New-York tribune., 1900-07-15
VAN ALIEN AT THE FRONT.
SAYS CHARGES AGAINST HOSPITAL SER
VICE IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE TRUE
MRS. ASTOR AND OTHERS
on THE ST. PAUL
ON THE ST. PAUL.

j. j. Van Allen. who returned yesterday on board
the American liner ST Paul spent two exceedingly
disagreeaole hours at the pier before he found
himself free of the Custom House officials. The
trouble all over a number OF Partisan gowns
which had been made for his daughter and which
had not been declared to the customs officials The
inspector at once informed appraiser and with
his assistance and that of special Treasury agent
began thorough examination.
After some delay Mr.. Van Allen was found, and.
according TO the customs people said that the
aHalr was the result Of a miSundersta nding and
that he perfectly willing to pay any duty
required Fer over hour he was Obliged to stand
on the pier while the inspector opened trunk after
trunk and the appraiser made note of the dutiable
goods. The examination brought TO light goods on
which the duty amounted to 81, Just what the
articles were the customs officers would not say,
though one admitted that there were at least
twenty dresses which had not been declared. Mr.
Van Allen then ordered his many trunks
Newport.
The baggage in all amounted to fifty trunks and
many parcels of various sizes and description.
1t may be remembered that Mr. Van Allen volun-
teered TO equip ambulance corps and hospital
for field service in South Africa. which the Brit
sh Government finally accepted after some dispute
as to the position Mr.. Van Allen should occupy at
the front In speaking of the charges made against
the British Army Corps in the field by William
Ashmead Bartlett Burdett-COutts, Mr.. Van Allen
said:
THE charges are substantially true Many men
In Robertss army died from typhoid fever for lack
Of beds and waterproof sheets Two marques and
few bell tents near Bloemfontein contained 400
patients. of whom three hundred We're PROSTATE
with typhoid fever. There We're only seventeen or
dertes to attend to the sick. This inattenton was
due principally to the sudden and unexpected
amount OF sickness at the front The hospital
vice was thus caught unprepaFed.' Mr.. Van Allen
LETT South Africa June 9 last
another PASSENGER on the st. Paul was Mrs Will
lam Astor, OF whom Mr.. Van Allen is a sOn-in-law
She will go at once TO BeeChwOod, her cottage at
Newport Others on board Mrs. Charles e
Culver, of Chicago; Major-General Grenyille NJ
Dodge, Mr and Mrs. Albert Clifford Barney and
two G9ughJers Mr.. and Mrs Henry II. Ellison DR.
Austin Flint Or. Grant S Hicks, F S. Jones sec
Ietary 2f the United States Legation at Buenos
AyreS; Leutenant-Coonel Arthur r. Lee. military
attac4e OF ;he British Embassy at Washington
MIS- Lee, Mrs LadenbuTg, Count and Countess de-
Iauger-V ViIlars. Mrs. Frank Leslie Mrs A Oakey
Han Miss NJ e. Hall. Mr.. and Mrs. ogden Mills,
the Misses Mills, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry X Me-
Harg. Miss McHarg. Professor C. J. Marvin. Louis
+. Gutman, Mrs. NJ. Gould, Miss Helen Hale Ilsey
John +. Poor, j. PatenotTe, Mr.. and Mrs. c. w
Smith Miss Beatrice j Smith, Theodore y. VAN
MI ana Mrs sidney Webster Mr.. and Mrs. Peter
=. Wyckof. John y. Woodruff. c w Whitney and
Mr.. and Mrs. Daniel c. YeIlie.