Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-05
WHAT WHEELER SAYS.
The ThsSaniagoCanpaign andCon-
ditions at Camp Wikof'
GENERAL SHAFTER PRAISED.
He Did His Utmost 10 Protect His Men,
the Albanian Thinks.
THERE WAS SOME FEELING.
"Ffghtingv Joe" Didn't Like BEING
Given Fourth Place in Landing on
Cuban soiI-Army Was Abundantiy
suppIied-wikon n Mode
THERE WAS SOME FEELING


War Investigating Commission began the
taking OF testimony to-day, and MAJOR
General Joseph Wheeler was on the staho
tbe greater part OF the day. There was
a ful attendance of the commission, ana
the doors of the room in which the IN
quiry is being conducted were Tor 'he
first time opened to representatives. ol
| the press.
General Wheeler's testimony covered
| the case of the soldiers at the two I'M
portant points Of Santiago and NlKoh'
| He said. with reference to the conduct
| of affairs at Santiago, that there had ne
| cessarily been some suffering In the
| trenches. but that General Shafter mad
exercised the utmost effort to protect mis-
! men. There had been, he said. a snort
| age of land transportation facilities for
| n time. and there had been no tents Tor
| a week, and the roads were very ia'r'
| He revealed for the first time that ne
had had some feeling over the fact that
| his command had been given the fourth
| Mace in General Skaters order for the
| landing at Santiago, when he had thought
| he was entitled to be allowed to land
| first on account of his rank.
| Discussing the plan of the Santiago
| campaign he said he doubted whether
more effective plan could have peen
adopted.
| MEDICAL DEPARTMENT..
Speaking of the medical department,
|
| plants. bur that they were not serious.
| On occasions there was a shortage OF sur
eeons. some of the surgeons being sick
| or wounded According 10 General
Wheelers belief, the wounded in battle
were promptly cared for by the sur
geons After the fight Of July lst all
the wounded were carried from the field
| that night. The witness had heard that
there was more complaint of the short
age of medicines among the infantry than
in the cavalry arm Of the service.
Going back to Tampa, he said that at
the season he was there the first half Of
June. the site was without objection, hut
he had felt that II would be wet later in
the season.
There was" he said. ''at times a short
age of supplies at the camp, but no
thing" he added, that soldier could
complain Of"
General Wheeler said he had no control
over any of the supplies which were
taken TO Santiago on the transports when
he left Tampa. This was attended to by
the different staff officers He only knew
from conversation with these that there
was an abundance Of supplies Of all cha
racter.
SANTIAGO SUFFERING.
Returning TO the Santiago campaign,
he said that only two regiments had re-
, ported shortage of rations, and he had
Immediately teephoned to the rear and
the shortage which was due to accident,
, had been adjusted. There was suffering
| when the men were compelled to lie in
the breastworks. The meat was poor.
and they had no bread but hardtack.
They were forced to lie in the sun and
5 water alternately, and necessarily, there
was much sickness. While they had the
full quota Of doctors and nurses, he
/ thought that II more had been furnished,
the men would have been better cared
[ for. As for rations, three days supplies
were generally issued. Whenever the
=. troops went into action they would throw
: their food away, as well as their packs,
and they often did not recover them.
+; In reply to questions. he stated he
- never had heard of any shortage of COM
missary or ordnance supplies at Santiago.
but he had been told that the medical
supplies were short. Yet he had no per-
= | sonal knowledge on this point. He had
= | seen some wounded men crawling to the
rear in the engagements but as a rule.
, after a man fell in battle he was carried
a to the hospital by the medical corps.
: He said that, as a rule the quality Of
h the hardtack was good Where there was
. any deterioration, it was due to local
! rains, and not TO the fact OF original in
ferority.
r n NO DISPOSITION TO COMPLAIN.
J, The spirit of the army was such, he said
/ | that there was no disposition TO complain
u They were all proud 10 be there, and will
: ing to undergo the hardships.
Replying TO a question from Colone
9 DENLY. General Wheeler said the regular
had shown greater ability to take car
4 of themselves than the volunteers.
n Captain Howell asked 10 what ne at
t tributed the development of disease afte
= the capitulation of Santiago, and Genera
d Wheeler replied that IL was due TO tn
e climate and 10 the exposure made neces
sary. He had. he said, known of no in
n stance of q sick or wounded man dying
u from want of care on the part of tn
Fl physicians SO FAR as ne knew, there wa
n general commendation OF the medica
8 corps. except that on one or two occa
II sions there had been some grumbling i
- regard to the general conditions.
l. He thought there was deficiency 1
n the number of ambuances. but this de
Is fcIency was due to the exigencies OF tn
II campaign.
t General Wheeler also said In reply
l. captain Howell that he knew OF no cor
lie fusion In the shipping OF supplies froi
p Tampa. His memory was not distinct a
q 20 complaints from physicians in his CON
lc mand as TO the scarcity OF medical sur
lie niles. but he thought there were som
r such complaints. and In such cases
ordered the supplies furnished as prompt
as possible.
r TRANSPORTS AND THE SICK.
G There had been difficulty in getting III
>. transports as near inshore as desirabl
10 rendering II difiicult to get at supple
+ promptly. The masters OF the transport
Claimed TO have their authority from II
ouartermasters Department but