Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-02
AT M0NTAUK.
FACTS AND FIGURES LAID BEFORE
THE DODGE COMMISSION.
NEW YORK WORLD STATEMENT.
Long List of Witnesses Given, and
a Request Made That Correspond
ents and Reporters of the World
He Called.

WASHINGTON, October 1.-The war
investigating commission devoted its time
to-day largely to the consideration Of
statement filed by Mr.. Nelson Hersch. on
behalf of the New York World. giving
what he styles a record of facts concern
ing the establishment of Camp Wykoff
and its management together with ape-
,ifc instances of abuses. charged to have
existed, dates, number of sick in nos
pitfalls, deaths, etc. II is asserted that at
the time Montauk Point was selected
as the site for the camp, ii was "a barren
waste" II Is charged that when the
first detachment of 275 troops arrived
August Sth. 1.-The camp was not ready 10
receive them, and they slept upon their
blankets and In the open air, and no
tents had arrived" This, 1t is added, was
eleven days after It had been decided to
establish the camp.
Continuing, the assertion Is made that
by the 10th of August the sick were re-
ported suffering from want Of proper &C
commodations and food; that their tents
were without floors. and that there were
only blankets between the sick men
and the ground and that glass OF soup
milk apiece was the only nourlshmsnt
they received in twenty-four hours. The
War Department is charged with fire.
quent changes OF plans, and 1t is asserted
that General Young was given only SIX
days for the preparation OF the camp
before the arrival OF the troops. when tive
weeks were necessary. which caused
great confusion"
LACK OF DRINKING WATER.
On the 18th Of August. DIR. Edson visited
the camp and found that the 1,400 troops
there were also wholly dependent for
water for drinking purposes on a body
OF water without inlet or outlet. known
as Fort Pond. This pond received the
drainage from a dump, and the doctor
found the water TO contain ninety grains
OF salt 10 the gallon. This condition. ne
said, caused disease, and rendered the
pond a constant menace 10 the men.
BY August 30th there were ~.00e men
in camp and 1900 In the hospital. with
many unable TO secure admission from
the transports. The regulars were re-
ported 10 be suffering for the necessaries
OF life. and had received no pay for three
months. Contract surgeons were reported
10 be living at the expense OF the patients
after the doctors had iunehed," says The
scount. twenty-five empty Apolhnaris
iottles were counted on the table, said 70
ave been diverted from hospital stores. =
Particulars are given OF the death IN
Ia tent OF Private Hugh Merritt. on
usust 22d. and 1t was said Or. Talbot
sfused him permission to enter the hos
ttai. on the ground that he was not sick
LACK OF AMBuLANCEs.
The assertion is made that when. on
the 9th OF September. Or. Lee went "a
Camp Wykon. With a special train. 10
take sick soldiers 10 the Brooklyn Hos
pital, he was unable 10 get more than
hfteen men TO the train. on account OF
the lack OF ambulances, which were being
used 10 carry sight-seerers around the
camp. While hundreds OF sick soldiers
were waiting 10 be transferred 10 boats
and trains. dozen ambulances were al
the depot. iiied with laughing men and
women. who were seeing the camp with
ofHssr friends"
After this incident. General Young xav.
ordere that the ambulances were 10 bs
used only for the transportation OF tn.
sick
A long list OF witnesses was forwarded
and there was general request thot vor