The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-07
Camp Thomas Conditions
Were Good.
MEAT THAT WAS SPOILED
Brought to Camp on Two Occasions
Only. He Declared.
NO COMPLAINT FROM GEN. LEE.

washington. Oct. Tin concluding his
"s''fhony yesterday before the war in
Fesusation committee. General Bcyn-
70" refused to make any admission de-
signed 10 blame him or anyone In an
thority over him for the alleged condi-
uohs In Camp Thomas There "a m
foundation for any reasonable conn
paint IN regard TO the food" he sald.
~ was brought TO the camr in re-
N1gerator cars and heard OF bu, two
eases In which the meat was spoiled"
General Dodge read a letter purpo-t
ing To come from the chaplain Of tho
Eishth New York. Father Dooley. say
ing the camp was hell oil earth. ami
.hat war would be paradise comps red
10 this place: as for the food IL Is rotten,
General Boynton did not wish To take
issue with the chaplain, but, after ex-
piaihing that Father Dooley ano Fa
ther Ryan had occupied tents I'm the
headquarters yard. said. f"Ir they saw
sueh things as they said they did. they
were the only ones who did. Their
stories were OF a sensational character
'hat would do credit to dime novel"
| heheral Lee was before the commits
sion at ITS afternoon session. He had
no complaint TO make I'm regard to sun
| phes. In June. when the expeditions
were being gotten off there was some
ue'ay' put this was natural. and since
then supplies Of all kinds had come
win regularity and abundance There
nave or course" he said. been come
complaints. Soldiers are like school,
ooys Ihey sometimes complain even
When there is no occasion for complaint"
lie thought the army ration IVES abun-
oant' and In the main we'll suitec to a
campaign in tropical climate: vet
ne thought some changes might bc made.
ne was or the opinion that IL would be
petter 10 send live animals to Cuba
than 10 send refrigerator meat. as at
present According to his ideas. the
men should have more fruit and less
meat.
During the course OF the questioning
IL ueVeioped that General Lee had been
hotineu that he would be expected TO
move MS corps to Cuba in the vicinity
oi havana about the first OF November.
ana 'hat ne considered his troops prop
wy equipped Tor the campaign. He
cohsiuereu the Spanish uniforms better
aoapted TO tropical climate than ours.
as they were cool and could be washed
oiouses of our men would be found too
heavy for comfort. General Lee made
the significant announcement that he
was counting on landing i'm a friendly
country, as he had received direct m
formation that the American troops
would be welcomed not only by the Gu
bans, but by the Spaniards as we'll. He
said the conservative and property
nj arIu
sirous to have the American troops come
Tor the preservation OF order.
As TO the efficiency Of officers annoipt.
ed from civil life. General Lee said some
OF them learned their duties very
promptly; others were very SLOW 70
learn. but a majority did He Believed
that volunteers would always be efreo
tive, and especially when confronted by
the enemy.
Governor Beaver read a letter COM
planning or the situation in the Jack
sonville camp. This letter said the
camp was filthy, the bread moulded. the
doctors generally drunk, etc.
rs that from my command?, Gem
eral Lee asked. in evident surprise.
When informed that il was. he was Al
tonished and asked for the name OF shs
CO00eCIl0n
that occasional complaints had reached
him, out when examined every CASE
was found TO be unfounded
Complaints against regimental surS
geons were read TO the general FROM
members Of thS Fourth Virginia voluns
teers, but he replied that he could nos
speak definitely OF the regimental doc
tors in this case. Some OF them ha
"a
should be. The surgeons OF his rank
were all competent men. He expressed
the belief that division hospitals were
Too large He advocated brigade hose
pitals as n compromise between the de
vision and regimental hospitals.
Captain Howell asked General Lee a
ne considered that he had been sidss
tracked In the campaign 81 don't thinn
So he replied. Il have from time tn
line seen something in the nswspapsr6
20 the enect that IL was not the iuksps
lion Of the authorities that should have
an opportunity for active participation
IN the campaign. j. OF COURSE had no
claim to go 10 Santiago or to nsrh Riec.
rs other officers In the army outyanks6
me. IL was always the undsrstaa adius
mat my corps was organized fos the
itaTann campaign had some anbi.
lion to go there because had not BEEN
'iowcd 20 stay while I was there
wanted to 60 back with some men ana
show our enemies that I could stay"
The president had told the witness with
In the past few days that II was Intended
10 send him TO Havana. and in case there
had been an assault upon the city tne.
he should lead Il.
General Lee dwelt upon the impo
lance OF taking proper care OF the sinl-s
~ preventive OF disease. The heath
cst regiment In his camp was the Oas
undred and Sixty-first Indiana. waica
'Urued all it's effete mattcr. ~ 80 -
,is troops were anxious g. So & tflba.
'rl some desired to be disclgrp.a q IIe