The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-11-04
INVESTIGATION OF THE WAR.
Gen. Bates and Others Give Testimon,
Against the Situation.

Against the Situation.
Lexington, KY, Nov. 2.-More con-
Trajectory testimony was given before
the war investigators yesterday Chief
Commissary Marshall, of Camp Hamil-
ton, given a fiat contradiction to the
statement Of Lieutenant Colonel Mitch
ell, of the First Territorial, who said
that he could not get acquisitions hon
ored sometimes. General G. c. Bates,
who was at Santiago, contradicted all
witnesses who said there were plenty
of medical supplies there. He said there
was not and that the medical officers
said they could not get the supplies. He
also said Montauk Point was a bad
place for a camp for sick soldiers at
''this time Of year." He also said that
modern weapons had increased the line
of fire and that danger in removing
wounded was greatly increased; that it
would be difficult for ambulance men
and litter bearers to live in the in
creased zone of fire.
DIR. Edgar A. Mearns, surgeon in
charge of the Gibbs general hospital, this
city, was asked regarding the sanitary
condition of Camp Thomas where he
was brigade surgeon. He read report
on the condition of the sinks there which
showed that they were disease breeders.
The men detailed from the regiments
to the division hospital were incom-
petent He condemned the water supply
at Camp Thomas because there was
Uphold fever there. The oroer to boil
drinking water was generally obeyed
when boilers could be procured.
Major John j. Backman, One Hun
fxt
called. His testimony indicated that his
regiment had Jared well in every re-
spect.
Major j. d. Glennan was on duty at
Chickamauga and Tampa. He said that
he found much larger amount of sick
ness among volunteers than he had
been used to seeing; that he found the
sinks left open and not dug deep enough
to make the camp healthful; that the
water supply was affected by this
Major Glennan said he reported on
these conditions both verbally and in
writing, and made certain recommended
tons, but that no attention was ever
paid to his reports. He said he tried to
get lime, and DR.. Huidekoper, the corps
surgeon, concerning whom sensational
charges have since been made, disap-
requisition. Major Glennan stated that
he knew of certain regiments where the
sick were kept for weeks because the
division hospital had no room for them.
He further said that he believed the
water in every well in Chickamauga
park contained the colon bacillus. which
indicated contamination by sewage.
mo matter how many chemical and
hoa fn oil Inn Ion CHI
that the water was not contaminated
I should still maintain that it was not
fit to use" declared Major Glennan.
DR.. Thomas G. Chalmers, captain and
assistant surgeon of the Twelfth New
York, who saw six weeks service in
Porto Rico, testified that at Chicka-
manga his regiment could not only not
get medicines, but could not even get
blanks to make acquisitions for them.
In regard to the transport Massachu-
sets on which he went to Porto Rico
DR.. Chalmers said: There was no
regular cooking on board and the men
were unusued to eating cold rations.
The reserve hospital men were supposed
to have been well men, but subsequent
events proved that they did not have
enough to eat. The men never could
get enough water to satisfy their thirst.
Ice water was sold at $125 a pitcher.
The matter was reported but the GUS
tom was not stopped The mules and
horses on board went for twenty-four
hours at one time without water"
Keene Ryan, who had sent written
charges to the board, said the surgeons
were guilty of criminal neglect by not
seeing that the orders they issued were
obeyed; that the medicines pre-
scribed were not administered; that the
water was bad; that the sinks were in
bad order; that men died from want OF
attention.