Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-17
Gen. Breckenridge Continues His
Testimony Before Commission,
The AMERICAN SYSTEM CONDEMNED,
The Trouble Traced tn the Want Of Prem.
srati0u In Time Of Peace The Sol.
dlers 1t Camo 1homA, Over.
worked Polluted Water,

VroOpS W ChdJ lSldnu. lie mad, ne Sal(
gone TO Cuba as inspector general, al
irving at Tampa on the 9th OF June
He had observed casually the prepare
ton for the disembarkng of tn
troops before the expedition left an,
had concluded that they were quit
inadequate. There was no prepare
ton for landing in the face OF al
enemy other than that which the nav
might furnish.
He was questioned at some length
concerning the conduct of the cam
paign in front Of Santiago. and replied
that the result was what he expected
it would be. Everything there, he
said, was strained to get men on board
and consequently there was little eff
fort to secure equipment. Asked as tc
his opinion of the result of the cam.
paign, he said he thought it would
have been different If Gen. Miles had
been in command-that it would have
been more satisfactorily conducted.
Ex'Gov. Woodbury. suggested that the
battle in front Of San Juan had been
fought and the victory won within
eight days Of landing Gen. Breckiu.
ridge in reply said the victory had
been won when Gen. Toral's nerve
gave out" This, he continued, had
been the war of all others when sue.
cess has been won In the earliest
stages He believed that the war was
the Lords war and that this wonder
full success was due to His supervision.
While he considered the result as mar
velously cOmmendable. he did not feel
that Gen. Shafter was above criticism
In the conduct Of the campaign. He
could not believe the result was mir.
acle, but he ascribed the outcome to
the fact that the army was one which
was capable Of meeting all calls.
Resuming his remarks OF a general
character, Gen. Breckenridge expressed
the opinion that there had not been
enough fighting to obscure other re.
suits common to war He thought the
evils which had been experienced were
inevitable under our American system.
He condemned this system as most
reprehensible and said the volunteer
soldier must always suffer the worst
OF the consequences IF the regular
stands up under 1t better than the vol.
unteer 1t Is only because he has had
time to adjust himself to the unfavor.
able conditions" lie traced all the
trouble to the want of preparation
and mobilization in time Of peace, and
that, in turn, to the failure of con-
gress to appropriate the necessary
money for reforms. Replying to
question from Mr.. Wood bury, he said
that considering the system he
thought the government had done far
better in its conduct Of the war than
anybody had expected and just about
one'fourth as well as 1t should have
done"
Gen. McCook asked Gen. Breckin.
ridge II he had visited Gen. Shafter in |
his tent when the latter was i'll at
Santiago, and Gen. Breckenridge re-
piled that he had done So ibid he
then offer the command OF the army
to you, as has been reported in the
press" Gen. Breckenridge replied: N
very much prefer not to answer that
question. You should ask Gen. Shat.
ter"
Capt Robert W. Dowdy, who was
master of transportation at Montauk
point stated that at the beginning Of
the history of the camp the supply Of
transportation facilities was made.
luate, though they were afterwards
improved. While there had been much
criticism OF the railroad running to
the camp he thought it had answered
The demands upon it very SATISFACTORY
y. He said there was not sutficiency
u ambulances, but that there were
'nough of them to carry all sick sol.
Tiers who were not able to walk 1t
vas not true that these vehicles had
been used for purposes other than those
or which they were intended and the
newspaper stories to the contrary
we're made out Of whole cloth. He
described the strike of the carpenters
It the camp and said that many Of the
men at first employed were tramps
Ind utterly worthless.
DR.. William G. Weaver, of the Ninth
pennsylvania volunteers, was the first
witness before the commission at the
'fternoon session and he proved an
important witness, as he gave detailed
Information concerning the conduct Of
regimental hospitalat Camp Thomas
)r. Weaver said that typhoid had
'roken cut about the 18th OF June and |
hat 1t had increased from that time
Until the aOth Of August There had
'een about 800 cases OF this disease in /
he regiment and 2s or 80 deaths In
umming up the causes Of disease .
the camp, DIR. Weaver included
verwork Of the men as one.
he first reveille sounded at 4:sO
nd after that time the men
we're kept quite constantly engaged
nth drills and other exercises until
10, Notwithstanding the weather was :
ntensely hot He also expressed the
pinion that the water from Chicka.
'auga creek was polluted. lie con.
dered the water in this stream as
ardly fit to battle In, much less tn v