The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-05
GENERAL LANTON'S STORY.
At Santiago There Was m Fine .
STAG Of O@cers n There Are In
the World They Worked Day and
Night and Coula Do No Better.

WASHINGTON. Nov A-Acsing FOR the
investigating commission. Col. DENLY today
took the testimony Of Gen Lawton. VINO
was il command Of the Second division OF
the Fifth corps in the Santiago campaign.
and who has but recently been relieved OF
the command OF the department OF San1l-
ago.
Preparations began with the sUlbarkation
Of the troops a; Tampa. He said the trans
ports were furnished as well as could be
expected. They were not froopships. The
medical and commissary supplies were suf-
ficien, TO prevent absolute discomfort.
There was some confusion. owing TO a mis-
understanding Of orders. but the general
did not believe that any real hardship had
been occasoned thereby.
Gen. Lawton said his division had lost 40
men killed and wounded.
Col DENLY remarked that a statement
had been made to the effect tina. some of
the wounded soldiers wandered into the
woods and were never seen again.
Il never heard that" he said. All the
wounded were accounted for. and they
were taken to the field hospitals
There were no ambulances. but some lit
ters-how many he did not know.
Knowing there was going 10 De iight
how did 1t happen that YOU did not have
enough filters. enough surgeons and the
proper hospital eorps?" Col DENLY by asked ed;
enough" Gen. Lawton replied.
How do you account for the fact That
the medical men did not provide themselves
with everything necessary for taxing care
Of the wounded?"
II think they did provide themselves with
VERIFYING they thought necessary, cohsld-
er!ng the material they had TO choose
from
The general said that while it was Diff
cult to get supplies TO the men while they
Law in the trenches from the I'd TO the
of q
sufficient. There had been no tents except
the shelter tents which some had until
just previous to the embarkation for the
Asked where he fixed the responsibility
for not having the tents there. Gen. Law
ton replied:
them from the transports for lack OF time
and facilities"
1t was true as reported he said, that
men had TO wear their shirts for possibly
thirty days without a change. but this was
because they had thrown away their extra
clothing. He held the climate responsible
for the sickness that followed the cam
paign.
Replying 10 question as to whether the
navy should not have control of the trans
ports. ne said:
mo. indeed.
You think that the army ought to have
control Of them
Absolutely" was the laeonic reply.
While they are acting together?' Col.
DENLY asked. and the reply was:
They won't act together That Is where
/ make my point; two men cannot COM
mand the same affair
Summing up. Gen. Lawton said:
Taking into consideration the conditions
that we were obliged to face, the char
acter Of the country, It's climate and other
things being considered. l can say there
were no serious or gross mistakes made.
can say there was no lack of care on the
part of any of those in authority whose
duty II was 10 look after the interests of
the army We had with as fine staff
Of officers as there are in the world These
men worked night and day. and no human
being could do more than they"