Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-19
OF making purchases. and his course mao
afterwards been approved.
r, no GIFT ANYTHING.


good quality. but it afterwards improved.
However, the men were as a RUE gao
enough to get anything, and there was
no complaint Indeed, the troops had
manifested a disposition to be satisned
with whatever they received. captain
Baker said that he attributed Whatever
DELAY had been experienced to the neces-
sity of equipping so large al army IN 50
brief a time. and he thought that unuer
the circumstances ii was no greater IMAM
was TO have been expected
Explaining General LawtonS selection
of the first camp here, he said II was uue
10 the fact that the railroad company
could offer good facilities, and to the ad-
ditional fact that water could be secured
conveniently. The site was low, ana the
men were moved when the rainy season
began General Lawton had expected tne
troops 70 be ordered almost immediately
to Cuba. and this circumstance controiled
him entirely in the selection or the site
for the first encampment. lie SAID that
the volunteer regimental quartermastefS
had all worked hard 10 learn tneir Dusl-
ness. and that their service had Dee"
satisfactory
THE CTOR-GENERAL'S VIEWS.
CAPTAIN Baker was followed by Colonel
Curtis Guild, Jr., inspector-general Oh the
corps Colonel Guild said he had oeen
on duty in Jacksonville since June IsI
He said he had made it his business 10
make an eary-morning Inspection OF the
camp each day with regard 10 sam
tation, and he knew that TINS
had been the custom oil others
in his department He had also invented
a form of weekly report. when had gwen
excellent satisfaction. Colonel Guild sald
he had found the officers of the volunteer
forces willing to accept suggestions, ana
I'm many cases ne had been thanked for
them. -.,.
Of the hospitals. In the beginning there
was a lack OF government supplies Tor
these institutions, but the deficiency had
been supplied by the Red Cross Society
The witness testified to the devotion OF
the Medical Department, and in referring
10 the care Of the sick. he instanced the
fact that in the recent cyclone here not
a single hospital tent had been blown
down. In some instances in this emer-
gency entire brigades turned out 10 pro-
tect the hospitals and hold them down.
TROUBLE WITH I'D NEW JERSEY
Colonel Guild mentioned some cases in
which goods had been received IN poor
condition. In one case a large lot OF
canned beef had been received which was
putrid and effervescent, but the con-
tractors had replaced it with Acceptable
goods The Second New Jersey had sur
fered on account of frequent changes OF
the commissary. and they appeared 10 ex-
perience want Of food because OF the lgno-
rance of the officers of the regiment
Colonel Guild said that he had never
found a case of deprivation due TO the
failure of the government TO furnish pro-
per supplies. He was also unable TO re-
call anv case in which there had been any
suffering in a hospital on account OF
neglect. and was satisfied that all had
been done for the sick that was pracuca-
Bile.
colonel Guild had in an official report
expressed the opinion that one attendant
10 six patients was not sufficient, but he
said this opinion was based upon the in
famed condition Of the public mind.
stu. he believed that as a rule the at
tendants could not give the proper atten-
ton.
CHANGE OF MIND ABOUT SHORT
AGE.
Asked If he was still Of the opinion that
there would have been a shortage of sup
plies for the sick but for the great ac-
tivitv of the Red Cross Society, Colonel
Guild said he had changed his opinion
somewhat. as he had since learned that
steps might have been taken to secure
government supplies, but he was still OF
the opinion that there would have been
delay.
Here the commission adjourned for din
ner.
SOUTH CAROLINA COMPLAINTS.
The evening session Of the commission
was given up 10 Colonel Jones and others
of the Second South Carolina Infantry.
Colonel Jones repeated his complaint
about the fresh beef. He also complained
81 the location Of the camp as swampy
and said that the water was bad. He
said that of 934 men i'm the regiment, 1856
were now sick. and that about two-thrds
Of these were typhoid cases lie thought
that other regiments in the vicinity were
lust as badly off in point of health as
his own command.
Iieutenant-Co Colonel Thompson said he
had seen spoiled meat only on one occa-
sion. and that it was badly discolored.
The men went without meat that day.
He complained that when men were sent
to the Division Hospital it was impossible
10 locate them He thought the sickness
Of the regiment was due to the proximity
Of stagnant water.
lieutenant Alexander Davis, commits
sarv of the regiment, said the beef was
good when II was issued 10 the regiment,
but that there were cases in which the
meat issued TO companies had spoiled,
owing to the failure Of the company com
missaries TO come for II promptly, thus
leaving IL exposed.
CLOTHING INFERIOR.
Lieutenant Edmund r. Tompkins, act
ing ouartermaster Of the regiment, com
blamed that the clothing issued TO the
regiment was of very inferior quality.
He spoke especially OF the shoes and
trousers and complained OF the difficult
ties of getting proper sizes in underclothes
for the men He also complained that
the tents occupied leaked and that he
had failed 70 get acquisitions for others
approved.
CAPTAIN Daniel o. Herbert, Of this regi-
ment, complained Of the mOnotony Of the
rations He said much Of the beef had
TO be thrown away because IL was spoiled.
A number Of non-commissioned officers
and privates were also sworn. All the
members Of this regiment examined com
planned OF the Issuance OF four-days' ira
vel rations 10 the regiment when they left
their State. which had made a shortage i'm
other rations for two weeks. Sergeant
Mooney. Of Company A. complained that
very little fresh meat was issued.
s-s--
Mrs. Lee StiII Improving.