Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-22
Needed for Sick and Wounded
Soldiers in Cuba.
Army Well Equipped and Surgeons
Secured Medicine by Hustling.
witness Hesitates to Answer Pointed Question
as to Officers Conduct.

AASt WlNHcSS USlOTe the WdT llNeSltSd-
ting commission, today. Replying to
questions by Gen. Wilson. he said that
while at Chickamauga he saw no dis
tress among the soldiers for lack of
medical supplies He left Tampa, in
the transport Saltwater with the End
Cavalry. The transport was well
found and fairly comfortable, but there
were no suitable accommodations
aboard for the horses.
Were the horses placed above the
men?'
No, sir. The men were on the upper
deck and the horses on the lower
deck"
Major Ives told of his experience in
attending the wounded of the FL Caney
Aght. Asked to his previous expert
ence in action, he said he was in the
Indian wars, in the Victoria war in 1880,
the Geronimo in 1885 and 1886, and in
the Sioux wars in 1890.
In view of those experiences" asked
Gen. Wilson. what do you think was
the condition of the men in the Cuban
campaign as compared with that of the
men in the Indian wars?"
Il think it was as good as could have
been expected under the circum-
stances"
Was anything left undone that
would have alleviated the condition of
the menu"
There should have been more ambu-
lances. There was only three at the
disposal of my division. l don't know
ii more could have been obtained, and
l cannot think of anything that could
have been done for the men, which
4 was left undone"
* What was the condition of the
wounded after the battles?"
s. The condition of some of the sick
y men was deplorable and we had no op-
portunity to establish hospitals fast
enough
If you could get supplies from the
Red Cross why could you not get them
from your own Department."
4 At that time there were no supplies
available for the establishing of an ex-
ira division hospital. All the supplies
were in Siboney and at that time there
was rush of work to establish depots
for rations, and the depots for issuing
Other supplies were not yet equipped"
Had you ample medical help"
There was a lack of competent hos
pital stewards Female nurses were
offered to us but for that time I was
opposed to employment of female
nurses. l am a convert now, and
think the women did admirable work
whenever they had the opportunity"
What deaths occurred between the
establishment of your hospital and the
receipt of government medical supplies
as to the result of lack of supplies?"
None at all. There were only 81
deaths out of 967 cases treated. l re-
gard this as a splendid record
E Major Ives told of the inspection of
the transports for the soldiers return
ing to the United States, and declared
them well found and equipped in every
respect. Regarding the Mobile which
he heard unjustly criticized as a horri-
bic cattle ship, he said it was thorough
ly cleaned and white-washed before
any soldiers were allowed aboard and
was in perfect sanitary condition.
will you tell us before you go?,
asked Gen. Dodge, "The conclusions
you have drawn as to the condition of
the army in Cuba. What if anything
was lacking, and the reason for com
plant 2"
my personal opinion is that the
army was well equipped in every res
pect, except that at times there were
not enough anbulances and at times
there was q lack of medical supplies.
never knew time when if surgeon
took the trouble to hustle for medicine
that he had failed to get all that was
needed
Miss Julia Halstead Chadwick, one
,Of the women who worked for the sick
at Camp Wikoff, submitted a written
Statement lof the condition she found
there in the latter part of August.
"Could the United States have done
what You ladies did so willingly and
hAYely?
EsHIdnderstand that it took less than
fweek for the government to erect
buitable barracks for 900 Spanish pris-
bnerS-" II
Il did not ask you about barracks
Interrupted Ex-Gov. Woodbury., and lie
repeated his original question.
"Why, certainly. the government
eould have done all we did,
EFT is not true that if there was any
hck Of medical supplies it was due tc
he convestion of the one railroad thai
build be used for transporting sup
lies?'
Fl do not know the cause. all that
les and consequently great suffering
Gen. Dodge complimented Miss Chad
lex on the work done by the woner
New York, and said that the entire
nntry is grateful to them.
che commission has decided to visi
bntauk Point. Wednesday.
DR.. William Gilman Thompson. an
Ter witness, visited Camp Wikoff blu
las not there long enough to max
per criticism
But you have been quoted in thu
rspapeprs all over the country al
ing said that you found filthy con
pns prevailing. Have you been mis-
ked?'
10 sir. I came to tell you about tn
ases of typhoid fever which cam
err my dissertation in the Presby
an hospital in condition whic
shosld have not been moved an
say thu Ahese patients in severe
les, died. In my opinion they Shout
have been allowed to travel on
1lroad 100 miles. scattering infectio
every step. / can give you tn
ames of these 30
He said that some of the men pickle
in the streets of this citv and take