The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-03
COMMISSION IN WASHINGTON
Major Romcync Gives Some seusa'
tional Testimony * to the War.

tional Testimony rs TO the War
WASHINGTON. Nov. THE War In
vestlgating Commission neld session
here to-day for the purpose of hearing
the testimony Of Major Henry Romeyne,
a retired army officer Ho said mat n
had asked at the beginning OF the war
for a military assignment 10 80 10 INC
front in his capacity as an oihcer' Dut IL
was refused and he then went ms cor
respondent OF a weekly newspaper.
His testimony covered the emharka~
lion OF the troops al Port Tampa ana the
campaien in cuba. He said 40 Port
TAMPA there was great confusion as
CONSEQUENCE Of which 4 part of q COM
rnand would 90 on one vessel ana par
an another. AMI the commands were 10
some cases separated from their stores.
He had seen no order for the systematic
embarkation OF the troops and he had
heard IL said that they were told 10 go
aboard nelter SHELTER
When asked TO express an opinion as
IN the preparation for the emOarkaiion
the witness hcsitated saying That 10 do
SO would involve criticism OF nus SUE
periors. The commissioners insisted upon
n reply and Mr.. Romeyne rcplet that ne
did not think the preparation was sucn
as II should have been
"There was" Doe said. "A lack of surf
boats and also of order and of p~eu1ra~
ton for landing When The landing was
undertaken the troops lcit the ships ln-
discriminatory. parts going an one iime
and other parts at other times. Tie tod
Of the efforts 10 tow lighters over 10
cuba but said that one was lost aEo
thut 10 was the general impression lhai
it was lost ON purpose because IL ie-
tarded the feet
He had seen only one ambulance at
the front at the battle of III Cancy. ana
70 was not used for conveying the "ound-
ed 20 the rear.
He said the town Of Shoncy was Win
out exception tho dirticst place he bad
ever seen IN his life and that no effort
was made to clean IL un before the fever
broke ont. There was deficiency OF
proper food al the fever hospitals. ana
the cooking was generally poor
ANY one In this hospital was liable 10
contract yellow fever. lie had been "a
patient in the hospital. and said there
had been no neglect Of patients by the
medical attendants at this hospital or
at the hospitals for tha wounded lie
had known surgeons in the latter hos
pitfalls to work sixty hours without cessa
ton.
"Why did they not have more sur
geons?" asked Col DENLY
The witness said he could not answer.
Major Romoyne said he had come north
as a cOnvaloscent with many other con,
Valcsccnts on the transport Concha. and
he criticized the provisioning Of the YES
sci i'm severe terms. Many Of the men
were compelled 10 sleep on hoard hunks
without blankets or pillows and with no
covering Df ufrlf eNCagf cotton UIl-
form they wore during the day.
"The water was Offensive 20 both sight
and smell" he said. "an1 The food was
poor and scanty, none being provided
especially for conv1lesccnts' lie said pc
was unable TO place the responsibility
for the neglect. but that the captain or
the vessel had stated nat when he made
application to go to Jamaica for fresh
food and water before starting on the
voyage from Santiago the request was
refused.