New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-11
THE ARMY INVESTIGATION,
MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND ORDNANCE THE
SUBJECTS CONSIDERED.
TESTIMONY GIVEN BY MAJOR HAZARD. CHEF
SURGEON AT SANTIAGO. AND GEN
FRAL F1AGiER

Washington. Dec. 10-Mator Valery Inward
chief surgeon OF the Department Of Santiago who
went to Cuba with the Arst evolutionary force
under General Shafter chief surgeon OF the
cavalry division testified before the War Denart-
rent Investigating Commission to-day that his
medical supplies on landing At Siboney were ade-
cuate for the needs Of the cavalry for perhaps a
fortnight. hut no longer. He saw only one row.
boat there 10 DO the service Of all the transports
though lighter was somewhere IN the hay but
inaccessible. II was impossible nj first to unload
any supplies. and. leaving some one in charge
with Instructions 10 DO his best 20 get out sup
plies from the transport. he hurried forward with
out them 20 the front ne battle was impending
He Rad made every effort to get supplies landed
but the difficulty was great and nc could get no
boat even 10 reach the transport Rio Grande for
this purpose. At the Second Division hospital the
medicine. dressing and stnulants were sufficient
bu. the bedding. food etc were inndcouate
He admitted that some regiments IN the Sant,-
ago campaign had not sufficient supply OF rnedi-
cal officers Al the battle OF Sihoney the wound
ed. he SAID were transported to the division hos
pral by improviscd Mtters OF rope-crossed poles
and the emptied ambulance wagons He did not
believe carrying the wounded IN wagons had
caused any deaths. but admitted that II must have
aggravated a few serious cases. He said ali his
acquisitions TO Washington had always been filed
though sometimes delayed Asked 10 specify any
regiments that may have been especially slow or
witness said
often happened that surgeons direct 10 him
for supplies because OF difficulty of reaching their
CHIEF surgeons or the latters indsposition 10 act
and he named Surgeon Wood. OF the Third Di-
vision. a. slow in forwarding acquisitions.
Major Hazard said Re chief surgeon in com
n1and after July g. and that TO his knowledge no
transports carrying the sick had been sent away
improperly supplied Going back TO the difficulty
IN getting supplies. he said ne believed. FIRST, that
the transports were not properly loaded when sent
20 Cuba: second. that there was no adequate means
Of unloading. and. third adequate means Of
e. b conia rtnRat 20 ms dGepardqre ron
suffering from lack OF supplies. though in a gem
erel way ne knew there had been suffering in d.
VISION osj5s ths WOES ach 90 Deddhg etc
ca difficulties might have been largely avoided by
Consolidating al the medical supplies carried by
70 De run independently by the medical department
Suppose that transpor, should go down. sug-
well ii would have been a reasonable risk"
General Flagler. Chief of the Ordnance Bureau.
testified concerning the condition of the de-
.ng a greater supply Of guns and ammunition on
hand. This testimony was followed by the sub
Were YOU intsrfered with in any way by any
superior officer in making your contracts for sup
q have no complaints TO make could not say
no, because Il would ne too sweeping reply
We're any contracts made of which you did not
Yes in some cases-one for forty thousand Win
And how many guns
IN one FOR some rapid-hre guns"
Had you experimental with models Of them at
Sandy Hook"
Yes"
Were they satisfactory
We'll one type wire-wound gun. was not
satisfactory"
We're any Of your recommendations pur-
chases Of arms overrued turned down.
Yes"
Questioned as TO the rifles contracted FOR with
out his approval. General Flagler said they were
purchased ny the Secretary Of War, and while not
certain ne presumed they were bought on the
recommendation OF the General Of the Army. The
Commission then adjourned until Monday.