The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-18
DEFENSE Of hONTAUK
Sick Volunteers Were Fairly Over
whelmed BY LuxurieS.
CHIEF SURGEONS STORY
DESCRIBED TEE CAMP AS A SOL
DIERS' PA1ADISE.
People Who Criticised Things Were
Disgruntled and Disloya1 Kickers
General Young's Interesting
Account of the Santiago Campaign
Soldiers Liked to Be Babied.


Washington, Nov. 1.-THE war inves-
tigating commission adjourned at 4
O'Clock today to meet at the Fifth Ave
nue. hotel in New York at 10 o'clock
tomorrow. After concluding the work
in New York the commission win pro-
coed to Boston, and returning, will stop
at Philadelphia to make certain inquir-
les there. 1t is also expected that a
number Of witnesses will be called af-
ter the return to Washington, and if
the commission does not go to Cuba,
some persons there will be asked to
come here. Colonel DENLY viii remain
in Washington while the other mem
beers of the commission are absent, and
viii take the testimony of such per-
sons as may ask to be heard.
DR.. Forwood continued his testimony
before the commission today concern
ing conditions at Montauk Point, where
he was chief army surgeon.
He said that from the beginning to
the end of the history Of the general
hospital at Camp Wikoff, there was
never a time when there were not from
so to 500 vacant beds
Many patients were sent away to
hospitals in neighboring cities, largely
in response to public clamor The pa
tents taken away were largely typhoid
cases. and were selected Chiefly be-
cause it was believed not wise to allow
typhoid cases to accumulate at Mon
taull He declared there had been a
suflciency of medicines and medical
supplies at all times-a wasteful
abundance, in fact. From first to last
during the history Of the camp, fifty
four carloads were received. Notwith-
or l.ai
OF the scarcity of medical supplies and
medicines due largely to the fact that
the doctors often required proprietary
medicines, which were not kept on
hand. No acquisitions were required in
getting medicine.
Or. Conner read a, letter from Major
w. NJ Wood, a regular army surgeon,
dated at Montauk in August, complain
ing that there was a pressing want of
medical supplies, and that the camp
was in deplorable condition. DR..
Forwood said that Dr. Wood was dis
appointed 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.
a DIsLOYAL KICKER.
From that time.' said Dr. Forwood,
''he was constantly kicking and buck
ing. He was disgrEntled and disloyal,
and found fault with everything. For
instance, he said the we'll water was
polluted, declaring he would not take a
drink of it for So.
DR.. Forwood said many physicians
had come to the camp at the instance
Of the newspapers, generally for a COM
pensation of $50 Among these was DR..
%,.s.,, i T,fr-
and he told the doctor to look the camp
over and criticise whenever he found
occasion for criticism. The doctor had
written his article, making parts Of 1t
very fiatterilg, but he was very much
disguised after the appearance of the
matter to find that all the compliment
+, tary portion of it had been expunged.
The army rations were supplemented
by everything that could be found in
the larder of the Waldorf-Astoria, in
Guiding roast turkey, pheasants,
squads, lambs, sheep, pigs, game Of all
kinds, pate de foigraS, mineral waters.
the finest champagnes and liquors. AZ
one time he had noticed eight barrels
of brandy and large number Of cases
of wine. There was so much Appolin-
arts water that it was in the way, and
when a nurse came for a bottle they
would offer her q. case. He said the
newspaper men at the camp were gen
tlemen, but they appeared to be under
orders to criticise the camp. He knew
of two instances when the reporters
had received orders to roast every
thing" He had told them not to spare
where they found criticism justified.
In conclusion, Dr. Forwood said that
many patients who had been removed
by their friends had often died, and
that in many instances their deaths
were due to the kindness of friends who
had taken them in charge.
GENERAL YOUNG TESTIFIES.
Major General S. B. Young was be-
fore the commission at its afternoon
session, relating in detail his experience
at Santiago and vicinity and after
wards at Montauk. He said he had
landed at Baiquiri on the 1st of June,
and that by the morning of the 23rd
his entire brigade had been put ashore.
He had notified General Wheeler i'm
mediately and had received orders to
move on four or five miles and secure
a good camp. lie accordingly had
pushed on to Sihoney. He had asked
Wheeler where the good camping
5ground was, and he had replied that
Athe Spaniards occupied it. Il them
.faid General Young, asked permission
( 70 go out and see the ground to which
General Wheeler assented."
In accordance with this arrangement,
he moved out at o'clock next morn
ing to fight the battle of La Quasima,
sending the volunteers, the rough
riders, by one road, and the regulars
going by another. He declared that
there was no surprise in this fight, and
no ambuscade, as had been reported.
He had reconnoitered the Spanish camp
within half an hour before the fight
had begun, and he had attacked the
Spaniards, and not the Spaniards him.
Speaking of the rough riders, he said
there had been no greater percentage
of casualties among them than among
the regulars, and that they were not
led into any situation not to be ex-
pecteG in war.
1.-THE report that they were allowed
to be .ambuscaded was due" he said.
entirely to the demoralized reporter
and the demoralized adjutant of the
regiment, who had left the service soon
afterwards"
General Young said he had occupied
the enemy's camp that date, land it
was very good camp he added,
naively.
In reply to a question as to what aid
he had secured from the Cubans in
this fight, he replied none whatever.
The Cuban guides had deserted him
upon the first fire. General Castillo. on
the night before, had told him that he
would send 500 Cubans with him. but
when the next morning came and he
sent to notify Castillo that he was
prepared tc proceed, his messenger
found a card OF the Cuban command
er's door, saying that he must not be
\ disturbed He had, therefore. proceed
ed without the Cubars. After the fight
was over, however, some of the Gu
bans had come up, under the command
of Frenchman, who saluted very
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