response, the government leader, A.. J.
Balfour, the first lord of the treasury, made
a long statement. during the course of
which he said that, so far as the govern
ment was aware, much of the suffering of
the sick and wounded was due to the in
sufficiency of the supplies sent out. Mr..
Balfour then proceeded to read extracts
of correspondence with Lord Roberts on
the subject, in which the British command
er-in-chief in South Africa dwelt on the
difficulties Of transportation, owing to his
rapid advance. He could quite understand
that people imperfectly experienced In
these matters were concerned at hearing
Of the hardships the sick and wounded had
TO undergo. He did not wish to shirk from
responsibility or screen any one. and sug-
gested that a committee of medical men
and persons of sound common sense pro-
coed to South Africa to investigate the
charges.
Mr.. Balfour also informed the House that
the government agreed to the appointment
of an independent committee. as suggested
by Lord Roberts. and he, tomorrow, would
propose a nominal grant for the army med
zeal corps. so that the House would have
an opportunity to thoroughly thresh out
the matter.
The War Office has issued correspondence
with Lord Roberts regarding the charges of
ton was called in brief kilograms to the al
legations, and also to other complaints or
a general breakdown in the hospital sys-
tenn Two days later he replied in part as
follows: THE principal medical officer re-
ported that arrangements at Kroonstad
were in all respects in good order, and
Lord Methuen said they were satisfactory.
1 was deeply distressed at. being unable to
make suitable arrangements FOR the sick
on our first arrived at Kroonstad, but il is
obvious that a certain amount of suffering
is inseparable in the rapid advance of a
large army into an enemy's country"
On June 20 the War Office cabled Lord
Roberts that disquieting reports regarding
the hospital were accommodating, and asked
him If anything could be done, and particu-
l6rly whether any more nurses were need
ed. On June % Lord Roberts. replied, say
ing that he did not wish to shirk RESPONSE
bility or to screen the shortcomings of the
l medlcal corps, and ne suggested q commit
tee of inquiry. He said there had been an
abnormal number of sick at Bloemfontein
due 10 the exhausting nature of the march
and the terribly unsanitary condition of the
camp at Paardeberg. where the only water
available for drinking flowed from the Boer
camp. higher up, where the river was
crowded with decomposing animals and
also a considerable number of Wounds
after the fight on March 10. To improvise
| accommodations at Bloemfontein for such
a number. which had become 1000 before
he left Bloemfontein. was no easy task.
said Lord Roberts. No tents were carried.
| and the public buildings had to be turned
into hospitals. In three months there had
been $3.50 admissions to the hospitals of pa
| tients suffering from enteric fever, while
the deaths numbered 1870. about q per
cent. Lord Roberts observed that he did
not know whether this wouli be an abnor-
NAL rate in civil hospitals in peace times.
but If the rate were abnormal. il was due
to the exhausted state of the men and not
TO the neglect of the medical corps.