The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-09
WILL VISIT THE
VARIOUS CAMPS.
The Committee to Start on a Hound
Major Gffn's TestimOny--Men
Were Crowded in Tents.

initial al Camp Thomas, Shlchaii''"7"
park. Ga. and Captain Baldridge. prl-
gade commissary of subsistence at Camp
Cuba Libro. jacksonville.
Both contributed much information III
regard 20 the two camps.
The commissioners have practically de-
cided 70 start on the night Of the 10Th on
a round of the various camps. 1hey
will 90 10 Camp Meade or TO Jackson
willie first. but are not yet decided whlch.
All the camps will be visited in success
sion. but the understanding Is that the
trim 10 Camp Wikon viii not be made
until some time I'm November Next
week will De given largely 10 the inspec-
ton Of official reports and 10 otner
statements which have been furnished IN
reply 10 letters from the commission.
MAJ. GIFFINS EVIDENCE.
Major r. Emmitt CHIN was "a brigade
surgeon az Camp Thomas and told or ms
visit to the Second Division Hospital III
Julv last. when he said IL was over
crowded I'm each tent and under its
flies there were eight or nine men. when
there should have been but from four
10 six. There was a sufficiency OF ply
sicians and Major Gifin was sure they
were competent men.
The majority of patients were SUFFERING
from typhoid fever and vencrel diseases,
about - per cent. being Of the latter
class He thought the crowdiug OF the
hospital was from lack of sufficient tent
age. fault due 20 the surgeon in charge.
DR.. Ginin made his visit 10 the division
hospital 20 see man Of his brigade who
had been shot i'm the leg He found
him in a tent with typhoid fever patients
and consequently had him removed.
COMPETENT SURGEONS.
The division hospitals surgeons We're
competent in their profession, some OF
them being the most competent I'm the
United states. but they We're not men of
executive ability. None of them was adj
dictcd To drink.
He considered the water supply good.
Tho sinks were poorly located. They were
too near the kitchens. and We're too shall
low. Many Of them were only scVenty-hVe
feet from the company kitchen and were
opon when bee arrived. He then had them
moved farther back and gave directions
for daily disinfecting and covering By
this time however. the regiments We're
AN infected AS DE thought by the flies go-
Ing from the sinks 10 the mess tables.
Dr. Ginn was satisfied that the typhoid
had been brought IN by the troops The
first case coming through "a Mississippi
regiment.
The location was a healthful one ass De
had made an investigation and found that
previous 10 the arrival of the troops there
had only been one case Of typhoid I'm the
vicinity for nine years. There had been
about 5000 cases of typhoid in the camp.
Dr. Gifn had mo- complaint of neglect or
fnsuniciency tO MAKE against any of the
bureaus of the War Department. and bee
had heard NJ only one complaint. There
We're mo- matches for twenty-iour hours.
Tie thought that the contract surgeons
should have been examined before they
were appointed.
CAUSE OF COMPLAINTS.
The doctor also expressed the opinion
that the complaints of starvation had
arisen from tine TACT that 60 was necessary
% nut couyalesclnts from typhoid fever
on "a sparse diet lie thought may deaths
had been caused bv overlooking after cone
yalesccnts returned TO their homes.
orders were given to his knowledge for
promuf measures looking 90 the suppress
sion Of the fever when 10 broke out. Dut
the orders bad not been ooeyed.
Tie knew OF more cases boo which the
sinks were to the last within twenty ieet
of the kitchen. and foo the cases of me
Fourteenth Minnesota and Nintn Pennsyl-
wanna regiments. the sinks were crowded
near the Kitchens when there was
quarter OF mile of open field back of them.
lie Thought that 10 had been mistake
TO locate so many men together as were
at Camp Thomas
Requisitions had been honored promptly.
Hc got everything be asked for.
CAPTAIN BALDRlDGE TALKS.
Cqptain James e.. B1'dridge. Commits
sary of subsistence for the First Brigade
second Division. Seventh Army Corps
now at Camp Cuba Libre. jacksonville.
occupied the attention of The commission
during the afternoon.
he reached tine camp ON August 2f
and made an Immediate inspection of
the kitchens. Tie found some OF them
not well managed ass all of the army
cooks were not experts. lie believed that
for an army in camp green coffee was
preferable to the roasted ass it was
stronger and fresher
The meat Doe considered good and 10
was received ON time except bon one iu-
stance. Upon complaint by the Second
New Jersey Regiment he investigated
meat which had been rejected hy L
Some of this meat was eaten Dy the brig
ade officers and found t0 De wholesome
The next day the same regiment rec
iected consignment of corn beef, but
This also Doe found to be eatable.
The men were literally supplied with
food and the location of tine camp was
good.
sun there hiss been an increase OF dis-
ease which he attributed to the climate
and to thc assembling of large body
of men, Tie also thought decayiug fruit
and the cauteon beer had had an iniiu-
eucc BOZ producing disease.
SECOND NEW JERSEY
General Dodge read letter 20 the wit-
ness from % member of tine Second New
Jersey Regiment saying some of the resi-
ment were dying OF starvation and others
were completely broken down. Captain
BalIridge said there had been great
deal of complaint from This regiment
They received their Fun ritiOns and he
attributed their trouble partially tO the
fact that they had am inexperienced man
ass c0mmissary of subsistence
The regiment had also made contract
with an outside baker which gave each
company only % l-2 leaves OF bread per
day. The rom ration would have given
them twice as much Captain Baldrldge
said Doe had no complaint 90 make Of the
officers OF this regiment except that they
were without experience. lie instanced
the fact that when the regiment was orr
dered to Pablo Beach with the exception
NJ TWO companies. the main body took all
the rati0us. leaving nothing 20 eat for
those left behind Captain Baldridge said
that when he first went TO jacksonville.
the potatoes were small and We're not
good. but afterwards the quality inn
proved The commission here adjourned.
LAKESIDE WHEEL CLUB.