New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-07


General Lee reviewed the conditions prevailing
at the Jacksonville camp He said the site was
q good one. the supplies were plentiful. the men
were well taken care of. and he had no com
plant to make of the War Departments treat
ment of his command He also said that he did
not consider that he had been sighted in the
war. He had not expected to be ordered to San
tiago or Porto Rico. but had wanted to go 10
Havana and the President had recently told
him that in case ii had been necessary to take
Havana by assault he had intended to ask him
10 lead the assaulting army.
GEN. BOYNTON'S STATEMENT FINISHED
Washington Oct. 6-The examination OF General
II. Y. BOyntOa concerning conditions prevailing at
Camp Thomas continued before the War De-
partment Investigation Commission this morning
Ex-Governor Beaver asked who was at fault II the
camp crowded.
IF such the case was the reply. the fault
that OF the recmentaI and brigade command
ers. the details were left TO them
General Dodge read a complaint purporting to be
from p soldier Of New-York regiment saying that
coffee was Issued green 10 the troops, and then
poorly Drowned that the meat was tainted and in
ferior and that vegetables but onions and pota-
toes were supplied, and Of the food was pal
stablc.
General Boynton said that far as he knew the
coffee Was not issued green. There is no founda-
tion for any reasonable complaint in regard 10 the
food" he continued 1t was brought TO the camp
In refrgerator cara, and heard OF but Two cases
in which the meas was spoiled.
lie had inspected The camp Of the sth New-York
because Of complaints by Surgeon Terry. and had
found it clean and in every respect in good order
except that the sinks near the tents
General Dodge also read letter purporting to
come from the chaplain OF the sth New-York
. Father James Dooey saying that the camp was a
SPELL on earth and war would be a paradise com
pared 10 this place; for the food. II is rotten.
General Boynton said that he did not wish to take
issue with a chaplain. but after explaining that
Father Dooey and Father Ryan had occupied tents
IN the headquarters yard. said:
III they saw such things they said they did
they were the only ones who did. Their stories
were OF sensational character that would do
credit 10 dime novel"
Their complaints directed especially at the
fospital Of the Second Division OF the Third Army
Corps
General Boynton also made reply 10 charges
formulated by Surgeon Milo y. Ward. Of Kansas
City. Who said in letter 10 the Commission that
the camp without drainage; that the water
was unfit drink; that there proper food.
and that all OF forty-five thousa nd in the
mp were suffering from intestinal diseases. Sur
geon Ward also declared that the hospitals We're
overcrowded and that many soldiers had starved
10 death and many would have starved except
for the attention OF the Red Cross and other
cieties OF the character General Boynton
said that he was acquainted with these complaints
from Ward who went about the hotels talking in
this way Nothing could be more exaggerated than
such representations. or course, in 80 large d
camp some painful things must necessarily happen
For instance when measles broke out the hospitals
were quite crowded
But TO say that there any purposcly inflicted
neglect Is. he declared. as false as it is possible
q
THE CAUSES OF DISEASE.
These complaints led General Boynton to make
general statement in regard to the condition Of the
camp. and give his opinion to the cause o. IT,
HI attributed the prevalence OF disease to the ex-
posure OF the regmental kitchen and hospital sinks
These had he said, in the latter part OF the camps
history been covered by earth was direct
ed by the order of the Surgeon General, and this
fact than all others he considered respon-
sible for the spread OF disease This failure 10
carry out sanitary orders, he thought, was due to
the negligence of the subordinate officers. the
brigade and fegimental commanders. The trouble
only began after General Brooke ordered 10
Washington. Before that time General Brooke
ouired daily reports from the regimental officers
and prompt attention any neglect OF sanitary
precautions This system and the which
companied st had the effect of keeping the camp in
good condition. When General Brooke went to
Washington the camp vas necessarily In charge Of
the subordinate officers. When General Brooke
turned his time devoted almost entirely to
preparations for the Porto Rico campaign. that
he could give s much heed o sanitary reeula-
tions as he had previously done. General Boynton
elaborated on the strict discipline maintained by
General Brooke IN police and sanitary matters but
said there suspension Of this after the
Porto Rico campaign decided upon. After
General Brooke away there material
increase OF disease. and at one time almost panic.
The exposed condition OF the sinks had encouraged
the presence OF multitude OF flies. which bred dis
ease by carrying from the sinks the tents.
hoy anil he lsie ugh
out the park they could have been In
Egypt. They went back and forth from the sinks
20 the mess-tnbles Of men and officers with the
greatest fmpunity. covering everything IN sight
WHO WERE TO BLAME.
General Boynton was questioned some lens IN
AZ 10 where the responsibility for this condition o.
ansirs Law and he said that II was with The brigade
and regimen.si comma aders. Il satisfied" he
said that the medical on reported 10 them the
condition and warned tac,n ~ The serious conse-
qGences o: falling 10 oa'y The sorSeon-Genera! :
ORDERS for the covering % the sinks. the med
fcal officers could giy~ orders; itcY could only
advise ] would MOI say That the commanding offi-
Gers - whole paid heed to these representa-
ciaie their Importance and did not give them ,he
ATTENTION which the circumstances demanded they
should receive-tle attention. for instance. ma
officers in the Regular Army would nave given
Them.
,ate any renection on officers from civil life but
there were some things which they had to learn.
srd many o. them were not experts in sanitation
Furthermore most people looked on iht camp a.
S-iv s1rrrfstio- o, receiving orders 10 used
,na,lv 20 be indifferent 20 the future.
IN DISCUSSING WITH captain Hove, .ns q-e Dir,
tn- ro,rteered The suggestion that there had been
no complaints from Southern soldiers Ia ne camp
END pc continued Il 10 rot believe We would
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