The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-25
some MINOR COMPLAINTS.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE AT An
NISTON, ALA.
One Regiment FOsnd whose Trous-
era Mere Of Poor Material. and .
Shortage of Tents Reported In the
Early Days It Chick manga Camp

ADMISSION, Ala. Oct. 2i-Ths war IN
yest!gatioga commission began IS session
Today with Maj. OTTO H Elk on Inc
stand He Was the chief qaarletmaster
II the First division Of ire Third army
corps while tn cbiekaTausa. ard he now
occupies the position of chief quarter
master for this cogpafy. He SAID the
most serious complaint N the early rs
tory OF Camp Thomas Was from The rHss
Missouri. whose men claimed taa1 tHsi'
trousers were nothing more than rags
There was also a shortage in tents IN
deed. he said, there VAS never SUI
iicient supply Of ;eniase
DR. Charles NJ. Drake, in charge OF ne
genera. hospital. and wno was IN com
uand OF the hospital Of the First division
OF the Third army corps al Cn.chanaHsa.
was the next witness.
He stated the medical supplies had been
ample from the beginning, but the hospi-
tai corps had proved inefac.en; as nurses.
However. he thought there ha5 been no
m0rs serious results than d.Scon.oFts 10
patents, caused by the ins:;iciency OF the
nurses. He was positive inere had nssh
no deaths from starvation or privat'on.
Mai. Joseph II. HeaiSo.e, caiel COM
r7issary OF subsistence. said the quaAiy
OF the raIsons lad been excellent
Gen. Dodge read letter from Dr. sea-
man. of New York, who WAS before the
committee In Washington. In which re
corrected an error in hts testimony he
mad stated that ne mad received only the
regular army rations for the conva.es-
cents on the steamer O3dam from Porto
REQ 20 New York. He says that sdcn
supplies as had been received up 10 me
night previous to sailing had been re-
c$!ved from the relief societies
During the night" he continued. the
hospital snip Relief arrived. and early me
next morning boarded the Relief and per-
sona.ly secured without any re1u!sltlon,
the additional supplies enumera,ed III N. me
receipt sisnsd by me- In5il ny eon'er-
were bought by outside contributions, and
were not government supplies.
The letter Is dated October 10. and IS d.
rected 10 the sergeon general OF the army.
Maj. David Nickers. who was inspector
general for the Second division OF the
Third corps at Chickamaaga, said ina;
some OF the regimental officers insisted
on making poor selections OF camp sites.
and in one instance Mississippi colonel
who had put his men in swamp had in
sisted upon remaining on the ground that
the Missssippans had natural affinity
for swampy ground. Nevertheless his men
were taken sick.
FIRST infantry. told the story Of the trans
portation OF his regiment to Santiago
Asked II the landing at Santiago could
have been accomplished IL opposed. he
The facilities were so poor that think
not; az least I should say II / had been
on shore no enemy would nave been per
mitted to land, | cannot say how it was
wiki the Spaniards.'
He said there was considerable difficulty
in getting food while in front Of Santiago
''hu, We mad enough"
He added III there had been more 10
eat. the men would probably have been
sicker."
Col Bishee stated that ne did not be-
lieve there was sufficient number Of doc
tors in the Cuban campaign. Speaks g
generally OF the Cuban experience. he ex-
pressed the opinion that the So piles had
been as liberal as could have been reason
ahv expected.
Mai Dempsey. OF the Second regiment o.
as COL Bebee. Other members of the two
regiments Of regulars stationed here who
were examined were Capt. Waring % the
First; Lieut. r.utz. Of the Second; Quarter
OF the First: Quartermaster Sergeant Stahl
OF the Second. ard Private Hounche.i II
the Second All testified that while there
was difficulty in securing rations issued
while the troops ware In the trenches in
the vicinity of Santiago there was no real
suffering on the par, o. the men on this
account.
Col James Pfyffe Of the Third Tennessee
whose regiment had been encamped a,
Chickamauga Park previous 20 removal
here said the com miS<ary supplies had hser
excellent in quality and ample in guam
ti'y un,il within the past month. Col
Pfyfe said in reply TO questions that a
canteen had been maintained in his regi-
ment and that beer in large quantities had
been sod at Il,
Did you consider +. proper for your
den for all the camp" he was asked by
Conner.
The Colonel said he did ~ know. bu.
tha. tho beer WAS there To he sold and
advocated the sale Of beer at canteens as
a protection against more Serious uGul
renee whisky