The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-05


gust s.
At the afternoon session Maj Griffith
testified regarding the camp conditions a.
es1sckamauga and in the hospitals He lad
difficulty IN getting enough tents, and
when he secured the proper number he
found sSe last ones OF poor quality. From
were supplied with hospital tents. A. a
rule men Detailed for nurses were unfit.
Witness asked Dr- Hon for female nurses.
This relieved the situation. The staff Of
the diy.sson hospital was inadequate when
:ns increase Of sickness occurred. Sick
Ness among sne surgeons reduced the
working force. He said there would have
been no difficulty in getting hundreds Of
competent surgeons a: C.rckamauga with
in week. He said he knew many appd-
cations were refused
He attributed the failure at the Camp
Thomas hospitals 70 red tape and peace
for thirty years. which incapac.tated the
departments for expansion for emergency.
II congress had established a hospital corps
tie trouble might have been avoided One
great difficulty in getting supplies OF drugs
arose from passing acquisitions from the
the surgeon IN chief. This required week.
He asked the commander on June 20 70
have the typhoid patients isolated. The
epidemic could thus have been avoided. hut
no attention was given to the request. He
regarded flies and water as causes OF the
Infection The mortality rrom typhoid fe-
Yer in this hospital was sixty-six out Of
Capt. Springer of the Seventeenth In
faniry. was next examined fIe co-operat-
ed with the surgeons al and after the bat
tie. and knew the wounded were we'll cared
for.
rather Nalman, post chaplain. was next
examined. He served at Tampa, Camp
Thomas. Fort Sheridan and Fort Thomas.
At first al Fort Thomas there were
troubles for lack Of good nurses. but that
was soon renedied. In certain cases he
regarded men better than women for
nurses. but as the work is now divided so
that Men do the work proper Tor men and
women attend to such things as women
can do better than men, he thought the
perfection OF nursing had been reached.
The witness devoted his time TO looking
after the patients. He wrote to the friends
OF each patient giving them information
as 10 his condition This course was one
OF great satisfaction to the patients as well
as to their friends. He repeated that the
soldiers had spoken in the highest terms
OF their treatment at the hospital Being
asked what complaints If any, he had
heard from patients about their treatment
at other places, he said he had heard none
whatever from soldiers OF the regular army
put that number of volunteers had told
him of disagreeable experiences which
We're often answered by soldier on the
cot next by the question: did you think
You were going to a picnic?''
lie said none of these complaints were of
sncn a nature as to cause him TO make any
investigation.
The examination was post poned until Q
o'clock tomorrow.
The Committee at Camp Meade.
CAMP MEADE, MIDDLETOWN, Pa.
Nov 4.-Chief Commissary Allison and
otner officers at corps headquarters went
TO Harrisburg today to appear before the
committee of the war inves tigating board.
The committee heard testimony at the
Lochiel hotel relating to Camp Alger and
other camps established at the breaking
out of the war.
Chief Quartermaster Howard gave a de-
tailed history OF the work of his depart
ment. and said the corps was as well equip
ped in July as any body of soldiers that
ever took the field.
Col. Allison testified that the quality OF
rations issued at Camps Alger and Meade
was excellent. He claimed that ignorance
or cooking among the volunteers was the
cause of much of the sickness at Camp AL
ger and suggested that the commissary
sergeaats be appointed from the non-com-
missioned officers in the regular army. He
said there would be less sickness among
the troops If they did rot eat dainties
shipped TO them by friends at home.
Col. Allison said red tape did not prevent
the return 10 the commissary department.
OF spoiled food and the issuing of good ra-
lions in its place.
the Second division of the Second corps
said Camp Thomas at Chickamauga was
one of the best camping grounds in the
country. and that il was partly selected on
his recommendation. He attributed the
sickness at Camp Alser 10 keeping men
there too long and camping there too close
Y toSSthef- e oou sent 10 SoiGierS from
their homes had much to do with their
sickness. There was no failure of the com
missary to supply good food and plenty OF
II. The delays in securing clothing al
camp Aiger We're caused by the war de-
partment equipping troups which were to
be sent Immediately 10 the front
Col Watts. OF the Eighth Pennsylvania
regiment testified as 10 the water supply
AZ Camp A1ger and the large amount OF
sickness among the troops.
Chief Surgeon Girard explained the cause
OF sickness AT Camp Aiger and the efforts
that We're made TO keep the men in good
condition and relieve the suffering
The committee adjourned 70 meet the
fun board at Washington next week