The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-17
TESTIMONY AT WASHINGTON.
MAJ. LAGARDE on THE STAND
AGAIN YESTERDAY.

out COVer-CCl. Jacobs Testimony
- Jab at GEN. Shafter.
Washington, Nov. 16-Maj. Lagarde con-
tinued his testimony before the war inves-
,.rating commission to-day concerning the
conduct of the war from a medical point
OF view He spoke, first, of the yellow
fever hospital at Siboney, which was I'M
der his charge, in general way. He
was satisfied, however, that the hospital
WAS well conducted and that the supplies
on The whole wer ample. OF 1900 or l. 400
wounded men treated in the hospital, only
eleven had died. This was less than !
Der cent, and DR.. Lagrade ventured the
statement that no war in history showed
So small mortality among wounded men
Dr. Connor asked whether the contin-
gency of yellow fever could not have been
provided against, asking whether if in
his Judgment, it should not have been
known by the surgeon general that under
the circumstances there would be an out
break of fever.
He should have known that such were
the probabilities, and everybody should
have known that such were The chances
in sending an army into an infected region
in the summer season. Evidently the sur
geon general did foresee what would hap
pen, and his words on this subject written
before the expedition set out, and giving
warming against the invasion at the time
1t was undertaken, read like prophecy"
The witness added, under the circum-
stances he could not understand why mere
complete provision should not have been
made for supplying immune nurses, and he
did not know but thai the corps surgeon
had asked for this assistance in advance;
he knew only that they had not been ade-
quately provided.
Apparently, however, the army depended
upon the yellow fever expert to say when
yellow fever would break out However
It must be said that The yellow fever was
very mild, and it came to be less dreaded
than typhoid. As a consequence, the NOR
taity among the sick in Cuba was less
than among those left in the United
States DR.. Lagarde expressed the opin-
ION that if the soldiers had been fully
equipped there would have been less sick
ness among them, and he thought that
much of the trouble was due to the fact
that the soldiers were compelled to lie
on the ground without cover
Col J. W. Jacobs, who was chief quar-
tcrmaster of the Fifth Corps al Tampa,
II.
rey had been in charge of the embarka-
ton of troops at Tampa, and that no order
specifying what vessels the different COM
mands We're TO occupy had been issued In
reply to a question from Gov. Beaver ne
said the embarkation had been a haphaz-
ard affair, decidedly So" He also thought
there was great deficiency in the pro-
visions for Decentralization, as only two
lighters were provided, and one of hose
was lost on the way over
Col Jacobs had charge of the transpor-
tauon facilities at Santiago, and ne ex-
pressed the opinion that there was not
sutfciency of wagons Gen. Skaters first
order had been to take only fifty wagons.
When Gen. Miles went to Tampa ne dou-
bled the number; but even this order did
not secure a sufficient number
Gen McCook developed quite animated
episode by asking If there was any rea-
son why the cooking utensils and camp
equipage of the troops should not have
been forwarded from Daiquiri To- the
troops in the field.
There was no reason" Col. Jacobs re-
piled, except that Gen. Skaters order
forbade it,"
Continuing, he said that the order was
most positive. 1t did not specify what
should not be forwarded, but it was most
specific in providing that only forage and
ratons should be forwarded
The food had been sent TO the front
cooked but he thought the men should
have some facilities for cooking; the order
had never been changed during the month
he remained at Daiauiri.
Dr. Connor asked whether orders had
been given to leave all the hospital equip
ments behind at Tampa, and Col. Jacobs
responded that it was his impression such
was the case. He had personal knowledge
mat Gen. Shafter had given such an order
concerning the ambulances
Capt. Jonathan N. Patton, who, as as
sstant quartermaster had made the con-
tracts for the construction of the quarter
masters and commissary buildings for
camp Wikof at Montauk Point, also tes-
uhed at the morning session.
Inc witness said there had been a great
deal of injustice in the criticisms in the
newspapers concerning the delay of sick
men at the dpots going off on Burroughs.
There was no neglect in this matteR'' he
san and no more discomfort than is nee
essary in removing sick men. The men
Were provided with seats and cots while
they waited"
Al the afternoon session Capt. M. w.
ireland, who was associated with Dr. La
safde as a surgeon and executive officer
IN The Siboney hospital, testified in regard
l" mat institution. He complained of the
scarcity of cots, not over fifty being pros
"NQ WINE the noSpitat had been supplied
LOT 200 patents. Many of the sick were
compelled to lie on their blankets on the
ground
Dr. Edward L. Munson, who for a time
was on duty at Tampa and in Cuba, and
also served as adjusant to Gen. Pope,
cneI surgeon of the Fifth Corps, said the
cohdiuon of the army before Santiago
was amentable, owing largely to the fact
'H8t the men were without tents. For
lHe hIst two or three days also there were
practically no supplies on shore So far
as ne could determine the quartermas-
"rs department had made no effort to
assist the medical department. leaving il
eNurely 10 its own devices He thought
mere was sufficient dressing for the
wounded, sufficient medicine and sufficient
surgical instruments, but there was a lack
u. 'euts and cots and of suitable diet. He
AH'W Thar DR.. Pope had protested against
.g sailing until supplies, which had been
oaefod, could be received.
NC'. w. II. Forward. who was the chief