Evening star., 1898-12-16

a warriors inscription but no name En-
Phasizing this need he showed drawings
and photos of graves of men buried In
Cuba in July last. When in August.
month after, he searched he found many
graves almost hidden from ght by the un-
dergrowth and flowers, that grow with
amazing rapldity in short period OF tlfne'
Opposition of the Medical Corps.
He advocated the making and use by the
government of sectional burial boxes solely
in the interest Of civilized interment. In
Santiago. when he reached there July -,
there was a dearth of everything needed,
but this was soon remedied The medical
corps opposed the work Of the relief asso-
citation. but was forced to cease its opposi-
ton in view of the spread OF yellow fever,
as had been predicted Dy the association,
and for which it had mace for itself ample
provision. With such aIge body Of men
and under such conditions il was inevitable
that blunders would occur. He proudly re
feTred 10 the fact that the rtliel aSS0Cla-
tiun's supplies were to be had for the ask
ing and without the necessity OF an ac-
counting.
He said the diffiruty with the medical
corps was that the chief surgeons were
charged with clerical duties which seriously
interfered with their active work in hospi-
tails. He denounced routine and red tape
methods and offered a number of sugges-
tions for changes. Referring 10 conditions
amcng the men sent from Cuba to the hos
piJal transports he sad:
of course. when they left Cuba it was
aS hot a h
A laugh from the commission stopped
him. but he quietly resumed:
We'll, II was hot IN Cuba Then he
stated that on the ocean a great many at
moSFheriC changes were sure to be encOun-
tered. A transport would pass from
warm low temp pera ture INTO a higher colder
one On the ship he returned in he and
private were the only ones with overcoats
Everybody else was snI. ering. and such
a state was likely TO be almost 1atal 10
very sick men and often to conVaiescents.
He thought every man should have had an
OvercOat. Asked if the government could
have provided canned mk and soups on
these hospital ships he said ii could, but
did not. He COuId not state why. He
plained that criticism of captains of yes
seIs was wrong. They were obliged to buy
food for their officers. crew and passengers.
They ,iu not and could not be expected to
prc vide TO the soldiers. That was some
thing which should have been foreseen and
provided against by the government.
Cause of Criticism.
General Brooke continued on the stand
at the afternoon SESSION. and, after The
Stars 5 report closed stated that he thought
he had an efficient staff at Chickamauga.
Dr. Huidekoper, VINO had been subject to
severe adverse criticism before the COM
mission and elsewhere, he considered one
of the best examples of the volunteer med
icaI officer. lie had been criticised because
he carried out distdsteIul orders. The food
furnished to his command IN Porto Rico,
General Brooke said, was of exec cent quail
ity. The hospitals at Camp Thomas he oc-
CaSiDnally walked through, buL as d RUE
he did not disturb the men by personal Wis
its. The only hospital ne ever seriously
criticised was the lst DIVISION hospital es-
tabisned by Colonel Hartsuff.
In Porto Rico, Genera Brooke said, at
one time, with between 1I.UH and 1900
men. he had a sick list of 100. When he
left the is and the sick list was down to
from 2-A TO 80 Regarding Co.Onel Hart
Suff's statement that part of the sickness
1T Camp Thomas due To drills before
breakfast General Brooke said ne never is
sued any such order. He said the men 5
visits to the negnhOring towns were most
demOraliZins and were finally much re-
stTlcted. in fact, they had too little work
not too much
As to DIR. Hartstuf.
General Brooke said there were numer-
Gus complaints as to DR.. Hartsuff's admin
istratioH Of the hospitals. and he CBrooke)
was forced repeatedly to take cognizance of
them.
General Brooke denied that he had a any
time taken away the control of the division
hospito.s from the division commander
Dr. Conner taking up the inquiry, asked
whether official proceedings had ever been
had against any hospltal Official for NAL
administration.
General Brooke-'I never heard any NAL
administration alleged"
DR.. Conncr--'CeneraI, as a matter of fact
the condition of the 5u Division hospital at
least was abominabie.
General BroOke-'Do you make that
statement upon personal knowledge or on
iufnrmJtiOn?
Dr. Conner make it upon multitude
Of testimony, ali of which goes to show
that the hospital was in a continual tGr-
moii fpT lack of nurses, medicine and at
tendance anu from OveCcTUwdins.
General Eruoke-"Tncre was 4 lack of
medicine from time 10 time, but the matter
was brought to the attention u the depart
m-ut ul- II PROMPTLY"
General Eroohe said that in mob:lizing
troops i'll tre future they should rc fully
equipped at Tho points where they are saith
cred, RI her than masSed and aEen equipped
aft"rWaii- lie had already advised the
Is ar b-Etrtmcut that for the tropics the
rice and hpn-ny and sugar ration shcdld ne
increased fGd the meat ration decreased.
Dried or eyaporated fruit .'Iould be g.l Ell
in Hers Of other things The ration now
was r tner too .arge tnau too mail.