The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-13
GRAHAM.
His Testimony
Before
THE COMMISSION
No Complaint About the
War Department.

Washington, Oct 12-Gen. Graham
continued his testimony before the war
investigating commission today.
Gen Graham believed that the prox-
unity Of the tents to one anther at
Camp Alger was responsible more than
anything else for the sickness. He said
that the medical officers also were of
that opinion. The lack of water for
bathing purposes and the eating OF
other food than that prescribed by the
regulations had a deleterious influence.
When the camp was pitched there were
no bathing facilities; but later the men
were marched seven miles in brigades
once a weeks for baths. There had been
no lack Of medical supplies, but some
OF the medical attendants were mex
periencsd and inefficient
Gen. Graham added that while the
commissary supplies were plentiful the
men were often without the prescribed
food because the regimental officers
were not sufficiently impressed with the
Importance Of knowing how to draw
their food That was especially true in
the matter Of fresh meat.
Gen. Graham said that in the case
of most Of the regiments there was con-
siderable delay in supplying them with
arms and ammunition, first attention
being given always to the troops to be
forwarded to the front. The command
was, however, fully armed and in every
way equipped to take the field before
this camp was abandoned for Camp
Meade. For a time during an epidemic
there was shortage of hospital linen .fp-
the BEDS but the DEFICIENCY 70, o,,I+
temporary. In many inst ances men de.
clined to have FNS.ets on their beds.
80. ees'' niger had spoken to him
~ n ~ ny about keeping up supplies
~ the sick, asking that the secretary
be personally informed when there was
a deficiency and assuring him that the
demand should be Immediately met.
There were occasional shortages In
other supplies, such as ice, but he die
( not believe that any deaths had beer
due to this cause.
Ex-Governor Woodbury. and DR.. Con.
nor examined Gen. Graham in regard
to the space occupied by the camp. Or.
iginally it was much too small, and
Gen. Graham had from time to time
extended it, removing the tents farther
from each other
Dr. Conner said it had been definitely
stated TO him by a medical officer tina
the surface drainage had found It's wa!
into the wells.
Il positively deny it," Responded
Gen. Graham. A letter from Philadel
phia complained of the presence 0
green fruit booths. Gen. Graham salt
he had ordered the Booths outside o
the lines and had tried to protect hi
men from them There had been com
plant of the hospital at Dunn Loring
charging drunkenness on the part O
medical attendants.
he.
suit being that the attendants were en-
stirely INDICATED.
Taking it all in all, Gen. Graham sait
he had no doubt that the medical de
partment at Camp Alger was admin
istered in a competent manner
With the reforms inaugurated, Cam
Alger would have been very healthfu
and the removal to Camp Meade wal
largely sentimental and in obedience
to public clamor.
Gen. Graham described Camp Meade
to be an ideal camp, splendidly located
and well supplied with camp neces
saries
At the afternoon session of the wa
commission Gen. Graham was exam
ed with reference to some criticism
Of Camp Alger made by Col Smart
deputy surgeon general of the army
to the effect that the tents were tot
cases entire battalions occupied nj
more space than should be assigned t.
a company. He also charged that tn
sinks were crowded against the tent
and had referred to the general condi
ton in the camps being most deplora
Bile. He defended the medical depart
ment against the charges preferred
saying that it could not be held respon
sible for the gross ignorance of TIL
volunteer officers. .s4.-
Gen. Graham said he rememberet
Col. Smart's visit, but the colonel ha,
made no complaint to him beyon,
pointing out verbally that the camp
of the Pennsylvania troops were to-
close together for sanitary purposes.
change of site was Immediately or
dered so as to permit expansion. Gen
Graham said that he would reoommen,
that in the future there should be reg
ular officers in all volunteer regiments
that camp tents should be farthe
apart; that arrangements should b
made for cremating all effete matter
Some Of the volunteer officers had prov
ed efficient but others were incorrigi
BILE. Some of them were, he said, to
old to learn.
Gen. Graham said he had no com
plant to make as to the management
of the war department, but he though
the war was such an emergency tina
the department was not at first prepar
ed to meet its demands as promptly a
might have been considered desirable
He thought, however, that the crit
cisms of citizens concerning the con
duct of the war were due to the ignor
ance of people who meddled withou
sufficient information to enable them
speak wisely.