The Portland daily press., 1898-10-07

n,
z5, 600 men in camp were suffering from
intestinal diseases. That hospitals were
oyercrowded and that many soldiers na4
starved TO death and many l1ore Wouiu
have starved but for the Red Cross. zen.
Boynton explained his acquaintance WIN
these complaints. Nothing couiu.oe ino!s
exaggerated than such representation saiu
the General OF course in SO large
camp some painful things must necessar1-
Jy happen. For instance when measles
broke out the hospitals were quite
crowded. ''But to say that there was any
p urposely inflicted neglect is, ne oe
clared, "as false as it is possible 20 ne.
These cotnplai nts led Gen. Boynton TO
enter upon a general statement in regard
to the condition of the camp and TO give
his opinion as to the cause OF 1t. he at
tributed the prevalence of disease to the
exposures of regimental KITCHENS and
hospital sinks. These had Sin the latter
part of the camps history been left I'M
covered by earth as was directed by the
order of the surgeon general and to this
fact more than to all others he considered
responsible for the spread OF disease. Ihis
failure to carry out sanitary orders he
thought was due to the negligence OF the
subordinate officers, the brigade and regi-
mental commanders. The trouble only
began after Gen. Brooke was ordered to
Washington. Prior to that time Gen.
Brooke required daily reports from the,
regimental officers and prompt attention
10 any neglect of sanitary precautions:
This system which accompanied Ii had
the effect of keeping the camp in good
condi ion. When Gen. Brooke left for
Washington the camp was necessar lily in
charge of subordinate officers When Gen,
Brooke returned his time was devoted al
most entirely to preparations for the
Porto Rioan campaign so that he could
not give so much heed to sanitary regu-
lations as he had previously done. Gen.
Boyntor elaborated upon the strict
discipline maintained by Gen. Brooke IN
police and sanitary matters, but salu
there was suspension CT this cara after
the Porto Rican campaign was decide
on, After Gen. Brooke left there was
time almost panic Returning to the
conditions subsequent to that date when
Con. Brooke was ordered to Washington
Boynton said the exposed condition OF
sinks had encouraged the presence of
multitude of flies which bred disease by
carving germs from the sinks to the
tents. "They were as thick throughout
the park as they ever could have been In
EeyDt and they went back and forth from
the sinks to the mess tables of the men
and officers with tho greatest lmpunlty,
covering everything in sight. Gen.
Boynton was questioned at great length
as to where the responsibility for the con-
dition Of affairs lay and be said it was the
brigade and regimental commanders. Il
am saving that medical ofdce.' reported to
them the condition and warned them OF
serious consequences OF failing to obey
the surgeon generals order TO cover
the sinks, but the medical officers could
not give orders they could only advise. In
disc ussing with Captain Howell on the
question of rations to supplied to Camp
Thomas General Boynton volunteered the
suggestion that there had been no COM
plants from southern soldiers In the
camp and he continued: II do not be-
lieye we would have heard half the outc1y
that has been raised if all soldiers had
been from the south. Gen. Dodge said
that only two or three charges had been
received from the south. The testimony
of Gen. Boynton BEING concluded, the
committee adjourned till afternoon.
General Fitzhugh Lee was before the
commission at its afternoon session.
While he was at Tampa, General Shafter
had been in command he (lIee) had very
little knowledge of the method OF fornish-
ing the supplies. He said that at one
time his corps had numbered 29,600 men,
but was now less.
General Lee had no complaint to make
in regard to supplies. In June, when the
expeditions were being gotten under way,
there was some delay, but this was natural,
and since then supplies of all kinds had
come with regularity and in abundance.
'tThere have. of course, he said. peen
some complaints. Soldiers are like school
boys. They sometimes complain even
when there is no occasion for complaint. P"
He thought the army ration was
abundant and in the main well suited to
a campaign in a tropical climate, yet ne
thought some changes might be made he
was of the opinion that it would be better
to send live animals to Cuba than TO send
refrigerated meat as at present Accord
ing to his ideas, the men should have
more fruit and less meat.
During the course of the questioning it
developed that General Lee had been noti-
fled that he would be expected to move
Havana about the first of November and
that he considered his troops properly
equipped for the campaign. He considered
the Spanish uniforms better adapted to a
tropical climate than ours, as they were
cool and could be washed. He was fear
full that the shirts and blouses of our men
would be found too heavy for comfort
General Lee made the significant an
nouncement that he was counting on
landing in a friendly country as he had
received direct information that the
American troops would ba welcomed not
only by the Cu5ans, but by the Spaniards
as we'll. He said the conservative and
property owning Spaniards were especial
ly DESTROYS to have the American troops
come for the preservation of order.
Speaking of his command, General Lee
stated that the health of the troops had
been good-only about 2 per cent being
sick. He had insisted upon very
thorough inspection of the camp and up
on having his forces thoroughly instructed
by the staff officers, who had practically
organized schools for that purpose. He
said the meat was received In refrigerator
cars and that as rule it was good. In a
few instances the outer edges of large
pieces of meat were spoiled, as was also
the hard tack in one or two cases
shipment of potatoes was reported to be
in a bad condition and board YVES ap-
pointed which condemned all the goods
AS to the efficiency of officers appointed
from civil life. General Lee said some of
them learned their duties very promptly,
others were very slow to learn; others
never learned, but majority did. He be-
lieyed that volunteers would always be-
come effective, and especially when con-
fronted by the enemy.
Governor Beaver read letter complain.
ing of the situation IN the jacksonville
camp. This letter said the camp was
filthy, the bread mouldey, the doctors
generally drunk etc.