The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-15
DIR. sEAMAN,s TESTIMONY.
He Made No Written Requisition for
HOsDftaI Supplies.

WASHINGTON, Oct H.--Dr. Louis S.
Seaman was the principal witness before
the war investigation commission to-day.
lie complained that the commissary sup
plies furnished the troops in Porto Rico
were unsuited to the demands Of tropical
climate, and that they were especially unfit
for hospital use. He said he had been in
charge of the 200 convalescents brought
North on the Obdam, and had been unable
to secure suitable Supplies for them from
the government depots. He confessed. how
ever, that he had made no formal written
requisition, but had acted upon statements
made to him informally to the effect that
no Communication of rations would be ale
lowed. He refused to reply to some ques-
tions, declaring that he had been nnisrepre-
sented by the press and saying he would
not reflect upon his superior officers while
he wore the shoulder straps of q United
States officer. After his testimony, DIR. Sea-
man called on Surgeon General Sternberg
and Adjutant General Corbin- To the lat
ter he said that he had made no statement
derogatory to the secretary of war or any
of his superior officers. Lieutenant Hill. OF
the navy, was also a witness to-day. He
was in charge of the landing of the army
ut Santiago, and told the story of that ex-
ploit The commission will devote to-mor-
row to preparation for its Southern tour.
and will hold no session.
When DR.. Seaman appeared before the
committee this morning he asked that he be
permitted to have present. as friend.
Mr. f. +. Ayreault, an attorney OF New
York The request being granted he said
he would affirm rather than be sworn. He
declined to stand up for this ceremony say
ing: 81 will sit don't have to stand up.
No objection was made on the part Of the
commission. and the testimony proceeded
Dr. Seaman said he had never seen any
military service before the beginning of the
present war, but he had studied at Prince
ton and afterwards in London. Berlin and
Paris. After joining the service and before
going to Porto Rico he was stationed with
his regiment at Camp Townsend. There his
requisiticns were promptly filed, and no
regiment went to the front better prepared
to cope with disease or casualty. The COM
mand sailed south on the Chester and there
was no serious sickness going out
He had left Porto Rico the 2sth of
September; the regiment had enjoyed better
health in Porto Rico than had been antici~
pated and there We're only two deaths In
the command during the stay there up to
the time Oh MS Qcpdltui ~ At6 6AAAAttAtAA AVS
pital was established and there was never
at any time a deficiency in medical sup
plies. The same was also true OF the tent
age and the ambulance supplies furnished
by the quartermasters department The
commissary department had also furnished
sufficient army rations. but he complained
of them as being unstable for an army in
the tropics, and also that the men at first
had been refused the privilege of commute
ing their rations. He said the sick were fed
only with the army rations He failed to
secure any change of diet for his PATIENTS
notwithstanding he made frequent demands
on the quartermaster of the regiment and
on the rgeon of the corfs. He was told
that II v ould be Of no use TO make formal
requisitio., in writing. However. the men In
the hospitals did not suffer. because the
Red Cross Society furnished the desired as
sistance.
RED CROSS SUPPLIED DELICACIES
Or, Seaman said that he had been in
charge of two hundred convalescents on
the OLDHAM returning from Ponce The ship
was supplied with army travel rationa
which. while plentiful and good OF the kind.
were not suitable 20 invalidss and ON ap.