, 1898-11-18
WAR INVESTIGATION
MAJOR GENERAL YOUNG BEFORE
WAR BOARD DENIES STORIES
OF AMBUSCADE.
Large Quantity of Commissary Supplies
Allowed to Spoil at Camp Wickof
Chiefs From Rich Mems Kitch-
ems Said to BE in Control of the
Cooking.

4 O'Clock today to meet at the Fiji
venue hotel in New York at 10 o'clock
tomorrow.
After concluding the work in New
YORK. the commission will proceed to
boston, and, returning. will stop at
Philadelphia to make inquiries there,
1t is also expected that a number of wit
nesses will be called after the return to
Washington. and if the commission
does not go to Cuba some persons there
will be asked to come here.
DR.. Forwood continued his testimony
before the war investigating commits
sion today concerning conditions al
Montauk Point, where he was chief
army surgeon.
DR.. Forwood said hat he had ex-
pected typhoid fever would break ont
in that hospital, but he never had ex-
pected that the troops would remain
there long enought to cause an epidemic
of this disease. As it was. he did not
believe there had been any case orig
mating in Camp WiknH.
He declared tnat there had been a
sufticiency of medicines ana medical
supplies at all uV,es-a wastefuI
abundance. in fac.
A dispatch was read from General
Wheeler saying that DR.. Wood had fail
ed to secure medicines only because he
had not sent for them.
Or. Forwood declared thai the com.
plants concerning the purity of the
water at Montauk had originated with
men who had filters and distilling ap-
paratus for sale.
DR.. Edson's prediction as to the camp
had not been realized. DR.. Simpson
had spoken of the conduct of the kitch-
ems. At a matter of fact, the kitchens
were in the most expert hands. Miss
Helen Gould had supplied a number of
chefs. and most of these were from the
kitchens of the weathiest people of New
York City. He had talked with one of
them who had oeen with w. Fl. Van
derbilt for more than three years.
As a matter Of fact, the hospitals were
never so abundantly supplied. The
army rations were supplemented by
everything that could be found in the
larder of the Waldorf-Astoria, includ-
ing roast turkey, pheasants, squads,
lambs. sheep. pigs. game of all kinds,
pate de foie gras, mineral waters, the
finest champagnes and liquors.
At n time he had noticed eight bar
rels of brandy and a large number of
cases of wine. There was so much apol-
linaris water that it was in the way,
and when a nurse came for a bottle they
would offer her a case.
Major General S. B. Young was be-
fore the commission at its afternoon
session. relating in detail his experience
at Satiago and vicinity, and afterward
at Montauk.
He said he had landed at Baiquiri
on the 21st of June and that by the
morning of.the 23rd his entire brigade
had been put ashore. He had notified
General Wheeler Immediately and had
received orders to on four or five
miles and secure a good camp. He
accordingly had pushed on to Siboney.
He had asked General Wheeler where
the good camping ground was, and he
had replied that the Spaniards occu-
pied it.
Il then" said General Young. asked
permission to go oui md see the
ground. saying / would like to get II
for Il own troops, TO which General
Wheeler assented."
In accordance with this arrangement,
he moved out at . o'clock next morning
to fight the battle OF La Quasima, send,
the volunteers, the Rough Riders, by
one road and the regulars going by an
other. He declared that there was nc
surprise and no ambuscade had been
reported.
He had reconnoitered the Spanish
camp within half an hour before the
fight had began, and he had attacked
the Spaniards and not the Spaniards
him. Speaking Of the Rough Riders
he said there had been no greater per,
centage of casualties among them than
among the regulars, and that they were
not led into any situation not to be ex'
pected in war.
THE report that they were allowed
to be ambuscaded was due" he said
entirely to the demnrilized reporter
and the demorilIzed adjutant OF the
regiment who had left the service soor
afterward."
General Young said he had occupied
the enemy's camp that day. and 1t wa
a very good camp" he added.
In reply to a question as to what ali
he had secured from the Cubans IL
this fight, he replied none what
ever" The Cuban guides had deserte'
him upon the FIRST fire. General Cas-