Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-17
CONDUCTOR THE WAR
LACK OF PROVISION SOMEWHERE
AGAINST OUTBREAK OF FEVER.
TAMPA EMDARKATION HAPHlzARD.
Transportation Facilities mt Santi-
ago Inadequate-Camp Equip"ge
withheld by Skaters Order-Men
without Tents.
without Tent

WASHINGTON, d. c., November 49,
Major Lagarde continued his testimony
before the War Investigating Commits
sion to-day, concerning the conduct OF
the war from a medical point Of view. He
spoke first of the yellow-fever hospital
at Sboney, which was under his charge
in general way. He was satisfied, how
ever, that the hospital was we'll conduct
ed and that supplies on the whole were
ample.
DIR. Conner asked whether the contin-
gency OF yellow-fever could not have
been provided against, asking whether
II, in his judgment, 1t should not nave
been known by the surgeon-generai that
under the circumstances there would De
an outbreak of fever.
He should have known that such were
the probabilities, and everybody shoulo
have known that such were the chances
in sending an army into an infected re-
gion in the summer season." replied Ma
jor Lagarde. Evidently the surgeon
general did foresee what would happen
and his words on this subject, written
before the expedition set out and giving
1t was undertaken, reads like prophecy"
LACK OF IMMUNES.
The witness added that under these cir
cumstances he could not understand why
more complete provision should not nave
been made for supplying immune medical
assistants, and he did not know but that
the corps surgeon had asked for this as
sistance in advance. He knew only that
they had not been adequately provided.
Apparently, however the army depended
upon the yelow-fever experts to say
when yellow-fever would break out.
However, it must be said that the yellow
fever was very mild. The mortality among
the sick in Cuba was less than that
among those left in the United States.
DR.. Lagarde expressed the opinion that
If the soldiers had been fully equipped
there would have been less sickness
among them, and he thought that much
OF the trouble was due to the TACT that
the soldiers were compelled to lie on the
ground without cover.
EMBARKATION AT TAMPA.
Colonel ]. w. Jacobs. who was chief
quartermaster of the Fifth Corps at TAM
pa and Cuba, testified that General Hum
phries had been i'm charge of the en-
barkation of the troops at Tampa, ana
that no order specifying what vessels
the different commands were to occupy
had been furnished. In reply to a ques-
ton from Governor Beaver, he said that
the embarkation had been haphazard
so.' lie also thought
there was great difficulty in the pro-
visions for Decentralization, as only two
lighters were provided, and one or THESE
was lost on the way over.
Colonel Jacobs had charge Of the trans
portation facilities at Santiago, and he
expressed the opinion that there were
not a sufficient number Of wagons. Cen
eral Skaters first order had been to
take only fifty wagons. When General
Miles went to Tampa he doubled the
number, but even this order did not secure
a sufficient number.
WITHHELD CAMP EQUI-
PAGE.
General McCook developed a quite ami
mated episode by asking if there was any
reason why the cooking utensils and
camp equipage of the troops should not
have been forwarded from Daiquiri TO the
troops in the field.
There was no reason" Colonel Jacobs
replied, except that General Skaters
order forbade it,"
Continuing, he said that the order was
most positive 1t did not specify what
should not be forwarded, but it was most
specific in providing that only forage and
rations should be forwarded.
The food had been sent TO the front
cooked, but he thought the men should
have had some facilities for cooking. The
order had never been changed during the
month he remained at Daiquirl.
DR.. Conner asked whether orders had
been given 10 leave all the hospital
equipments behind at Tampa, and Colonel
Jacobs responded that it was his impress
sion that such was the case. He had
personal knowledge that General Shafter
had given such an order concerning the
CONDITIONS AT MONTAUK.
Captain Jonathan n. Patton, who, as
assistant quartermaster, had made the
contracts for the construction Of the
luartermaster's and commissary build
ngs for Camp Wikoff and Montauk Point,
also testified at the morning session.
The witness said there had been a
great deal of injustice in the criticisms
n the newspapers concerning the delay
)f sick men at the depots going Off on
Burroughs. There was no neglect in
his matter" he said, land no more dis
comfort than is necessary in removing
sick men. The men were provided with
seats and cots while they waited"
LACK OF COTS AT SIBONEY.
At the afternoon session Captain NJ !
". Irelanl. who was associated with |
Dr. Lagarde as a surgeon and as execu-
i've officer in the Siboney hospital testi- |
led in regard TO that institution. He |
of the scarcity OF cots, not |
iver fifty being provided, while the hos
,ital had been supplied for 200 patients. |
Many of the sick were compelled to lie |
N their blankets on the ground.
FOR LACK OF TENTS.
DR.. Edward l.. Munson, who for a time |
vas on duty at Tampa and in Cuba, and |
lso served as adjutant to General Pope, |
hief surgeon Of the Fifth Corps, said |
he condition Of the army before Santiago |
vas lamentable, owing largely to the |
act that the men were without tents. |
'or the first two or three days also there |
we're practically no supplies on shore. So |
ar as he could determine, the quarter
masters department had made no effort |
o assist the medical department, leaving |
/ entirely TO its own devices. He thought
here was sufficient dressing for the
rounded, sufficient medicines and sufh-
lent surgical instruments, but there was
lack of tents and cots and Of suitable
let. He knew that DR.. Pope had pro-
ested against the sailing until supplies
hitch had been ordered could be received,