Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-08-13
OFFICIALS WILL Be
ON THE CARPET
That Is Where Certain Generals
viii Be After the War
Is Over,
RELATING TO SANTIAGO SCANDAL
Some One Must Be Punished for
the Suffering of the Army
There.
RELATING TO SANTIAGO SCANDAL
SKATER WILL HAVE TO ANSWER
His Willingness TO Take the Blame
as Well as the Glory May
Make Him Some
Trouble.

Washington, Aug. s.-There are
likely to be a rumber of sensational
court martial trials growing out of
the conduct of affairs In Santiago, and
some one will undoubtedly be brought
TO book with u found turn. 1t has
been known at the outset that the
troops under Geheral Shafter were
suffering terribly from the ravages of
climatic ~fevers, put when it was as
serted upon Hsgsrmation which came
from the province ten days ago that
| 25 per cent of the army were in hospi-
tails, the authorities of the war de-
partment promptly denied the state
mcnt as vicious and misleading.
The president was naturally as
founded when he read Roosevelt's
| statement in the evening papers, in
which the leader of the rough riders
declares that not more than 10 per
cent of The entire force are fit for
duty. TEat such a state of affairs
should be allowed to exist caused the
president the keenest alarm, and he
promptly called upon the secretary Of
war, the quartermaster general and
the medical department of the army
to take immediate steps to relieve the
terrible sufferings of the men who
did such gallant work in southern
Cuba.
But it will go beyond this. The
president feels that "some one has
b%lundercd." lie proposes to find out
who this some one is and to mete out
punishment in accordance with the
crime, for it is nothing less than n
crime that 90 per cent of the army
should be suffering as the men in Cuba
nre suffering today. The great major
ity of these troops are seasoned sol
lliers, accustomed to all sorts of hard
ships and TO the least possible medical
attention, and yet il appears they
have fallen in their tracks as though
struck by a pestilence. 1t is feared
that the whole story Of incompetence
| md negligence has not been told, and
hat the general officers who signed
The round robin addressed to General
Bhaftcr withheld many facts which
might have reflected upon officers
.hargeable with their well being.
1t is said, for instance, that the med
ical stores which were sent to Santi-
ago arc such as might have been suit
able for an army forty years ago, but
which are practically useless in the
practice Of modern medicine. While
great stress HAS been laid by the med
.cai departuAt upon the w"ordcr'o
success or fnefUHtfscptic treatment of
gunhot wounds, this department &P-
pears to have paid more attention to
the science Of surgery than TO the art
OF medicine.
Bat one good thing will come out of
the revelations made in the dispatches
from Santiago. The troops which are
liable to have their number cut in two
through the rdyages Of fever, accord
ing to Colonel Roosevelt, will be
moved Immediately To the north, and
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn will
he kept more busy than ever in secur-
ing transports TO hasten them to the
salubrious climate OF Long island,
where it is intended now to bring
them with the least possible delay.
But the revelations will certainly lead
to a congressional Investigation, and
it is reported that Chairman Hull of
the military affairs committee is at the
present moment gathering data upon
which to base inquiries which will be
instituted just as soon as congress
meets.