Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-24
SKATER IS BLAMED.
Col. Jacobs States That he Was Or
dered Not to Take Ambulances.
The ENBARKA1lOy At TAMPA, FLA.


Washington. Nov. l7.-Dr La Gar
yesterday gave his testimony befor
the war investigation commission con
corning the conduct Of the war from
medical point Of view. He spoke frs
Of the yellow fever hospital at Siboney
which was under his charge In gen
ersl way. DIR. La Gard expressed tn,
opinion that II the soldiers had beer
fully equipped there would have beer
less sickness among them, and HI
thought that much OF the trouble wa,
due to the fact that the soldiers were
compelled to lie on the ground with
out cover.
Col. j. W. Jacobs, who was chief
quartermaster OF the Fifth corps at
Tampa and in Cuba, testified that
Gen. Humphrey had been in charge OF
the embarkation OF the troops at
Tampa and that no order specifying
what vessels they were to occupy was
issued. In reply to q question from
Gov. Beaver, he said the EN- narkation
had been haphazard affair-"de-
cidedly So" He also thought there
was great deficiency in the provisions
for Decentralization, as only two light.
ers were provided and one OF those was
lost on the way over
Col. Jacobs had charge Of the trans
portation facilities at Santiago and
he expressed the opinion that there
was not sufficient number Of wagons.
He thought there should have been at
least one wagon to each troop and
company, in addition to those at head
quarters. Gen. Skaters first orders
had been to take only so wagons.
When Gen. Miles went to Tampa he
doubled the number; but even this or.
der did not secure sufficient number.
He knew no reason for not sending
more, except that there was no means
Of getting them from Tampa to San.
tiago.
Gen. McCook developed quite an ami.
mated episode by asking II there was
any reason why the cooking utensils
and camp equipage Of the troops
should not have been forwarded from
BAiquiri to the troops in the field.
'There was no reason" COL Jacobs
replied, except that Gen. Skaters
order forbade" Continuing. he said
that the order was most positive 1t
did not specify what should not be
forwarded, but was most specific in
providing that only forage and rations
should be forwarded. Gen. Skaters
orders to this effect were written, and
the general had given him strict ver-
bal instructions to see that the orders
were observed. Food had been sent
to the front cooked, but he thought
the men should have had some facili.
ties for cooking. The order had never
been changed during the month he
remained at Baiquiri.
DR.. Conner asked whether orders
had been given to leave all the hospi.
tai equipments behind at Tampa, and
Col. Jacobs responded that " was his
Impression that such was the case.
He had personal knowledge that Gen.
Dhafter had given such on order con.
corning the ambulances. Ut was OK.
pccted that there would be an engage.
ncnt, was it notw asked the doctor.
Certainly" replied the colonel "We
went down there to fight" "Then
should there not have been some pro.
vision for taking care Of the woundedP"
IL should say that these things should
have been taken along" "Then,' con.
tinued DIR, Conner, "the medical do.
partment was left in the air and the
quartermaster's department is respon-
sible." 1.-THE quartermaster's depart. /
ment could not have been responsible.
We were acting under orders. will
swear that Gen. Shafter told me not to
take the ambulances, though | do not
recall that there were any distinct or.
ders in regard to hospital equip.
ments"
Gen. Dodge announced at the close
OF the session that the commission
would leave here at II o'clock Thurs
day for New York. While in that city
the Fifth Avenue hotel would be thek
headquarters and meetings will be held
there, the first beginning Friday, at
ten o'clock