The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-28
AND THE SECRETARY INVITED TIC
ANSWER SEVERAL QUERIES.
Evidence that the PrObers Intend to
Give Wide scope to Their Inquiry
Testimony to BE Taken.

tuition, letter from Chairman Dodge to the
secretary of war, inclosing list of inquiries
to the secretary and to the heads of the
various divisions of the War Department
calling for specific information bearing upon
| the conduct of the war. With the letter to
| the secretary of war were inclosed questions
| indicating the character of information de-
| sired at the hands of the surgeon general,
the quartermaster general, the subsistence
| department, the ordnance department and
| the adjutant general The letter of Secre-
tary Ager to the President. asking for an
| investigation follows:
Washington, Sept. 8.
| ITO the President have the honor to ask
| that board, consisting Of from five 10
| seven members of the most distinguished
| soldiers and civilians that can be selected,
| be appointed by you with full power to IN
vestigate thoroughly every bureau OF the
| War Department in connection with the
| mastering, clothing, supplying and armng
| of troops, transportation, the letting OF con-
| tracts and chartering vessels, ana all eX-
penditures of every kind, as well as orders
| issued by this department-indeed, that
| everything connected with the army De
| thoroughly investigated for your informal
| ton.
of the commission the following letter to
Secretary Alger outlining the scope OF their
work was given OUT
upon us by the President we nave the nonor
| to request that you direct the auJutdnt gem
eral, the quartermaster general, the COM
| misSary general, the surgeon general, tne
| chief OF ordnance and the chief OF engineers
| to furnish us as soon as practicable lntorna-
| ton as to the condition of their several de-
| partments at the time of the declaration or
war with Spain and the operations or those
departments from that time until the pres
| ent We desire the information TO lnciude
the following:
"FIrst-The time and places of the mobili-
cation of the regular and volunteer troops.
''Second-The organization of these troops
into the various subdivisions of the army,
the personnel of the brigade, DIVISION, corps
and army commanders ana OF tneir stal Us
whether appointed from the permanent es-
tablishment from the National Guaro OF
| from civil life.
garrison equipment and other suppiies thdt
were on hand at the beginning of the war
the amount subsequently purchased, wneh
and where purchased, when ana Wnere ue,
| livered TO YOUR department, and when ana
| where actually issued to the troops.
"Fourth--Similar information IN regard 70
| furnishing troops with arms and accouter-
"Fifth-Which of the volunteers were
armed and equipped in the various state
| camps and which in the general camps.
"Sixth-Upon whose recommendation or
| Judgment the various general rendezvous
were selected and the reasons Tor sucn Sc
s.Seventh-F'uu particulars relative to the
| transportation of troops by sea, giving an
| account
commodation and care for the SICK and
| wounded.
"Eighth-An account of the quantity
! quality and kind of food furnished the
| troops and in case that any or them failed
| of being plentifully and seasonably supplied,
state the reasons therefor. ..o hods
s'Ninth-As to the proper tentage, beds,
| linen medicines, food and all other neces-
| sary equipment and supplies for the use OF
| the hospital corps of the army If there was
any lack of these things at any time state
| reasons therefor.
| efficient and sufficient at all times Tor the
| proper care of the sick and wounded and II
| not state the reasons therefor.
| "Eleventh-Such information relative 70
| the conditions and operations of the ord
nance and engineering departments as VIII
| be of value to us in our investigation.
I've have outlined briefly portion only
| be able to give u.s. 1t Will be Satisfactory
| to have it communicated to us in writing
| or by the chiefs of the several bureaus in
| person with the submission of such records
| confirming their statements as they may be
| pleased to hand to US. To aid you IN COM
| plying with this request there is submitted
| herewith list of special questions to which
! as far as is possible answers are desired. +"
QUESTIONS FOR ALGER.
| To Secretary Alger the commission had
addressed six queries for his reply, as fol-
| lows:
"F.rst-Plan of campaign proposed imme-
| diatey after the declaration of war; was 1t
| that the campaign should be postponed until
| the autumn?
Second What was the Santiago cam
| paign determined upon?
'.Thrd-Why was Tampa selected as the
| base of operations?
"Fourth-Why were summer camps or
| ganized at Fernandina, Jacksonville and
s.Fifth-When was the Porto Rico cam
| paign determined upon?
'Sixth-Why were the troops held on
| transports after embarAation at Tampa and
not permitted to sail for several days?"
The resolutions adopted by the committee
follow:
Resolved. That the secretary of war, the
adiutant general, the quartermaster gen.
eral, the commissary general and the sur
geon general be requested TO transmit to
this commission all complaints that have
been received by them since April /, 1898,
touching the conduct of the war.
Resolved, That this commission invites
and is ready and will receive and consider
any of the various branches of the War De-
partment. from any person or persons; that
we respectfully request that such COM
plants be made in writing. stating facts
that the party may know of his own knowl-
edge plainly, and in detail give names of
any officers or enlisted men who may be
charged Win misconduct or incompetency.
Letters are to be addressed to the secretary
of the commission at Washington"
QUESTIONS FOR SURGEONS.
The seventeen questions addressed to the
medical department are:
"First--What was the organization of the
medical department on April l. 1898? How
many officers, with their rank, how many
hospital stewards and what was the size of
the hospital corps?
''Second-How many ambulances and lit
tiers were available?
'',Third-An army of what size was the de-
partment able to completely fit out with
medical officers, stewards and hospital corps
and necessary surgical instruments and sup
plies of every character?
'sFourth-Between April ] and Aug. 81
1898 what steps were taken for fully sup
plying an army of 10000 men with all nee
essary surgeons, stewards. hospital corps,
ambulances, filters. surgical instruments
and medical supplies of all and every char
acter?
"Fifth-How many general hospitals were
organized, where located. how equipped and
managed, number OF patients and number
of deaths in each case between April ] and
Aug. 81. 1898?
"Sixth-How many hospitals were estab-
lished at various camps; what were the
engagements for the care and comfort of the
sick and wounded. how many sick were
cared for at each camp hospital, and how
many deaths occurred?
'sSeventh--What. If any, railroad ambu-
lance trains were established, and where
were they located and used?
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