Evening journal., 1898-10-11
THE ARMY INQUIRY.
Three Witnesses Before the
Board Yesterday.
CONDITIONS At SANTIAGO De CUBA.
Mnjor Gallagher Explains the De-
fects In the Commissnry Depart
mcnt's WorI-Insumcient Sup
ply OF CoHee and Sugar.

Culver Of the Grigsby Rough Riders,
or. Hysell, chief surgeon Of the Sec
ond division, located at Camp Thomas,
and Major Gallagher. who was in
charge of various commissary depots In
the Santiago campaign. Or. Hyselis
testimony dealt with the sanitary and
hospital conditions at Camp Thomas.
lie said that there was less typhoid fe-
yer In the troops Of the Second division
than in the other divisions and stated
that upon his advice the division had
secured It's water from outside springs
instead of from the Chickamauga river,
as he considered the river water liable
20 be impure. Major Gallagher detail
cd the process of supplying Of rations
TO the troops in the field. He said that
at one time there was a deficiency In
coffee and sugar for two days and he
expressed the opinion that this short
age would have proved serious II it had
continued for any length Of time. He
said the supply OF lighters was not suf-
fcient 10 prevent the accumulation of
any considerable quantity Of food at
any one time.
AT the afternoon session the commit
tee examined Major Hugh j. Galla-
CHER. lie had served as depot COM
missary at Siboney, San Juan and San
tiago and recently occupied this posi-
tion at Montault Point, having been
chief commissary Of General Skaters
corps. The rations were, he said for
warded almost as rapidly as they were
landed. Only very small quantities
could be accumulated, yet the commits
sary during the stay at Siboney had
been able to meet all acquisitions made
for rations by the troops. and no one
was ever refused. He heard no COM
plant of lack of rations at the front.
Pack trains were first used and after
ward wagons. At first they were able
70 forward about 10000 rations per day.
From Siboney the depot was moved to
FL PosO. seven miles inland, and at this
point there were never enough rations
on hand for even day ahead, and
IL was simply impossible TO nll all
the rcquistions. There was a shortage
in coffee and sugar, which continued
for two or three days. It was due to
the difficulty In landing supplies be-
cause Of the high surf at Siboney. All
the ratlons were good. but in some
cases the hard bread would be injured
by sudden showers. When this hap
pened, the bread was thrown aside and
not Issued. After El Poso was reached
the officers were supplied with the same
rations that were given the men. This
was against the law, as rations are not
supplied TO officers, but the emergency
made the distribution to them neces-
sary
Major Gallagher said there was one
instance when the canned roast beef
spoiled, and IL was destroyed Some
potatoes, onions and tomatoes were also
thrown away at Santiago for the same
reason. Indeed. when Il was discovered
that any article Of goods was defective
it was destroyed.
Major Gallagher said there was
shortage OF lighters. but he was not
able TO say why this was true Speak
ing OF the facilities for landing the men
I'm Cuba, he expressed the opinion that
II the war were 10 be fought over again
n larger supply should be furnished In
addition to the American army the
refugees were also fed. No effort was
made TO give the full ration. but such
articles were sent to them as could be
spared from ourown troops. He thought
enough was given them 10 supply 1000
men. After his depot was located at
Santiago there was no shortage. While
at this point the Spanish prisoners were
L.
as We're some OF the citizens of the
place.
Giving his opinion as to tie ration.
Major Gallagher said II had too much
meat in It for a tropical climate. The
men seemed 20 demand more tomatoes
and rice than they received. on one oc-
casion IT had been necessary TO issue
green coffee TO men on the firing lines
but the issues had only been for o day
and the emergency was unavoidable
He thought the ration should contain
more dried and canned fruits and also
rice and sirup. and there should be more
tea than coffee.
Colonel DENLY pressed for informa-
tion as TO the shortage Of coffee and
sugar and Major Gallagher stated that
there were probably two days when tho
men were without these articles. He
said the storm was the immediate caus,
of this deficiency, but that II there hat
been n sufnciency Of lighters this def
cheney would not have occurred Th,
major said there was not to his knowl
edge a shortage in any other article o.
food during the campaign.
Mr.. DENLY told him there was com
plant Of a deficiency covering a month
time. but Major Gallagher said he knew
nolnlub pA IL
Suppose" asked General McCook
this shortage Of rations had lasted TO
seven days instead Of two, what woul,
have been the result2"
I'VE would probably have had to fal
back" replied Major Gallagher. Me-
cannot fight on short rations"
The witness said that il was Genera
Skaters order that no formal requisl
tion for rations should be required an
that food should be given to those need
ing IL.
Alajor Gallagher applied for extr
stores aboard the Grand Duchess lyin
in Santiago harbor but the application
had not been favorably considered 70
the reason that the vessel was neede
for transporting troops to Camp Wikof
Major Gallagher said that of the fiv
civilian assistants he had two were IN
efficient and Indifferent TO their dutie,
They were Captain Lord of New Yor
and Captain Ryan of Kansas. Majo
Gallagher said the commlssary suppl
at Montauk was abundant and goo
while he was at that point.
General Beaver today received a lei
ter from Mrs. Hugh Lange Of Brooklyn
who participated in the relief work a
Montauk Point, relating to her inter