Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-10-14
WAR DEPARTMENT INQUIRY,

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WASHINGTON, Oct. At yesterdays
session Of the war Investigating COM
mission Gen. Greene. who was in com
mand Of one Of the divisions of the
troops at the battle of Manila was eS.
amined. Hedeclared the site of Camp
Merritt, San Francisco, was bad, The
most fragrant neglect he had seen was
in the case of the transport at New
York. The condition should have been
rcmedied. He also had .seen green
coffee in use. Army regulations should
be adopted more to campaign expert
ence than at present. Major Jersey,
of the Rough Riders, said that the
camp at Tampa was low and wet.
Troops were well supplied, but there
was some complaint OF the bearing of
the physicians left with the squad
ron ut this point. Col. Lee, chief
quartermaster at Camp Thomas, said
supplies had been furnished promptly,
but there were some supplies of which
they had never been able to get suf-
ficient supply. When impossible con-
ditions had been prescribed by Wash
ipgton he had protested, and there
after there was no trouble.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The war in
vestigating commission examined two
witnesses Saturday. They were DR..
Giftin, who was in charge of the Stern
berg hospital at Camp Thomas, Chick.
amauga Park, Ga. and Captain Bali
ridge, u brigade commissary Of sub
sistence Of Camp Cuba Libre, at Jack
sonville. DR.. Gitfin said tents were
crowded, a fault due to the physician
in charge. Water supply was good,
but sinks poorly located, too shallow,
and not properly disinfected. Had no
complaint of neglect to make against
war department, but believed contract
surgeons should have been examined
before they were appointed. Believed
it a mistake to locate so many men
together as were at Camp Thomas.
Captain Ballridge believed the increase
in disease was due to the climate and
the assembling of large body of men.
He also thought decaying fruit and the
canteeu beer had had an influence in
producing disease. The commission
has practically decided to start on the
night Of the 10th on it's round of the
various camps 1t will go either to
Camp Meade or to Jacksonville first.
All the camps will be visited in
succession.
WASHINGTON. Oct 11.-Capt. Cutler,
Of Troop ~, Grigsby's Rough Riders,
was before the investigating commit
tee yesterday. He had been stationed
at Camp Thomas. He said the condi-
tons at first were bad, but they were
soon rcctitied. lie thought pies sold
the men were unwholesomc and also
said too much stale chicken had been
sold to them. DR.. Hysell, chief sur
geon of the Third division of the First
army corps. located at Camp Thomas,
followed. DR.. Hysell thought typhoid
fever had been imported into camp
from outside. and that the increase
had been due to the failure to properly
cover the sinks and to the prevalence
OF flies. Ma or Gallagher, depot com.
missary at Siboney, San Juan, San
tiago and Montauk Point, said he
heard Of no cx g. Or hack Of
rations at the fro,1 nile ut Siboney.
At Ell Paso there were never enough
rations for even a day ahead A
shortage of lighters was the cause.
Two of his assistants were inefficient
and Indifferent to their duties.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-The war in.
vestigation commission devoted the
forenoon session to the examination OF
Secretary Algers statement and the
papers furnished by him in reply to
the commissions inquiries.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14.-Before the
investigating commission yesterday
Dr. Hoff, chief surgeon of the Third
corps at Chickamauga Park, said he
did not consider Camp Thomas in the
best sanitary condition, but as good as
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Men campcd too close together and
sinks could not be made deep enough
without blasting. The capacity of the
division hospital was often doubled
and trcbled. Shortage of medical sup
plies had continued for weeks, but
there was generally sufficient to meet
Immediate demands. Some reGuisi
tons had been returned from Wash
ington because improperly filed anG
this had caused suffering. He haG
heard complaints of deprivation
because of shortage of tents. Fol
several weeks the Second corps hos
pltal was so overcrowded it was fount
necessary to stop receiving patients
but this condition was relieved whcl
Sternberg hospital was completed.
The commission gave the remainder Of
the day to the reading of papers sub
United by Secretary Alger with his
statement concerning the conduct OF
the war.
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