The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-27
BEFORE THE WAR INQUIRY.
SURGEONS AND NURSES GIVING
THEIR EXPERIENCES.
Secretary Robert .. Roosevest, OF
the Society for the Protection OF
Soldiers, Writes . Letter Repeat
ing CHARGES Of NEGLECT Of Sick.

NEW YORK. Nov. 3S.-When the war
investigating commission r,et today. DR..
NJ r. Terry. surgeon general OF the Ma
tionaI Guard Of the STATE OF New YORK.
was asked 10 tell what be knew about the
various camps ne visited- Terry began with
Camp Alger. The site was good one. ne
said. and everything appeared IN good con-
ditson. The water was clean IN the camp.
but had a bad odor.
He found the camp Of the Eighth New
York regiment at ChickaYnauga in a very
unsanitary condition. The camps OF the
Ninth and Twelfth New York were in good
condition. Dr. Terry said S;ernberg hos
pital at Camp Thomas was in excellent
condition and the best OF order prevailed
II speaking OF the camp at Huntsville.
Ala. Terry said he met Col. Duffey. and
both Re and the officers and men OF his
regiment appeared in excellent condition.
Col. Duffey. he said. did all he could for
his men and there was very Little sickness
d. Terry said ne visited the hospitals in
Porto Rico-the government hospitals and
those conducted By Miss Chandler and .th-
ernment hospital AZ Ponce, where there
was one physician TO do the work OF sew
eral, ali the hospitals were IN good condi-
ton and well served.
Mrs. l.. W. Quintard, who was at Camp
Wikoff from August II to September Is. in
charge OF the pad trained nurses a. the
general and division hospitals. said:
There were very few supplies Of any
sort at first. There were no hypode-mic
syTtnge5 no hot water lass AID net enough
s2seta. Later We had everything that was
necessary. Col. ForSood and Dr. Brown
did al they could to make the work Of
the nursing force IS efficient as possible"
Miss Alice E. Babcock, OF New York
who went to Cuba with the Red Cross and
returned to the United States with Dr. Les
ser, in the transport Co5cho and was as
signed to duty al Camp Wikcff told OF the
voyage of the Concho from Santiago 10
Hampton Roads. There were six deaths
aboard and the sick wanted for food and
clothing. There were no de.icacies aboard
except those Mrs Lesser had.
w. II. Baldwin, r.. president OF the Long
Island railroad. SAD there was no rear
scarcity of water. Mr. Baldwin said that
from the beginning to the end there was no
delay in the carriage of troops o. commits
sary supplies. Everything was handled
as express matter. although at freight
rates.
Capt. Howell read letter from Robert
r. Roosevelt. secretary OF the American
Society for the Protection Of Soldiers. In
which the latter protested against the re-
ported criticism by member Of the COM
mission Of witnesses before that body. In
the letter Mr.. Roosevelt wrote:
The umcomplaining endurance OF our
men men mas SIMPLY been heroic. They bore
WOUNDS. sickness, privations, to death
even. without word. 1t was only neglect
starvation in fact. and abuse in the hos.
pitais, which called forth letters. and then
only home TO their families: letters whieh
were sent to me by heartbroken mothers. in
pstiful appeals to try and help their sons.
III VISA your commission could have
read tnem but as many Of them were
transmitted to me contidentialIy I cannot
even quote from them.
the witnesses have established MON
strous lncapacity. That they have not full,
commence IN the power OF your commits
SION, no matter how good It's will, to meet
all TIE requirements the public demands
OF ~ - only echoing your own doubts but
N spite OF that they seem to have dona
their share. and Ii would seem that II oniv
remains for you TO do your best. even II
that best Is not quite satisfactory 10 your
serves. II done in good faith. it will teach
the soldiers that at least there is a power
Justice w '''~-'
You can direct your inquiries. in the
hrst place 10 the food supply Find ont
who gets the difference between the douhIe
rations allowed by the government and the
meager hard tack, bacon and green coffee
the books and the rolls In the puhiic d.
partments. TO which you have fun access
We have furnished you the facts, shown
You me nrataIity, cruelty. neglect, indlf-
was under every obligation 10 protect, and
especially because they had a right 10 RELY
upon such protection, were served even
in the land OF plenty, were uncared for
wnen SICK. left without attention, when
wounded. were abused, maItreated: In soma
cases. practically murdered
we have shown you an indifference and
belitting OF human sufferings which con-
tsnues even now. IL this nation Is TO he
come warlke one. IL we are TO have AN
army which shall be efficien: and to he
relied upon, thoss crimes and bIlndarS
must oe corrected and your commissioy
must correct them. 1t il not for Won 70
make the feeble excuse that your commits
sion mere voluntary association with no
legal existence, even, shall not shoulder
this responsibility"
The afternoon session completed the work
of the commission In this city. The mem
bers went 10 Boston tonight