The record-union., 1898-11-18

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE war
Investigation Commission adjourned at
4 O'Clock to-day to meet at the Firth
Avenue Hotel in New York at ~
O'Clock tomorrow After concluding
the work in New York the commission
will proceed to Boston, and, returning,
will stop at Philadelphia to make GER
tain INQUIRIES there. 1t is also expect
ed that a number of witnesses Will De
called after the return to Washington,
and if the commission does not go 10
Cuba some persons there will be asked
to come here Colonel DENLY VIII re-
main in Washington while the other
members of the commission are absent,
and will take the testimony or such
persons as may ask to be heard
DIR. Forwood continued his testimony
before the commission to-day concern
ing conditions at Montauk Point, where
he was Chief Army Surgeon. He sad
that from the beginning 10 the END or
the history of the general hospital at
Camp Wikoff, there was never time
when there was not from fifty to oO0
vacant beds Many patients were sent
away 10 hospitals in neighboring cities,
largely in response to public clamor.
The patients taken away were largely
typhoid cases, and were selected care
fully, because it was believed not wise
TO allow typhoid cases to accumulate at
Montauk Another reason was the
necessity Of extending the hospital ac-
commodations. During the first thirty
days of the history Of the camp 5000
patients were treated, and it would
have been out of the question to take
care of them all in the camp hospitals.
Speaking Of the nurses he said there
was a considerable number of hospital
corps men who had been trained in
the post hospitals before the female
nurses arrived. This was limited
training but it rendered the men much
more efficient than they otherwise
would have been.
DR. Forwood said that he had ex-
pected typhoid fever would break out in
the hospital. but he never had expect
ed that the troops would remain there
long enough to cause an epidemic of
this disease AS it was, he did not
believe there had been case originate
ing in Camp Wikoff He declared there
had been a sufficiency of medicines and
medical supplies at all times-a waste
fui abundance in fact.
DR. Conner read a letter from Major
w. NJ Wood, a regular army surgeon,
dated at Montauk in August, complain
ing that there was pressing want of
medicines, and that the camp was in a
deplora BILE condition.
DR. Forwood said that Dr. Wood was
disappointed because he did not get a
leave of absence Immediately after ar
irving from Cuba, which he had asked
for. Notwithstanding his services were
needed and he was in good physical
condition. General Wheeler had re-
fused to grant this request
From that time" said DR.. Forwood,
''he was constantly kicking and buck
ing. He was diSgruntled and disloyal,
and found fault with everything For
instance, he said the well water was
polluted, declaring he WOULD not take
a drink of it for So"
A dispatch was read from General
Wheeler saying that DR.. Wood had
failed to secure medicines only because
he had not sent for them
DR.. Simpson had spoken of the con-
duct of the kitchens. AS a matter of
fact the kitchens were in the most
expert hands. Miss Helen Gould had
supplied a number of chefs, and most
of these were from the kitchens of the
most wealthy people of New>York. He
had talked with one of them, who had
been with w. II. Vanderbilt for more
than three years. AS a matter of fact
the hospitals were never so abundantly
supplied. The army rations were sup
plemented by everything that could be
found in the harder of the Waldorf
Astoria, including roast turkey, pleas
ants, squads, lambs, sheep, pigs, game
of all kinds, pate de fol gras, mineral