New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-01
THE ARMY INVESTIGATION.
WHEELER AND LEE TO BE HEARD BIZ
THE COMMISSION.

THOROUGH INQUIRY INTO THE CONDITIONS AT
SANTIAGO AND CAMP wIKoFF PROMISED.
Washington. Sept 30.-The War lnvss Hgating
Commission to-day decided to ask Gene al Lee
to follow General Wheeler in giving testimony
concerning the charges made against the war
Department, and suggested Wednesday OF next
week as the date when he could be heard Gen
eral Wheeler will he before the Commission on
Tuesday. and will be Intercepted about camp
Wikon and the Santiago campaign. the exam
nation concerning Santiago covering especially
the facilities for caring for the sick and wound
ed and the precautions taken to preserve the
health of the men in the trenches. The Com
raissloners announced their purpose to make
complete investigation Of these features OF the
Santiago campaign. but Nice-Chairman DENLY
said to-day that the question OF calling General
Miles or General Shafter had not been cons.d-
cred The decision TO call General Lee at an
early date was reached to-day. because he Is In
the city and may soon be ordered to Cuba
The Commission to-day continued Its exam
inatlon Of letters bearing or charges Of nisman-
agement. some of them calling attention to such
charges. and others attempting to refute them.
Many Of the letters referred TO newspaper re-
ports OF abuses, and in most of these cases let
ters were sent to the editors asking them for
specific information Among other newspaper
publica lions considered editorial article
from The Brooklyn Eagle" making various
charges concerning the abuse OF sick soldiers by
subordinate officers and referring especially to
the death OF Lieutenant Lafferty. under the
heading Medical Murders; Their Victims and
Their Cause.
The secretary was instructed to send an espe-
cia.ly prepared letter to ST. Clair McKelway, the
Editor OF The Eagle" the letter reading as
follows:
/ am directed by the presiding officer to ask you
whether you have any facts within your personal
set forth IN that article and whether. If so. you
will oblige the Commission by furnishing them WIN
The Commission would be glad to have testimony
OF a kind that be used In this investigation not
death OF Lieutenant Lafferty at Camp Wikoff, as
alleged In the article under considera ton out also
r eeys 10 ssc R testimony IS Exactly what the
Commission wants VIII you oblige this body with
what you have at your disposal or can OBTAIN ioF
the purpose?
Many OF the charges received by mail are
vague in character One man wrote that he
had heard OF an instance in which the body Of a
dead soldier had been buried at Camp Wkof
in an entirely nude condition. but he did not
specify the regiment or company in which the
soldier had served. In another case an officer
in a Pennsylvania regimen wrote that he mad
been at Camp Thomas, and at Fernandina and
Tampa Fla. and that he knew the charges or
mismanagement were false. He expressed MS
Willingness to come to Washington aud give the
Commission the information at his command at
his own expense.
To-day's letters deal especially with the con-
ditons at Camp Wikoh. They relate TO the
lack of preparation Of the camp before the SOL
diers we're received. In one instance minister
wrote that he had pointed out the inaccesSipiii-
~ and exposed condition OF the location and
the poor condition Of the water before the place
was selected. The members OF the Commission
express their determination to make complete
inspection of afars at that camp and 1t is PROD
able that they viii visit the place in body
before completing their work