PORTO RICO.
The labors of the Executive Committee of the Red Cross in New York were not confined to the work in the camps. Upon them devolved the larger share of the responsibility for the administration of relief everywhere, including the vast correspondence and the myriad details that arise in connection with the systematic management of a work so far-reaching and varied as the auxiliary relief by the Red Cross in time of war.
Outside of the United States, the relief of the sick and wounded in war was not confined to Cuba and the Philippines, but was extended to Porto Rico. Horace F. Barnes, of Boston, Mass., was appointed by the committee as the field agent of the Red Cross in Porto Rico, and taking with him a large assortment of supplies, sailed on the transport “Concho” for Ponce on the thirteenth of August. Later, General W. T. Bennett, of Philadelphia, Pa., was appointed to assist Mr. Barnes. All requisitions from Porto Rico were promptly filled by the committee and the relief continued so long as any necessity for it remained. Of the field work in Porto Rico the following report is made:
Report by Horace F. Barnes.
Red Cross relief work for Porto Rico began with the arrival of a detachment of female nurses before the American and Spanish armies had ceased hostilities. These nurses, however, were ordered back to the States at once as attendants for returning sick and wounded soldiers. On the tenth of August the Executive Committee commissioned me as the Red Cross field agent for Porto Rico, and put me in charge of a cargo of relief supplies then on the steamship “Concho,” which sailed from New York on August 13.
With the aid of a good military map of the island, and of information obtained before sailing as to the location of the different divisions of the army, during the voyage the line of Red Cross work was determined. The army was in three divisions. The eastern, under General Brooke, was above Guayama; the central, under General Wilson, was at Ponce and vicinity; the western, under General Schwan, was in Mayaguez and the neighboring region.
It seemed to be the natural course to visit these divisions as soon as possible, ascertain their sanitary condition, give supplies as needed for the sick, wounded and convalescent, and then, after supplying the American forces, to visit the Spanish camps and hospitals and provide for them. Afterwards headquarters for stores and operations should be fixed at the most central convenient port for receiving goods from New York and distributing them with least cost and difficulty to all army stations. The plan outlined was closely followed, circumstances making it easily possible to do so. The “Concho” arrived at Ponce on August 20.
Two days afterward the ship with the cargo of Red Cross stores still unbroken on board, started for Arroyo, the port of Guayama, about thirty miles east of Ponce, where General Brooke’s command had its base of operations. There a large selection of relief supplies was left in charge of Chief Surgeon Huidekoper, of the division hospital at Guayama. Nothing could have been more auspicious as the beginning of Red Cross work in Porto Rico than this quick and free transportation of supplies to a distant command, with the minimum of labor and delay, at a period of most urgent need.
Returning, the “Concho” reached Ponce again on the twenty-fifth. The same night, on ascertaining that the steamship “Alamo” was to proceed the next day to Mayaguez and Arecibo, I arranged for lighters to put a cargo on board, to be divided between these two ports, intending the first for General Schwan’s command, and the second for the Sixth Massachusetts, at Utuado, the latter to be landed at Arecibo. The Surgeon of the Sixth Massachusetts was accordingly notified by wire to have wagons sent up to Arecibo to meet the “Alamo” on her arrival. Every thing worked admirably. The “Alamo” reached Mayaguez August 27, and ample supplies for the hospital of General Schwan’s command were landed at Mayaguez, and delivered to Dr. Bailey K. Ashford, surgeon in charge, who expressed most cordial and grateful appreciation.