Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-18

knew OF two instances in which the report
ers had received orders to roast every
thing" He had told them not to spare
where they found criticism justified.
In conclusion Or. Forwood said that many
patients who had been removed by their
friends had often died. and that in many
instances their deaths were due to the kind
ness Of those who had taken them In
charge.
Or. Richard a. Pyles, major and surgeon
Of the First regiment of volunteers, told the
experiences of those troops at Camp Thomas
and at Tampa, in Cuba, and at Mon aux
Point. The troops had camped at Ell Caney
and on San Juan hill and had found the re-
gion malarious.
At first the Lealth of the men was good,
but later the sickness increased from eight
cases to 1S9 in five days. There had been
fewer than twenty-five deaths In the regi.
lnent. At Montauk Point the tents were
without floors. compelling the men to lie
on the ground, causing sickness.
Young Looks for a Camp.
Major General S. B. Young was before the
commission at the afternoon session., refat-
Ing In detail his experience at Santiago and
vicinity and afterwards at Montauk. He said
he had landed at Baiquiri on June 81 and
that by the morning Of the 23rd his entire
brigade had been put ashore. He had noti-
ned General Wheeler Immediately and had
received orders to move on four or Ave
miles and secure a good camp. He ac-
cordingfy had pushed on to Siboney. He
had asked Wheeler whe-e the good camp
Ing ground was and he had replied that the
Spaniards occupied II.
Il them" said General Young. "asked
permission to go out to see the ground. say
ing l should like to get 1t for our own troops,
to which he assented."
In accordance with this answer he moved
out at 8 o'clock the next morning to fight
the battle of Guasima, sending the volun-
teers, the Rough Riders, by one road and
the regiments going by another. He de-
ciared that there was no surprise in this
fight and no ambuscade had been reported.
He had reconnoitered the Spanish camp
with a glass for half an hour before the
fight began and he had attacked the Span
iards and not the Spaniards him.
Speaking Of the Rough Riders, he said
there had been no greater percentage of
casualties among them than among the
regulars and that they were not led into
any situation not to be expected in war.
THE report that they had been ambuscaded
was due" he said, entirely to the demon
allied reporter and demoralized ~adjutant OF
the regiment. who had left the service soon
afterwards" General Young said he had
occupied the enemy's camp that day and 1t
was a very good camp. he added ~naively.
In reply to a question as to what aid he
had secured from the Cubans in this fight,
he replied none whatever. The Cuban
guides had deserted him upon the first fire.
General Castillo, on the night before, had
told him that he would send 500 Cubans
with him, but when the next morning came,
and he sent to notify Castillo that he was
prepared to proceed. his messenger found
a card on the Cuban commanders door say
ing that he must not be disturbed. He had,
therefore. proceeded without the Cubans.
After the fight was over, however, some
of the Cubans had come up under the en-
man1 Of a Frepehman. who saluted tragic
ally. with his saber.f saying that he had been
ordered by General Castillo to follow the
enemy and fight him wherever he could find
him. General Young said he simply ordered
the Cubans to the rear, and the only service
they had performed was to gather up the
baggage that the American soldiers had dis
carded.
General Young said he had been the only
man in the command at La Guasima VIII
was mounted. and that he rode a mule. He
carried no baggage except a rubber slicker
a pajama and a tooth brush. The wounded
were carried back to Siboney, and while the
hospital there was some what congested, the
men we're well attended to.
Wants u New Location.
General Young said that Immediately after
the Guasima fight he had looked the ground
over toward Ell Caney. and had informed
General Wheeler that he was confident he
could take the place that night with his
brigade, II allowed to do so. Genera
Wheeler had replied that his orders from
General Shapter were not to advance with.
out infantry going with him, and that hi
would notify the general Of his General
Young's) wish. He had not heard anything
more officially in regard to the matter.
With this General Young's service in Cubs
ceased, as he was taken down with fever
on June 80, and sent back home. After 9
period Of sickness he was sent to Montaul
Point TO establish Camp Wikoff. He de.
tailed the difficulties of the preparation o.
the camp. He said II had been impossible
to get in floors, and that he had not con
sidered them necessary. either for health
or comfort.
~ gave them lumber and hammers ant
nails, however, and told them to make
themselves floors II they wanted them.
thought they were being treated too mucf
like babies"
He regarded the commissary supplies, h
said, as abundant, and that enough mac
been allowed to spoil to feed 1900 me
daily. The hospital and quartermaster',
stores were also ample. He had never II
all his experience seen arm hospitals 81
} well supplied with medicines and stores o
all kinds.
The controlling motive In selecting Mon,
tauk was that of securing proper quarantine
and a strict quarantine was observed. H
considered the camp healthful and the sit
desirable. "As to what was done there TO
!, the soldiers" he said, ~ think l deserved
more credit for what I did 1T Montaul
than for what l did at La Guasima.
think more was done than should hav,
been done"
Telling of the hardships of one commant
which had just arrived from Cuba. he said
"They were not the heroes, being only reg
ulars."
He said the privations Of the war wer
not so serious as Indian campaigns he ha'
been engaged in. There had been occa
slons when he and his m had to lv
ON corn and others when there was nothing
, to be had except horse meat OF burro meat
But that he said, was not in the news
papers"
He was satisfied that most Of the com
nlaints against the camp were ~unfOunded