Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-17
No HARDSH|PS
At Santiago Compared With
the Indian Campaigns.
Gen. Weston Says There Were No Red
Tape Methods in Cuba.
Dr.. McCook Makes Recommendation Regard
Ing National Cemeteries in Cuba.

Washington, Dec. 16.-Brig. Gen. John
r. Weston, chief conmissary of the
Shafter expedition, testified, today, be-
fore the war investigation commission.
that there was an absence of red tape
methods in feeding the volunteers at
Siboney. He said ne never heard a
complaint of the condition of the COM
nrissary supplies at the front.
Referring to difficulties caused by the
subsistence department, depending on
the quartermaster's department for
transportation, he said it was a ridicu-
lous idea. and the transportation was a
matter he would not like to speak Of
without thinking it over" and he had
thought a heap about it too So far
as the food was concerned, Gen. Wes-
ton characterized the Santiago cam
paign as mere bagatelle, the hardships
being trivial compared to his own ex-
periences in the frontier Indian cam
paigns when he and his men were for
ced to use the wagon mules for food.
The Rev. DR.. Henry McCook of Phil
adelphia, chaplain of the I'd Pennsyl-
vania and special commissioner of the
National Relief Association said that
the association had passed resolutions
that its secretary would submit for
NAL report to the committee, and di-
recting him not to testify. but he re-
garded its action as nil. On his return
from Cuba he had called on President
Mckinley, Aug. 6. Witness added:
If there was anything did know ana
NE did not get it out of me, 1 am I'M
aware of it. He has wonderful powers
OF cross examination" The President
at that tjr,a md 70 fnI
and permanently mark the graves of
our soldiers at Santiago. He pictured
the desolate condition of graves, but
said the names were nearly all marked
some wounded men had wandered off
and died and their graves remained I'M
marked. He recommended that if the
United States desired a national ceml-
etery in Cuba. San Juan Hill should be
selected and the graveyard at Guam
tana1no Hill, where the marines had
the first encounter on Cuban soil. be
kept as a naval cemetery He urged
system for marking soldiers graves
although he added his Investigations
showed we were ahead of other nations
in this respect.
In Santiago, when he landed, on July
I5 there was dearth of everything
nended. The medical department, 1le
said, opposed the work the work of his
relief association, out changed their
views later. His association has pre-
dlcted the yellow fever spread and 9TH
er unfortunate conditions at the out
set and had made provision therefor.
With such a large body of men as
was our army there it was inevitable
some plumbers would be made He
thought the medical department charg-
ed its chief surgeons with burdensome
details. clerical duties that prevented
satisfactory eattention to outside work.
lie denounced the red tape methods
and offered numerous suggestions for
improvement.
Quartermaster General Ludington
testified as to the operations of mis- de-
partment prior to and during the war.
Inc chief difficulty in preparing the
army equipment. he said, was in secur-
ing tent duck and kersey. In answer
to Gen. Beaver. Gen. Ludington SAID
1T might be well to provide against flu
ture' emergencies by keeping on hand
equipment for at least two years in ad-
vance. Gen. Huntington did not agres
With the suggestion Of Commissars
General Egan that the conIrnissary de
ltiSliI OuSLlI 10 1uEIllSil COOKING ann
eating utensils, and their transporta.
ton as we'll as provide food. Concern.
ing the shipment of medical supplies
Gen. Ludington said they were rushed
forward as promptly as any other sup
plies or more so. Gen. Ludington sait
that his department at present wa
quite gairly supplied with efficient off
GERS, although he did not have quite 81
many as he wanted.
Chief Engineer John M Wilson, ;
member of the commission, then swor
himself in as witness and testifie,
in detail as to the preparations 70
coast defence, including torpedoes, 70
which he had been allotted from tn
national defence fund. something les
than S6,O0O,00O