New-York tribune., 1898-11-05
GEN. LAWTON A WITNESS
TESTIMONY REGARDING THE SANTIAGO
CAMPAIGN GIVEN.
HE SAYS NO SERIOUS MISTAKES WERE MApl
AND NO UNAVOIDABLE HARDsHrPs


WERE SUFFERED
Washington. Nov. 4-Acting for the War Depart
ment investigating Commission. Colonel DENLY hat
taken the testimony Of General Lawton. who was
in command of the Second Division OF the Frfth
Corps In the Santiago campaign and has recentlJ
been relieved ot the command Of the Department o
Santiago. His narration began with the embark@
tion OF the troops at Tampa. Speaking OF thu
voyage he said the transports were furnished NJ
well a. could be expected they were not troop
ships The medical and commis.ary supplies vert
sufficient 10 prevent absolute discomfort. There
some confusion owing to misunderstanding oi
orders bat he dd not believe that any real hardship
had been occasoned.
After giving particulars Of the landing Genera
Iaw,on described his march 20 Siboney. referred u
the battle OF la Quasina and told how he pushes
forward toward FL Caney and prepared for the night
there. He said that tho morning before tht
beginning Of the ba,ie after having laid his plant
before General Shsfer he rode with his brigade
comman nders the ground pointing out to eacs
OF them the position no 10 occupy. Referring
10 the result Of the battle AZ FL Caney. he said: y
had received very imperative orders TO move 10 M
left. to the right Of General Wheelers command
but my situation was such that IT impractt
cable for me 10 leave FL Csney until ! had captured
H..
General Iawton said hts division lost 80 mes
killed and wounded and tina, all the wounded had
been accounted for. This remark uas brought
out by the suggestion from Colonel DENLY that
statement had been made 10 the effect that soms
of the wounded soldiers wandered into the wootk
and were never seen again II never heard thai
before" General Iawton said "An the vound<
were accounted for. and they were al taken ID
the hospitals" There amhnlances. but
some lrters-hoW many h" did not know.
knowing there was 70 he hght Row hd \
happen tha, you did not have enough lite-s. enough
surgeons and the proper hospital corps'' Coions
DENLY asked
We'll. | cannot say there were not enough
General Lavton replied
| How do you account FOR The fact that medical
men did not provide themselves with everything
necessary for taking of he wounded|'
| "r think they did provide themselves vith every
| thing they thought necessary. considering the ma
| teria they had to choose from There nt
| time to do more or ge, more surgeons than w
had They distributed N their various com
| manis"
| General Lawton said that vhne II diffcult q
| get supplies the ren while they were IN tht
| trenches from july 10 July l. he thought th
| quantity was sufficient. There mad been s,cip
ness worth mentioning until after the campaign
| There had hecn tents except tho shelter tent
which had until just before the embarkatiot
| for the United States
Asked where he fixed the responsibility FOR nd
| having the tents there General Lawton replied: =
| don't fx il at ALL because don't think there WI
without tents because Of the fact that IT was i'm
possible 70 unload them from the ships for lack II
| facilities II is difficult matter IN unload . shti
| in rough sea. There very little complaint
on account of the tents. Complaints did not conn
| to me-. and was with nv mon constantly. THAI
| they should have 10 lie out they dh =
the contingencies absolutely necessary I'm the con
duct of the war"
| II was true reported. he said. that men had q
| their shirts for possibly thirty days without
| a change but this was because they had throvf
away their extra clothing
He held the climate responsible for the sicknesi
that followed the campaign. though i was possioll
that with more appropriate food better COOKING
| and shelter some ~ the sickness might have oeci
| prevented He had. he said remained IN Santiag.
! until about weeks ago and while the heal
| conditions were now improving. there had beet
| much suffering among the soldiers left there y
Is my opinion" he eaid. THAT any one going IRON
| this climate Cuba will have 70 suffer the ao
ciimatizing fever there. doubt IL per cent have
| escaped absolutely"
| Replying to question 10 whether the Nav,
should not have control OF the transports ne saih
| mo. indeed"
you think that tn. Army ought to have contro
| OF them"
| while they acting together colonel Denol
| asked. and the reply was: Ihey wont ac' 70
| gether That is where make nv point. TIVE
| men cannot command the same anar -.
| Summing I'D General Iawton sad: raging me
| to face the character of the country. us chmati
J and other things being considered. can say thet'
| we're no serious or gross mistakes made car
| say there vas no lack OF care on the part or an.
| Of those In authority. whose duty y was 70 Ioo'
| after the interests OF the camp We had With III
as fine officers as there are in the world: no oette
| could be found. These men worked night ana Gay
| and no human being could 10 more than they.