The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-15
Thew arBoard
Hearings.
SOME TESTIMONY
Important Statements Made
BY Witnesses.

Washington, Nov. 14-Gen. Breckin-
ridge, DR.. Huidekoper and Major Knox
were before the war investigation
commission today. Gen Breckinridge's
testimony dealt with conditions at
Camp Thomas. of which he was for a
time in command, and he took occas-
ion to say that but for the change that
was made previous to the war requir-
ing inspector generals in the field to
report to the adjutant general instead
of the inspector general. the condition
of the camps now being developed, ny
the commission, would have been de-
veloped three months ago.
Gov. Woodbury. has returned from
Vermont and sat with the commission
today
The first witness to testify today was
DR., Huidekoper He said that with a
few unimportant eXcepcons, the med
zeal supplies for the Porto Rico eX-
petition had been ample. At Newport
News he had given orders that the
sick men be eliminated from the COM
mand, but he found that the order had
been eYaded and sick men taken
aboard.
He said that when the commands
started to Porto Rico. Gen. Brooke had
exercised his prerogative to demand the
filling of the requisition which had
been refused by the deputy surgeon
general, but in response 10 a question,
he said he did not know why the gem
eral had not exercised this perogative
IN securing supplies at Chicka manga.
Replying to a question from Cen
Beaver the witness said that Deputy
Surgeon Gen. Hartsuff had refused to
supply disinfectants for The camp at
Chickamauga, saying that to do so was
contrary to army regulations
Col. Huidekoper returned frequently
IN his testimony to his difficulties in Sc
curing nurses. He said he had once
secured an approach to the necessary
number through an arbitrary order
from Gen. Brooke, and when this or
der was issued, the colonies had insisted
on supplying the worst men they had
IN their regiment for members of hos
pital corps.
The witness asserted that the sick
IN Porto Rico had had good attention
contradicting the assertion of col
hartsuff that there had been negli-
gencc.
Mag. Thomas Knox, inspector general
VINO participated in the early part of
Inc santiago campaign, was before the
war investigating commission at IFS
afternoon session.
he was wounded in the battle Of La
.9ausllaa on the second day after land
ing, When ne was the only officer of ais
regiment present. He came rorth on
lhe OllVette. and after his arrival was
taken care of at Fort Wadsworth hos
pital. He found this institution was
we'll conducted.
MAJOR Knox saig he had remained
Win ms troops about ten minutes at
ter receiving his wound, and that he
Ilau lor that time forgotten himself in
9leills atlehllon TO his command. Major
NiloN SAID the ship on which his repi
hieht Went from Tampa to Santiago
was greatly crowded. and that when
tney landed the men were in poor con-
ditlon for q campaign. The worst I
ever saw he said. This condition was
que TO the fact that they had been shut
up in the hold of the shin for is davs
I9f they had been in good shape when
theg TEL Iampa. He said that the
medical corps had done as wen as
could have been expected with tho
means az command. Furthermore. the
Iroopships were so crowded with men
mat there was little room for more
men or for ambulances. All efforts had
been directed toward getting as many
ards furnishing such conxeniences TO.
Inc men as might be considered desir-
able under other circumstances.
General j. c. Breckenridge also an
peared before the commission. His
testimony dealt largely with Camr
f-lomas, of which Ire was in command
from the 9TH of August until the camp
dlsintegrated He said that when he
assumed charge the camp was at the
beginning of an epidemic of fever. and
that the condition gradually grew
worse He found much that needed
remedying from a sanitary point OF
view, when he assumed command but
line conditions varied in the numerous
feglmental camps He was under tn,
impression that all ordinary efforts haf
been made by the officers in command
TO instruct regimental officers in thu
matter Of sanitation, and he though
this instruction had borne fruit.
The great share of his attention, HI
said had been given to getting tn,
men away from Chickamauga. Gener
al Breckenridge said he had increase,
the number of men given leave at
time from two to six to a company, be
cause the men seemed depressed. AM
he thought they needed as much chang
as possible. He was, he said. awar
that this order had been criticised, blu
my theory of discipline is to make
soldier do his duty for all that he i
worth, and then let him have his flu
for all he deserves"
Gen. breckenridge said that the condi
tion of all the hospitals at Camp Thorn
as except Sternberg, was bad. The
We're crowded, and there was a lack o
skill on the part Of attendants. He ais
thought the quartermaster department
had been reniss in some of it's duties
bus he attributed all the trouble to
want of experience. There had been
lack of tentage at the hospitals, and h
knew of no reason why the tents shout
not have been supplied, as he was in