The times., 1898-11-17
Alger Relief Commission Is
Now Bearing Oh Hard Facts.
GEN. SHAFTER CRITICISED
Several Witnesses Offer Severe Evil
dence Against the Commander of
the Santiago Campaign - Evident
Lnck of TrnnspOrtatie n-supplies
Were Defective In Quantity.

methods of the War Department If they
are permitted to go on without any in
reference from higher authority
The testimony brought out at the ses-
sion OF the Commission since its return
to this city has already been sufficient
to convict Secretary Alger and his as
sociates in the War Department of prac-
tically every charge of maladministration
and Acknowledgement that has been
brought against them.
Why this damaging evidence was kept
back until after the elections is. of course,
perfectly obvious. The impression is ere
ated that the Administration having been
''vindicated'' at the polls, Mr.. Alger Is to
be sacrificed and made to do duty as a
scapegoat
Major In Garde's Testimony.
Major La Garde, a surgeon in the regu-
lar army. who was in command at the
hospital at Siboney, was again called to
the stand when the Commission resumed
its session yesterday.
He referred again to the yellow fever
hospital at Siboney. which, he said. was
under his direction in general way. but
because of the necessity of care in other
directions he was unable to visit the
building daily. 1t was, in his opinion. well
conducted and the mortality was not in
excess Of S per cent DIR. La Garde spoke
Of the treatment Of the wounded. remark
ing that the mortality was exceedingly
low.
HAS 1t happened ever before that bull
taY wounds Uer attended yuifb gnrh few
deaths?" asked DIR. Conner.
Never" answered DIR. La Garde. The
reason. in my opinion, was that there
have been no battles before with the small
caliber arm There were comparatively
few cases of blood poisoning among the
cases brought from the front. The alb
sence of blood poison was attributable TO
the use of first aid packets, and the use
of antiseptic treatment. First aid pack
cts had been freely distributed among the
men. and, to judge from the appearance
of the wounded had been literally ap-
piled. The mortality would have been 20
per cent greater without antiseptic treat
ment."
Expected yellow Fever.
Referring to TIE expectation of the De-
Cuba, DIR. La Garde declared that the
surgeon general expected yellow fever.
Ibid he try to keep the troops from be-
ing ordered there?" he was asked
HE has no authority to order troops.
When the campaign was being talked of
ne stated that il we invaded Cuba in GER
tain months. and went into the Cuban
habitations. yellow fever would attack our
men"
.'Do you know if he recommended that
the expedition to Cuba be delayed?"
81 know from the articles in the madi-
cal journals that he was ayerse to the
expedition going to Cuba before Novem-
ber. I talked with him and believe his
opinion was against the expedition going.
Evidently the surgeon general did foresee
what would happen. His own words on
the subject, written before the expedition
Set out, read like a prophecy"
DR.. La Garde did not know why immune
nurses had not been provided in antici-
patton of yellow fever, or why more COM
plete preparation had not been made in
view of the surgeon generals knowledge.
He said that he supposed that much re-
lance was placed in the yellow fever ex-
perts to give immediate notice of the
breaking out of the fever. Speaking of
its appearance he said it turned out to
be of very mild form. Typhoid fever was
more dreaded by the surgeons than yell
low fever. The latter would run its
course in a week or ten days, while
typhoid cases were of much longer dura-
tion and the mortality was greater. The
facilities Were not fully complete for the
treatment of typhoid. There was an alb
sence of proper nursing and a lack of
delicacies such as fresh eggs and fresh
milk.
Notwithstanding the condition in Cuba.
the death rhqn I
cent which was lower than in the camps
in the United States. DR.. La Garie ad-
mitted that there was difference in the
troops. Nearly all those in Cuba were
seasoned, while those in this country Were
not hardened Much of the sickness IN
Cuba he attributed to the men getting
wet and sleeping in the open without shell
ter. He acknowledged that tents could be
used on the firing line. but there was a
delay in the issuing of tentage after the
fall of Santiago.
Lack of transportation.
Major La Garde was followed by Lieu
tenant Colonel ]. ". Jacobs, of the quar-
termasters department. He assisted Col.
Humphries in Cuba, and had observed the
against the enemy.
apparent" he said. but it was due to the
lack of water transportation. There were
no facilities for sending wagons and mules
to Cuba. At Tampa there was railroad
congestion that caused some trouble. Gen.
Shafter had given orders against the over
crowding of transports, but il was true
that there was overcrowding. Supplies
were distributed on different boats. This
was true of ammunition as well as medi-
cal supplies. Wagon and pack train
transportation was deficient. The orders
at Tampa originally provided for fifty
wagons. but Gen. Miles appeared and
ons, and in addition 415 mules were loaded
for Cuba.
DR.. Connor asked about the loading of
medical supplies and ambulances in Cuba.
Col. Jacobs declared that while at Tampa
when about to load fifty ambulances, Gen.
Shafter appeared and ordered them left
behind.
What was the army going to Cuba
for?" DIR. Connor asked.
1T was going to fight, I suppose the
witness replied.
Was it not expected that there would
be any wounded?"
YES. sir
"Why was no provision made?''
Full provision ought to have been
made
well. I want to know who is RESPONSE
BILE for it. Charges have been made that
the quartermaster department was re-
sponsible.
THE quartermaster's department is not
responsible
How are you going to show that?''
Gen. Skaters Orders.
.I'n swear that Gen. Shafter told me
bal, not written order, but will swear
to it,