Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-03
THE COHEN co.
TAMPA EMBARKATlON
THERE WAS THE GREATEST POS
sIBLE CONFUSION.
DISCRIMINATION JUST As BAD.
Preparation for Landing In CUBA
Not What 1t should Have beeh-
poor Provision for Sick i'm Camp
and on Transports.

WASHINGTON, November 2.-The Wal
Investigating Commission held session
here to-day for the purpose Of hearing
the testimony of Major Henry Romeyne
a retired army officer. He said that he
had asked at the beginning of the war
for a military assignment to go to the
front in his capacity as an officer, but II
was refused, and he then went as a cor
respondent of a weekly newspaper. His
testimony covered the embarkation of
the troops at Port Tampa and the cam
paign in Cuba. He said that when he
went to Port Tampa. the bank of the
canal there was covered with troops.
He had wanted TO go over with the Tenth
Infantry, which was his old regiment,
but no one could tell him where the
regiment was to be found, nor did any
one appear to know on what vessel any
of the particular troops were 10 embark.
There was great confusion, as con-
sequence of which a part of a command
would go on one vessel and part on an
other, and the commands were, in some
cases. separated from their stores. lie
had seen no order for the systematic en-
barkation of the troops. and he had
heard it said that they were told TO 50
aboard helter-skelter.
THE LANDING AT SANTIAGO.
When asked TO express an opinion as
to the preparati ton Tor decentralization
the witness hesitated, saying that TO do
SO would involve criticism of his super
iors. The commissioners insisted on a
reply. and Mr.. Romeyne said that the
preparation was not such as ii should
have BEEN i'm his opinion. He said that
the lack of surf boats was badly telt,
and the troops left the ships indiscrmi-
nately. parts going at one time and other
parts at other times.
He told OF the effort to tow two light
ers over TO Cuba but said that one was
lost, and that 1t was the general inn
preston that IL was lost on purpose, be-
cause II retarded the progress OF the
fleet In response TO a question from
General McCook, Major Romeyne said
that while II was difficult to land any
thing, ambulances and wagons could
have been landed as easily as he artil-
lery He had seen only..one ambulance
at the front In the battle of lei Caney,
and Il was not used for conveying the
wounded TO the rear.
THAT BALLOON.
Speaking OF other incidents Of this bat
tie, he said there was general surprise
ried at the head of the attacking column,
thus indicating 10 the Spaniards the Cx-
act location of the troops, but he did
not know at whose orders this had been
done
He said that the town Of Siboney was
without exception the dirtiest place he
had ever seen I'm his life, and that no
effort was made 10 clean ii up before the
fever broke out.
INVITATION TO YELLOW-FEVER.
There was scarcity OF proper food at
the fever hospitals, and the cooking was
generally poor. Any one in this hospital
was liable TO contract yellow fever He
had been a patient in the hospital. and
raid there had been no neglect OF patients
by the medical attendants at this
hospital. pr at the hospitals for the
wounded. He had known surgeons in the
latter hospitals TO work sixty hours with
out cessation.
why did not they have more sur
geons?" asked Colonel DENLY. The wit
ness said he could not answer.
POOR TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT.
Major Romeyne said he had cone back
convaleseent. with many other GONZALES
cents, on the Concho, and he criticised the
equipping OF that vessel In severe terms.
Many OF tho men were without blankets
or pillows, and with no covering at night
ektept the cotton uniform they wore
during the day. The water was offensive
10 both sight and smell" he said land
the food was poor and scanty, none being
s"vided especially for convaiescents