The Monte Vista journal., 1898-08-20
BAD CONDUCT OF WAR
sosron PEOPLE ARE AROUSED.
Tale Of s.asra.s s.aA,srs sAsw vsey
Bad Management st sa.slage-OAesrs
Wsshsd ss cress Psrposea

Chicago, Aug. 1G.-The Boston CORE
spondent Of the Record telegraphs:
The people OF New England are In q
state Of feverish indignation toward
the War Department because Of the
tales that are told by Massachusetts
volunteers TINT have returned from
Santiago. This Indignation IL aggra-
waited by the recent death Of Colonel
Began, q popular Irish politician who
went out TO command the Ninth regi-
ment, and was seized with fever at
Santiago and sent home a. cOnvales-
cent upon one Of the transports con-
cernlng which 80 much complaint has
been made. His death. which oc-
Cured ten days after his arrival in
Boston. Ia attributed by the local ply
sicians to lack Of care, medical treat
ment and proper food while on the
transport; they say he literally died
from neglect, for which the army ON
Gers at Santiago are responsible. Col
onel Began was known to everybody
In Boston. He has held ONCE here con-
tinuously for many years, was men,
ber Of many patriotic societies and pO-
litical organizations and highly re-
spected by all classes. His body has
lain In state nt the city hall for two
days and thousands OF people have
come to pay their homage to the ashes
OF martyr Of patriotism. His funeral
was public function under the aus
pices Of the municipal authorities, and
the olicinls, MS well as the public at
large. have endeavored by attentions
to the dead to atone for the neglect to
the living.
Every day other officers and privatcs
Inn
sets regiments which participated In
the Santiago campaign nre arriving in
Boston and the neighborlng towns,
whose wan faces, emnciated bodies and
trembling limbs testify OF their suffer-
ings and hardshlps. They all tell the
same tale. They were all right as
long as they were with their COM
rndes ut the front, in camp or In the
trenches, but when they were sent to
the hospitals their experience was con.
tlnual neglect, discomfort and starya-
tion. 1t is an awful story OF confusion
and incOmpetency on the part Of the
military authorities. lightened only by
energy. the patience and the sweet
sympathy OF the Red Cross. There Is
no complaint OF long marches or ex.
posure to danger, fighting In trenches
full OF water, or wearing clothing entu.
rated with rain for four days without
changing. or half-rations or sleeping
In the mud: all that Is part of the
soldiers glory. but when they had to
crawl five and half miles in search
OF surgeon ani lie by the roadside
ior forfy-cight to sixty hours, too III
and weak from fever to walk; when
they appealed In vain for medicines.
and M one Of them expressed 1t,
found the hospitals worse than hell
ana the transports worse thnn the hos.
pitals" they felt ut liberty to fnd
fault.
One Of the officers OF the regular
army. who brings back half healed
wound from Santiago. says that the
CONFUSION there was not due to any
lack OF energy. industry or patriotism,
but solely to the incxperience Of the
medical officers and the quartcrmasters
and the lack OF adequate facilities for
unloading the transports.
Everybody was working night and
DAY ~ hard ~ they could, but they
didn't accomplish much." he says, .'be-
cause there was no competent head to
give direction and no cooperation be.
tween the several branches Of the ser.
vice.
"Thc fact Of the matter IT," be con.
tinutsi. that General Shafter has not
known what wax going on half the
time. and all the subortiinates have
been working nj sE-purposes be-
cause Of the lack OF orders. Tho zen.
ernl has been hors de combat from the
heat almost continually since his ar.
rival at Santiago. 1t was a great mis-
take TO send a man Of his girth 10
command mn army In q tropical coun.
Try. During two or three days hght.
Ing General Shaftcr was In tent three
miles to the rear. overcome with the
heat. There was no ice for his bead.
10 his attendants could only fan and
rub him and apply hot-water com.
prcsSes to relieve the congestion.
Since the surrender he has been
able 10 keep out Of the sun under the
roof Of the palace In Santiago and 10
able 10 tend 10 business.
General Wheeler. who commanded
our corpS has been as clipper and a.
lively ~ . cricket from the beginning.
and although he had touch Of the fe.
yer. he has been on duty every day.
Being sl,ort Of stature. like Zsccheus,
be did climb a tree during the battles
and was able to overlook all the in.
trcnchmcnts. II was tho funnjes:
thing TINT ever happened In military
hixtory-a commanding general direct.
Ing his troops In battle from . treesop