Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-11
POOR WAFER
Continued from page ~

more effective means could be pro-
vided. The examination of DIR. n.y.
sell was conducted by DR.. Conner of the
commission and was very searching
from a medical standpoint.
At the afternoon session the commits
sion examined Major Hugh j. Gallag-
her. He had served as depot commits
sary at s,iboney, San Juan and Santi-
ago and recently occupied this position
at Montauk Point having been made
chief commissary of Gen. Skaters
corps. The rations. he said. were for
warded almost as rapidly as they were
landed. Only Very small quantities
could be accumulated, yet the com
missary during the stay at ssiboney had
been able to meet all acquisitions made
for rations by the troops ana no one
was ever refused.
He heard no complaint of lack of ra
tons by the troops and no one was
ever refused.
He heard no complaint of lack of ra
tions at the front. Pack trains were
first used and afterwards wagons. At
first they We're able to forward about
10000 rations per day. From Siboney
"
miles inland, and at this point there
We're never enough rations on hand for
even a day ahead. and it was impossi-
BILE to fill all the acquisitions. There
was a shortage in coffee and sugar
which continued for two or three days
1t was due to the difficulty in landing
supplies because of the high surf at
Siboney.
All the rations were good, but in some
cases the hard bread would be injured
by sudden showers. When this hap
pened the bread was thrown aside and
not issued. After Ell Peso was reached
the officers We're supplied with the same
rations that were given the men. This
was against the law, as rations are not
supplied to officers. but the emergency
made the distribution to them neces-
sary.
Major Gallagher said there was one
instance when the canned roast beef
spoiled and it was destroyed Some
potatoes and onions were also thrown
away at Santiago for the same reason.
Indeed when it was discovered that
any article of goods was defective 1t
was destroyed.
Major Gallagher said there was a
shortage of lighters, but he was not
able to say why this was so. SPEAKING
of the facilities for landing the men In
Cuba he expressed the opinion that if
the war were to be fought over again a
large supply of lighters should be fur
nished. In addition to the American
army the refugees were also fed. No
effort was made to give the full ration,
but such articles We're sent to them as
could be spared from our own troops
He thought enough was given them to
supply 1000 men. After his depot was
located at Santiago, there was nc
shortage. While at this point the Span
ish prisoners We're also supplied from
the general depot as were some of the
citizens of the place.
Giving his opinion as to the rations
Major Gallagher said it had too much
meat in it for a tropical climate. The
men seemed to demand more tomatoes
and rice than they received. On one
occasion it had been necessary to issue
green coffee to men on the firing lines
but the issue had only been for da5
and the emergency was unavoidable
He thought the rations should contain
more dried and canned fruits and also
rice ana syrup ana tHefe SnOulu Dt
more tea than coffee.
Col. DENLY pressed for information
as to the shortage of coffee and SUI
gar and Major Gallagher stated thai
there was probably two days when thu
men were without these articles. Ht
said the storm was the immediate
cause of this deficiency, but that i
there had been a suf.iciency of lighter:
this difficulty would not have occurred
The major said there was not to hi:
knowledge d shortage in any other az
ticle of food during the campaign.
Mr. DENLY told him there was {
complaint of deficiency covering
months time, but Major Gallagher salt
he knew nothing of it.
"Suppose" asked Gen. McCook, "thl
shortage of rations had lasted TO
seven Gays, instead of two, what woult
have been the RESULT"
1--WE would probably have had to fal
back" replied Major Gallagher. "Mel
cannot fight on short rations."
The witness said that it was Gen
Skaters orders that no formal reQuisi
ton for ratlons should be required an
that food should be given to those need
ing it. Major Gallagher applied 70
extra stores aboard the Grand Duchess
lying in Santiago harbor, but the APP
piication had not been favorably con
sdered for the reason the vessel wa
needed for transporting troops to Cam
.Wikoff.
Major Gallagher said that of the fiv
civilian assistants he had, two We're in
efficient and Indifferent to their dutie:
They were Capt. Lord of New Yor.
and Capt. Ryan of Kansas. Mao
Gallagher said the' commssary supp!
at Montauk was abundant and goo
while he was at that point.
Gen. Beaver, today, received lettf
from Mrs. Hugh Lange of Brooklyl
who participated in the relief work
Montauk Point. relating her intervie
with President Mckinley when /
visited Camp Wikoff. She was repor
ed to have said to the President tn;
some of the men We're carried out
dying condition, in order to get rid
them" This she says she cid not sa
but she asked if in passing through II
wards the President did notice Il
empty cots. He replied that he hs
noticed them and she then request,
him to ask why the men were witho
caro- in tho 1atoptirp nnl ;,, cn,,a ,f r.