The Portland daily press., 1898-10-11

able IN forward about 80, 900 rations per
day. From Siboney the depot was moved
to Ell Pesco, seven miles inland, and at
this point there were never enough rations
on hand for even day ahead, and it was
impossible to fill the acquisitions. There
was a shortage of coffee and sugar which
continued for two or there days 1t was
due to the. difficulty in landing supplies
because of the high surf at Siboney. ALI
the rations were good, but in some cases,
the hard bread would be injured by sud-
den showers. When this happened the
bread was thrown aside and no issued.
q = After El Pesco was reached, the officers
were supplied with the same rations that
were given the men. This was against
the law, as rations axe not supplied to
officers, but the emergency made the dis
tribution to them necessary. Major Gal
lagner said there was one instance when
the canned roast beef spoiled and it was
destroyed. Some potatoes, onions and
tomatoes were also thrown away at San
tiago for the same reason. Indeed, when
it was discovered that any article Of goods
was defective, it was destroyed.
Major Gallagher said there was short
age of lighters, but he was not able to say
why this was so. Speaking of the facili-
ties for landing men in Cuba, he expressed
the opinion that If the war were to be
fought over again, a large supply of light
ers should be furnished. In addition to
the American army, the refugees were
also fed. No effort was made to give the
full ration, but such articles were sent
to them as could be spared from our own
troops. He thought enough was given
them to supply 1000 men. After his de-
pot was located at Santiago, there was
no shortage. While at this point, the
Spanish prisoners were supplied from the
general depot as were some of the citi-
zens of the place. Giving his opinion as
to the ration, Major Gallagher said it
had too much meat in 1T for tropical
climate. The men seemed to demand more
tomatoes and rice than they received. On
one occasion 1t had been necessary to
issue green coffee to men on the firing
lines, but the issue had only been tor
day and the emergency was unavoidable.
He thought the ration should ontain
more dried and canned fruits and also
rice and syrup, and there should be more
tea and coffee.
Col. DENLY pressed for information as
to the shortage of coffee and sugar, and
Major Gallagher stated that there were
probably two days when the men were
without these articles. He said the storm
was the immediate CAUSE Of this defici-
ency, but that If there had been sutfici-
enoy of light ers this difficulty would not
have occurred. The major said there
was not to his knowledge a shortage in
any other article of food during the CAM
paign.
Mr.. DENLY told him there was COM
plant of deficiency covering month g
time, but Major Gallagher said he knew
Suppose" asked Gen. McCook, ''this
shortage of rations had lasted for seven
days. instead Of two what would have
been the resultp"
"We would probably have to fall back
replied Major Gallagher. .'Men cannot
fight on short ratiOns."
The witness said that it was Gen. Shaf- |
ter's orders that no formal requisition |
for rations should be required, and that |
food should be given to those requiring it. |
aboard the Grand Duchess lying in Santi-
ago harbor, but the application had not
been favorably considered, for the reason
that the vessel was needed for transport
Ing troops to Camp Wikoff.
Major Gallagher said that of the five
civilian assistants he had. two were in
efficient and Indifferent to their duties.
They were Capt Lord of New YORK and
Capt. Ryan of Kansas. Major Gallagher
said the commissary supply at Montauk
wss abundant and good while he was at
hat point.
Gen. beaver today received letter from
Mrs. Hugh Lange of Brooklyn, who par
Point, relating to her interview with
President Mckinley when he visited
Camp WikofT. She was reported to have
said to the President that some of the
men were "cashiered out in dying con
dition in order to get rid of Them"
This she says she did not say, but asked
If in passing through the wards the Presi-
dent did not notice the number of empty
cots. He replied that he had noticed
them and she then requested him to ask
why the men were without care in the
and in some of the regimental
hospitals. The letter continues: 81 will
also ask you to go back of the conditions
at the time Gen. Wheeler arrived and in
why no preparation was made
to receive and care for our sick and suffer-
ing soldiers. I never saw more devoted
Or more self-sacrihoing work under the
most trying conditions of greater patience
and perseverance than was always ex-
hibited by the executive officers of Camp I
Wikoff, particularly Major Heismann,
Major Brown and Major 1homasson.
The sanitary condition at the general hos
pital was appalling until the general po-
lice work was taken up by Lieut.. Dufree
0f the second engineers.
AN ATTRACTIVE PICTURE.