The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-05

was. more complaint of the shortage of
lncdlcine among the infantry than in the
cavalry arm of the service
THE CAMP AT TAMPA.
Going back to Tampa. he said that at the
season he was there. the first half OF June,
the site was without objection, but he had
felt that 1t would be wet later in the season.
It was his impression that Tampa had been
selected as camp site after the beginning
of the war, and was incidental to the in
tended move on Havana. There was, he
said, at times some shortage of supplies at
the camp. but nothing" he added, that
a soldier could complain Of" They had
comfortable tents and the commissary sup
plies were sufficient The water supply was
also good; He said the men in his command
were well taken care of. However. very
few men were at that time sick. He had
himself gone into the hospitals and had
found them doing well.'
General Whecier said he had no control
OF any Of the supplies which were taken
70 santiago on the transports when he left
Tampa This was attended to by the differ
ent staff officers. He only knew from con-
versation with these that there was an
abundance Of the supplies of all character.
Returning TO the Santiago campaign, he
said that only two regiments had reported
2 shortage Of rations, and he had imme-
diateiy telepnoned for aid, and their short
age was adjusted. There was suffering
Nnen the men we're compelled to lie on the
preastworks The meat was poor and they
snan no bread but bareback. They were
forced to live in the sun and water alter
nateiy, and necessarily there much
sickness While they had the full quota of
doctors and nurses. he thought that if more
mad been furnished the men would have
been better cared for. AS for rations, three
days supply was generally issued. When
ever the troops went into action they would
throw ther food away as well as their
packs, and they often did not recover them.
General Wheeler took up the common re-
port that the Cubans stole goods thus dis
accuse the natives. for there was 80 much
or TINS notsam and Jetsam that, hungry and
poorly clothed as the Cubans were, they
were not to be blamed for helping. them
selves. He said he had seen among the p, 900
people who came out of Santiago many
ladies of refinement who were emaciated
and evidently hungry.
MEDICAL SUPPLIES SHORT
In replay to questions. he stated he never
had heard of any shortage of commissary or
ordnance supplies at Santiago, but he had
been told that the medical supplies were
short, yet he had no personal knowledge on
this point He had seen some wounded men
crawling to the rear in the engagements, but
as a rule as soon as a man fell in battle he
was carried to the hospitals by the medical
corps. He said that as rule, the quality of
hard tack was good Where there was any
deterioration it was due to local rains. and
not to the fact of original inferiority. The
spirit of the army was SUCH he said, that
there was no disposition to complain.
Replying to question from Colonel Den
by General Wheeler said the regulars had
ruOWH greater dDlIlty 10 take care or
themselves than the volunteers. The volun-
GERS were more careless, but the volunteer
avalrymen were not so negligent as the
timer volunteers; they were generally West
srn men who had been used to. camping. He
thought this fact had had a strong infiu-
ence in causing the health of the regulars
10 be better than that of the volunteers
Captain Howell asked to what he attrib-
uted the development of disease after the
capitulation of Santiago, and Gen. Wheeler
replied that II due to the climate and
TO the exposure made necessary. All the
men seemed to be more or less affected
by the conditions. He had. he said. known
OF no instance of a sick or wounded man
dying from want of care from the physi-
clans. So far as he knew. there was gen.
eral commentator of the medical corps, ex-
ccpt that on one or two occasions there had
been some grumbling in regard to general
conditions. He thought there was a def
cheney in the number of ambuances, but
this deficiency was due to the exgencies of
General Wheeler also said in reply to
Captain Howell that he knew of no con-
fusion in shipping supplies from Tampa.
He was not acquainted with case in which
the body of vehicle was shipped on one
vessel and the wheels on another. His
memory was not distinct as to complaints
from physicians in his command as to the
scarcity of medical supplies, but he thought
there were some such complaints, and in
such cases he had them supplied as prompt
~ as possible. There had been difficulty in
getting the transports to lie as near in
shore as was desirable. rendering ii difficult
TO get at supplies promptly. In this con-
nection, General Wheeler revealed the fact
had been the fourth command ordered to be
landed, when l. ne thought his rank entitled
had given the order which thus affected him.
ON THE TRANSPORTS.
Speaking of the sleeping apartments of
the transports, General Wheeler said they
were quite warm and there was some dis
comfort. He had often gone down among
the men at night and found there was COM
paratively little complaint, except for the
heat Coming back from Santiago to Mon
tauk, he had sailed on the Miami having
chosen it because 1t was said to be the
worst. He had found ii very comfortable,
and when they landed there were only
thirty-four sick and only three or four of
ton. There was plenty of water on the
vessel and .suffciency of ice for the sick,
though not for others After the destruc-
ton of Cervera's fleet the army was more
abundantly supplied than any army in the
For the future he recommended that the
men should be kept off the ground and be
well sheltered from the rain by good tents.
TO transportation facilities, and as to med
ical and commissary supplies. He said in
reply to question, that the tents had been
left on board the transports so no time
should be consumed IN removing them. I'VE
were there for business" he said. and we
speedy movement to the front would ini.
press the enemy more than anything else
at this time of transportation facilities. The
deficiency OF transportation after the land
ing was the reason why the tents were not
brought up, why the siege guns were not
were not done.
After a recess General Wheeler devoted
his testimony chiefly to his experience at
Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point. The Pres
ident on giving him command there. had
ordered him TO spare no pains expense
TO make the men comfortable. He made
N examination Of the camp and found it
necessary to undertake much preparations
10 care Tor the men properly, to bore wells,
lay water pipes build launderies disinfect-
ing plants, get floors for the tents erect
hospitals, ETC. The surgeons at his re-
quest, had made list of special articles
to be purchased for the sick. This he had
asked them to do in obedience to the Pres
idents directions. The list included evapo-
rated fruits green corn in cans, sugar
cured hams. oat meal, fish, ice canned peas,
prunes. soups. pickles. lemons, oranges
eggs tea, milk and many other articles, in
addition to their regular rations. The peo-
pie came with many kinds of food '.and
undertake to say" he declared. that no
plies with necessaries or luxures''
POOR FACILITIES
The general location and the transnorta-
ton facilities OF the camp were poor There
was but one line of railroad. and that
single track. and without adequate terminal
facilities. The camp could he said, have
been supplied by water. but unfortunately
there was contract with the railroad COM
pany owning the land which gave IL the
control of all transportation. except that on
government transports This contract had
been made. he understood in return for
the use of the lana. He did not know who
had made the contract