Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03
THE WAR INVESTIGATION.
ex.GoV. WOODBURY. TELLS WHAT
HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.


Ex-Gov. L. A. Woodbury., who has been
serving as Il member IF the war mvesit-
cation committee, arrived at his home In
this city yesterday m)rnng. GOV. Wood
bury viii remain in this city Tor about
one week ana during that time will con-
duct Il branch of the Investigation IN Bur
lirgton. Witnesses from the First YER
mont Regiment the Third cavalry ana
the 2lst infantry viii be summoned. The
investigation viii probably begin to-day
and will be conducted at the Van Ness
House. Major j. y. Jenhc Will Be one oil
the witnesses examined. At the end OF
the week Gov. Woodbury will return to
Washington. where he will join the other
n ,mbers of the commission. The reports
of the adjutant general, surgeon general,
Quartermastcr general and conlm.sary
general are in the hands Of the committee
but owing To the great amount of tim"
taken up with the hearing OF testimony
but enc of thes, has been read and that
only partially. 1t ia probable that this
will be tho first work OF the commission
after reassembling in Washington. Presi-
uput Ai,nm.cy viii place a government
We; sci at the disposal sf the commission
should they desire to visit Cuba or Porto
Rico. 1t is not yet decided whether or not
this will be necessary. If this trip is not
made ii is probable that the work OF in
Vestigation may b. closed durirg Docem-
her. although new work NAY develop not
now anticipated.
Coy. Woodbury. was seen by a Ere
Press reporter 1T his home last night and
in response to an inquiry reg riding what
he thought of the causes of the Illness AZ
ChiCkdmaUst ana other matters prcScu
by the commission, he said;
without intimating that | think that
the conduct OF the war department is OF
is not in any degree responsible for the
disease which caused the suffering and
death with which the army was afflicted,
| | will say ] think that much of both was
| caused 10y the imprudeucc of the volur-
teer soldier himself. The soldier is pro-
verbally prodigal of his strength and
health. Before stricken with disease hC
fees that nothing can make him i'll. II,
eats and drinks everything that his appe-
lite Graves, and violates nearly all the
laws of hygiene. He thus becomes an
easy victim TO impure water, unfaVora blt
climatic conditions and all unsanitary
surroundings"
The commission was unanimous in ths
opinion that 1t was mistake to place
the camps in the midst Of trees rather
than in the open places, where they coul'
have received more light and air. Thi.
plan was adopted at the last OF the occu
pancy OF the park 10y the volunteers ans
by some OF the regulars. To show I,
what extent the park was used, Gov
> Woodbury. said that Engineer Belts of III,
park commission informed him that afte
the troops had LETT they filled no less thai
1928 sinks.
The commission has heard the testi
mony OF witnesses to the number of sew
eral hundreds and in most cases the ties
, timony has been given with great frank
, ness and apparent truth. Especial atten
- ton has been given to the quartcrmaster'
department, and a large number of tn
q witnesses have been called from thi
= branch Of the army, In all of these Their
have been but a few men who have no
, received the full army ration.
,I The commission has done most of 1t
travelling from point to point during IN
nights and in the Ii days which it ha
: been moving about only one day has bee
= spent in travelling.
IN speaking of the commission, Go,
Woodbury. said: MY associates are earn
: est men, who are seeking after truth Tn
public can he assured that whatever VeI
II dict the commission may give II will h
> an honest one, wrought from facts by pa
tient and thorough endeavor,"
| Gen. Dodge, Dr. Conner and Col. SEX
+. ton OF the commission left the rest of III
party at Chattanooga and went to Len
l. ington, Ky. They will visit Cincinnati
. Toledo and other points in that section
, The other members are now investigator
n conditions at Camp Meade, Pa. \ tho
+. ough investigation of the conditions
Montauk Point will he made upon the r,
= assembling of the comm ssion.