The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-23
COL. ROOSEVELT TESTiFIEs.
NE TELLS OF THE CONFUSION EN-
coUNTERED IN CUBAN CAMPAIGN.

Men ana Horses Anen tie Heached
Vnmpa-PIenty of RatiOns at ST.
honey. But His Men Wanted and
Needed VeGctables-Lack of Medi-
cal supplies, Surgeons and HOspi-
tai stewards at The FrOnt-Other
Regiments Suffered.
New York, Nov. 22,-Gov.-elect Roose-
ve,r who commanded the Rough Riders
duripg the Santiago campaign, testified
before the war investigating commission
to-day.
In reply to a request from Gen. Wilson
he tod Of the equipment and mastering
IN of The First Volunteer Cavalry known
IS the Rough Riders.
when we reached Tampa" Col Roose-
welt said, there was a condition of utter
confusion. We were dumped outside a
mile away from camp. No one knew where
the camp was. There was no one to tell
rs where to go or what to do. After wait
ng twenty-four hours, 1 took the law in
% my own hands and bought food for
tbe men and horses. Later, when we
found our camp, we were all right"
Were you reimbursed for your out
ay?'
81 never asked ii. 1t was a personal
matter entirely
Col Roosevelt said a great condition of
confusion existed at Tampa. Nobody
seemed to know anything and no arrange
ments were evident as to what transports
we're to be used. His own regiment was
assigned TO the Yucatan. Incidentally he
had heard that the Second Infantry and
Seveny-frst New York Volunteers were
also assigned to the Yucatan. AS soon as
he heard that he hurried the Rough Rid
ers on board and took possession of the
ship. and held it against other regiments.
lis men had decided to get to Cuba, and
they got there.
DO you attribute all the confusion
asked Cen Wilson, 'to lack of intelligence
on the part of men in charge, or to the
natural overcfowding of work?"
81 was only a lieutenant co.onel and
could not know where the fault was"
Replying to other questions, Col. Roose-
veil said the food was ample, and with the
exception of the canned roast beef, good
The beef was bad. He told of the voyage
TO Cuba and Decentralization of the regi-
ment at Baiquiri. There was great.
scarcity OF material for landing men.
horses and supplies.
Col. Roosevelt, still replying to questions,
tod in detail of the march of his regiment
10 its first camping place
After supper" he continued, "Col
Wood told US that we were to start next
morning to take the Spaniards
The next mornings march was a hard
one, especially for the men, There were
N ,sss- q
not that about 100 men droppSe out for a
rest, and when the first Spanish outpost
was discovered, Col. Wood ordered silence,
and was sent to the right to depioy with
The right wing
When the Spaniards began firing / did
not know what was up. 1t was my first
experience. They were using smobeless
powder and l could not see where they
were.
When I located the Spanards with my
sIasses, did not know what 10 do, but /
Knew it was good rule if in doubt to go
ahead, and so went ahead"
Col. Roosevelt CLOSED over the further
details of The fighting. He paid a warm
tribute to the galantry of Assistant Sur
geon James w. Church, a former Prince
'oon foot ball player, who he said more
man once ran to the firing line and carried
wounded men on his back to the division
ue regiment campcd out for the night
Asked about the rations he said: I'VE
mad the regulation rations of salt pork
nara tack coffee and sugar, but the men
wanted vegetables, and | wanted to get
some for them.
took forty men with the officers
norses to Siboney and tried to buy them.
Inc department refused to sell me beans
ana tomatoes unless could certify that
'hey We're for officers consumption.
stretched my conscience as far as l could
ana then boarded a transport and purchas-
Lu ABOUT 800 pounds of beans. 1t was too
Hol TO eat nothing but the regular rations
ana the change did the men goods
Nol. Roosevelt went on to tell of the ad-
vance on Santiago and of the night of
"uy ], when the regiment slept in the
trenches. He spoke of the advantages of
we sInoke!ess powder and said that the
Gulied States artillery was frequently
oINeh from its positions because of the
,afsels made by the clouds of smoke that
Dowder
was your command fully supplied with
'ood and ammunition?' asked Gen. Wilson
M me ammunition supply was excellent
ie 1000 was insufficient. There was plen-
" oi tood back at Siboney. l suppose it
a9 lack OF transportation facilities that
T'pl us without good food until July "a
orsanized a transportation corps with
oe officers horses and went to Siboney
oid got food for the men. Then later [
sot into Santiago and bought rice and
1'''A' IL We had had the mule trains that
we we were forced to leave behind at Tampa
rele would have been no lack of sup
,"eplying to questions, Col. Roosevelt
a'u otner regiments at the front suffered
TH lack of supplies. One man of The
p1 ps1 Illinois Reg -ment visited the Rough
t,uls camp, and offered 81 for seven
i' TACK. Two hundred men of the reg
le came to the Rough Riders camp and
,he broken hardtack. The Rough Rid
had enough to eat. but il was at the
NJ, OF individual effort and expenditure.
Ie was great scarcity of all medical
S''4es at the front, except quniue and
lionel, and great lack of surgeons and
hospital stewards"
pNN Nh reference to Camp Wikoff, Coi.
toosevelt said there was great confusion