The Worcester spy., 1898-10-09
Board Plans to
Visit Them.
START THE 10TH.
Two Witnesses Examined
by Commission Yesterday.

Washington, Oct. 8.-The war investi-
eating commission examined two wit
nesses today They were DR.. Giffen,
who is in charge of the Sternberg hos
pital at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga
Park, Ca, and Capt. Baldridge, a bri-
gade commissary of subsistence, at
Camp Cuba Libre, at Jacksonville.
The commission has practically de-
clded to start on the night of the 18th
on its rounds of the various camps. 1t
win go either to Camp Meade or to
Jacksonville first. All the camps will
be visited in succession, but the under
standing is that the trip to Camp Wi
koff would not be made until some time
in November. Next week will be given
largely to the inspection of official re-
ports and to other statements that have
been furnished in reply to letters from
the commission.
DR.. Giffen, chief surgeon at Camp
Thomas, said he had no complaint of
neglect or ineficiency to make against
any of the bureaus of the war depart
ment, and he had heard of only one
comp plant.
He thought that the contract sur
geons should have been examined be-
fore they were appointed, but they were
not so examined to his knowledge. He
also expressed the opinion that com
plants Of starvation nad arisen from
the fact that 1t was necessary to put
convalescents from typhoid fever on
a sparse diet. He thought that many
deaths had been caused by overfeed-
ing after convalescents returned to
their homes.
Orders were given to his knowledge
for prompt measures looking to the
suppression of the fever when 1t broke
out, but the orders had not been obey
ed He knew of some cases inSwhich
the sinks We're to the least within 20
feet of the kitchens, and in the cases Of
the f4th Minnesota and 9Th Pennsyl-
vania regiments, the sinks were crowd
ed near the kitchens, when there was a
quarter of a, mile of open field back of
them. He thought that it had been a
mistake to locate so many men to-
gether as were at Camp Thomas.
Requisitions had been honored
promptly. | got everything / asked for
from a toothpick up, and was turned
down on nothing.
Captain James c. Baldlidge, com
missary of subsistence for the 1st brig
ade of the I'd division of TIE 1th army
corps, now at Camp Cubre Libre,
Jacksonville, testified during the af-
ternoon. He reached the camp on Aug.
I'd, and made an immediate inspection
of the kitchens. He found some of
them not well managed, as all of the
army cooks were not experts He be-
lieved that for an army il camp, green
coffee was preferable to the roasted;
as it was stronger and fresher. The
meat was considered good and 1t was
was received on time, except in one
instance. Upon complaint of the I'd
New Jersey regiment, he investigated
meat which had been rejected by 1t.
Some of this meat was eaten by the
brigade officers and found TO be whole-
some. The next day the same regi-
ment rejected a consignment of corned
beef, but this also he found to be eat
able. The men were literally supplied
with food and the location of the camp
was good. Still there had been an in
crease of disease, which he attributed
to the climate and to the assembling
of a large body of men. He also
thought decaying fruit and the cam
teen beer had had an influence in pro-
ducing disease. Capt. Baldridge said
there had been great deal of com
plant from the I'd New Jersey regl-
ment. He attributed their troubles
partially to the fact that they had an
inexperienced man as commissary of
subsistence.
Capt Baldridge said he had no COM
plant to make of the officers of this
regiment. except that they were with
out experience. He instanced the fact
that when the regiment was ordered
to Pablo Beach, with the exception OF
two companies, the main body took all
the rations, leaving nothing to eat for
those left behind.