The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-23
The Examination of Witnesses Was
Mainly in Regard to That.
NOTHING NEW BROUGHT OUT
The Evidence was Practically the
Same as that Given by Other Of
ficcrs in WashingtOn-Two Reg
iments of ben from Cuba
VIII be Examined as 20
Conditions There.

ANNISTON, ALA, oct. 22.-The War
investigating Commission arrived here
early to-day and spent the forenoon in
specting Camp Shipp. They made visit
to every company in the camp, and to all
the hospitals. also inspecting kitchens,
canteens and other camp buildings. As
a rule the men were found 20 be pleased
with the camp site and satisfied with
their treatment Some OF them COM
planned that their clothing was not sutli-
cient for the cold weather Of the past
few days. Many Of them Appeared anN-
ious q get home, but said II they could
no; be sent home they desired 10 go TO
Cuba.
The commission began its work by
making an inspection Of the site or
Camp Shipp I'm the forenoon, and then
Oevoting the afternoon 10 questioning
General Frank, commanding officer OF the
CAMP and his chief surgeon. Major Hen
~ T. H0yt. Both we're identified with
Camp Thomas al Chickamauga. General
Frank having been In command of the
First Division Of the Third Corps at that
point and Major Hoyt, his chief sur
go0n here. was there.
CAMP THOMAS AGAIN.
tt was made plain by the general
trend Of their examination that the work
done here would pertain more largely TO
Camp Thomas than 10 the camp here, as
a majority Of the men here were re-
moved from Chickamauga. There are,
however. two regiments here which were
in cuba, and some Of their representa-
lives viii also be examined.
General Frank said he considered
Chickamauga Park d good site Tor
temporary camp, but not Tor n perma-
nont camp for q large army. The chief
difficulty was in putting sinks down deep
enough. owing TO the rock formation
near the surface. sinks could only be
made two or three feet deep, and they
were frequently oyerliowed. There was
also q general Impression that the
springs in the locality were impregnated
bv these sinks. and it was Impossible
to prevent the men from drinking from
the springs.
He thought IN camp should have been
moved as early as July.
FOOD ALL RIGHT
He said he had heard no complaint from
the men I'm regard TO the food received
while at Chickamauga, but because ot
the necessity for getting the first corps
ready for foreign service, there was
shorrapc FIN clothing for a time. There
inc hospital room for the men when sick-
rsss beean TO Increase, but this deficiency
was soon remedied.
There has been q constant improvement
I'm the command since its removal 10
Admission early in September and Genera!
Frank thought it was due to the change
of size. Returning to Chickamauga lie
sail the hospital tents We're not hoored
when he wen. 10 the camp early In July
thoush there had been sufficient time 10
lave furnished flooring for the entire
camD.
SINKS NOT INSPECTED.
General Frank said that his corps COM
narder had never made an inspection OF
,ne camp with reference 20 sinks, draius,
etc.
d. Henry T. Hoyt was also examined
csrecially with reference TO Camp Thom-
as he said the increase in sickness
above the normal had begun about the
middle OF July and had been rapid from
thot time forward until there weie 2a5
parents I'm the First Division Hospital
on the lst Of August At this time L
was impossible 10 receive new patients
for a period OF twenty-four hours Tae
increase In disease had begun with the
r9<uv season and he though much vi the
men were compelled 10 sleep on the
ground.
lie attributed the increase in typhoid
10 the sinks 10 the flies to the fact that
the wells were infected and to the care
lessness Of The men. The command used
water taken through pipes from Chicka-
mauga river and the pipe was located
only few feet above the mouth OF the
stream which drained the camp.
DRANK SEWER WATER.
The doctor thought that some OF the
water from this tributary stream had
been forced into the pipes by means OF
e1dies. IL had also been impossible 20
prevert the USE Of surface well water by
The men. Dr. Hoyt expressed the opinion
that the surgeons in the division hospi-
tai had been competent and in support
OF his opinion he adduced the fact that
there had been only q deaths out of
l5ss patients In the hospital for the en-
tire three summer months.
UNSKILLED NURSES.
the nurses Of the hospital corps while
faithful were I'm most cases unskiiled and
therefore incompetent. lie said there
had been GIG patients treated In the
division hospital at Anniston and Of these
% had died There had been an ex-
ceptiona'ly high degree Of mortality here
but many of the men who came here
both from Chickamauea and Santiago
were very much debilitated He thought
the change of location from Chicka-
rnauga had been very beneficial. DR..
Hovt said ne was familiar with the
.opnnlaiuts concerning the Eighth New
York Regiment and especially with the
criticism made by Surgeon-General Ter
~ OF New York. There was. he said,
an enormous sick rate ih this regiment
and that there were many cases OF home
sickness yet. Circumstances surround
ing these men were the same as those af-
fecting others.