The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-20
HOSPITAL SERVICE IN SOUTH
AFRICA.

The Hon. Mr.. Burdett-Couts, NJ p, has
stirred up a veritable hornets nest in the
House of Commons by his statements OF
the ,nismana cement Of the hospital service
in South Africa It seems that Mr.. Bur
dett-Couts went out to the scene Of opera
tons IN the Transvaal and found a most
fearful state Of .nismanasement existing in
the hospital corps. Some thousands Of
men are down with typhoid fever. Often
ten men are crowded together IN tent
that was not made to hold but six. a case
is cited where for months the unfortunate
sick were allowed to lie on the ground
with nothing between them and the hard
earth but a single waterproof blanket
The hospital corps is pitiably inefficient.
There are no nurses, no surgeons. and no
attendants for the larger part of the cases.
Up 10 May 18th, at Bloemfontain alone,
they had had 2.0S7 cases of typhoid fever
and 2Ss deaths.
The War Department is trying to explain
its lack of ability to handle the situation,
but it is not doing SO to the satisfaction OF
the House of Commons. who have demand
ed a committee of investigation. The Right
Hon. a ]. Balfour, in the pride of his
strength as the leader of an overwhelming
majority, declined to allow the committee
to have more than three members. This
action raised a storm of revolt, not only
from Mr. Asquith and Sir H. Campbell
Zimmerman, the Liberal leaders, but also
from Mr.. Balfour's own followers. The
= +j,o 1oha TO nix c,,hi
q hasty recession by Mr.. Balfour from the
position that he had taken. and a promise
that the House of Commons should appoint
as many on the committee as it chose.
INe do not know fully the difficulties
with which Lord Roberts and the medical
staff have had to contend, but we regard
our own troubles in Cuba with more
equanimity in view OF the British suffer-
ings in South Africa, for it would seem to
show in both cases the trouble was largely
due to an attempt to run a great army
with the same machinery that was used
for a small one. But with the advance
that science has made in teaching US how
to avoid the fearful ravages of this lever
we shall expect to see the House OF Com
mons require a strict reckoning from their
officials and a rebuke to Lord Lands
downe for his failure to supply the neces-
sary hospital corps
England is contending with the difficult
ties that have arisen from trying to handle
her army of 100000 men in South Africa
with the machinery that is ordinarily re-
quired for two army corps. The fortitude
and the valor and self-sacrificing lives of
the nurses and assistants cannot be too
highly praised, but the supply is hopelessly
and utterly inadequate, and under the
present system of army government it is
very difficult to increase it
Such proofs as this Of the inherent weak
ness of the present British army organiza-
ton will hasten the entire reorganization
of the British army that is now being de-
manded generally. The fundamental trouble
Is that the British army is now regarded
as volunteer body Of troops, except for
the comparatively small number of regular
troops, and without a modified form Of
ccDscription there appears to be no method
by which the present difficulties can be de-
1initely prevented from occurring aga:n-a
solution that neither party has the courage
to undertake.