Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-18
TALES ARE FICTION
Alleged Abuses in the Army Exist in the
Newspapers Only.
REPORTERS INSTRUCTED TO CRlTIClSe
War Investigating Commission Gets at the
Bottom Facts.
SUPPLIES ARE IN WASTEfUL ABUNDANCE
DR.. Forwood Furnishes Some Interesting
Testimony.
GENERAL YOUNG TURNS IN MORE LIGHT
Soldiers Are Cared For Better Than
in Any Previous War In
which the Country
Engaged.

WASHINGTON, Nov. THE War In
vestigating commission adjourned at 4
o'clock today to meet at the Fifth Avenue
hotel in New York at 10 O'Clock tomorrow
and General Dodge asked the Associated
Press to request witnesses who have mat
ters to bring to the attention Of the board
to report at that point. He stated in the
same connection that letters had been re-
ceivcd from about 100 persons In the vicinity
Of New York, but he said he did not know
whether all Of these would appear as wit
nesses.
After concluding the work in New York
the commission will proceed to Boston and
returning will stop at Philadelphia to make
certain Inquiries there. 1t Is also expected
that a number Of witnesses will be called
after the return to Washington and II the
commission does not go to Cuba some per-
sois there will be asked to come here.
Colonel DENLY win remain in Washington
while the other members Of the commission
are absent and will take the testimony Of
such persons as may ask to be heard.
Or. Forwood continued his testi-
mony before the War Investigating
commission today concerning condi-
tions at Mortauk 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 was not from fifty
to 500 vacant beds. Many of the patients
were sent away to hospitals in neighboring
cities, largely in response to public cfamor.
The patients taken away were largely ty-
phoid cases and were selected chiefly be-
cause it was believed not wise to allow
a~Ln nn-cS ~ u,,c.o@a no AEnntauly
Another reas1n was the necessity Of extend
ing the hcSsital accommodations. During
the first thirty days Of the history of the
camp, 5000 patients were treated ana 1t
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
considerable pumher of hospital corps men
VIII had be~eRAsgaiped N b post hospitals
before the, female nurses arrived. This was
limited training, but 1t rendered the men
much more ~ef1cient than they otherwise
would have been.
No Ease Originated in Camp.
DR.. Forwood said he had expected typhoid
fever would break out in the hospital. but
he never had expected that the troops would
remain there long enough to cause an cpl
demic of this disease. As 1t was, he did
not believe there had been a case originating
in Camp Wikoff.
He declared there had been a suficiency
of medicines and medical supplies at all
times-a wasteful abundance. In fact. From
first to last, during the history Of the camp,
ffty-four carloads were received. Notwith,
standing this fact, there was complaint OF
the scarcity Of medical supplies and medi-
cines due largely to the fact that doctors
often required proprietary medicines, which
were not kept on hand. No acquisitions
we're required In getting medicines.
DR. Conner read a letter from Major NJ,
w. Wood, a regular army surgeon, dated
at Montauk in August. complaining that
there was a pressing want of medical sup.
plies, and that the camp was In q deplorabls
condition.
DIR. Forwood said that DR.. Wood was dis
appointed because he did not get a leave
OF absence Immediately after arriving from
Cuba, which he had asked for notwithstand.
ing his services were needed and he wal
in good health. General Wheeler had re-
fused to grant this request. From tina
time said DR.. Forwood. 'he was con
stantly kicking and bucking. He was dis
gruntled and d~isloyal. and found fault will
everything. For instance, he said the wei
water was polluted. declaring he would no
take a drink Of 1t for So"
A dispatch was read from General Wheeler
saying that DR.. Wood had failed to secur,
medicines only because he had not sent To-
them.
Or. Forwood declared that the complaint
concerning the purity Of the water at Mon
tauk had originated with men who hat
filters and distilling apparatus for sale. TIL
water was pure and plentiful. He said tn
.a..DArttA font1ttiaa nf tho nor
poor. and that often the vessels receive,
were not complete In their equipment
The witness said he had annulled the con
tracts of two or three contract surgeon
because Of incompetency. but he knew Of n,
case OF neglect on the part Of physician
OF a character to compromise the welfare o
the patients.
Dr. Forwood said many physicians has
come to the camp at the instance Of tn
newspapers, generally for a compensation
Of $50. Among these was DR.. Lee, who wal
q personal friend Of his, and he had toll
the doctor to look the camp over and criti
cize whenever he found 1t necessary. Thu
doctor had written his ~erticle, making part
Of It fattering, but he was much disguised
after the appearance of the matter to fn'
that all the complimentary portions OF 1t ha
been expunged.
kitchens In Expert Hands.
Or. Edson's predictions rs to the CAM
had not been realized. DIR. Simpson ha'
spoken of the conduct Of the kitchens. A
q matter Of fact the kitchens were In tn
most expert hands Miss Helen Gould ha'
supplied a number Of chefs, and most O
them were from the kitchens Of the wealth
lest people Of New York City. He ha'
talked with one of them who had been will
W. II. Vanderbilt for more than three years
Al . matter Of fact the hospitals wer
never so abundantly supplied. The arm
ratlons were supplemented by everything
shat could be found In the larder Of tn
Waldorf Astoria. including roast turkey
pheasants, squads, lambs. sheep, pigs, gam
OF all kinds. pate de foie gras, minera
waters. the finest champagnes and liquors
At one line he had noticed eight barrels Q
brandy. and a large number OF cases o
wine. There was SO much Apollinaris waite
that II was in the way and when a nurs
came for q bottle they would offer her
case.
He said the newspaper men at the cam