Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-30


has kept his command IN oel'e' S""P'
than any of the others"
ole had the advantage Of artesian
wells" was suggested
"He had no advantage at ALL" retorteo
tho Secretary. sharply He simply dio
his duty. and looked after the health OF
his men as he should. He ordered the
adoption of certain simple SANITARY
regulations. and saw 10 1t tha'
thev were obeyed. The result wa
that he kept his great army
corns stationed as it was where on
would naturally expect disease 10 breah
out with only 2 per cent. Of his men SICK
while camps further north nave peei
overrun with disease.
Another example Of the ehectiNenesS
of nroper management in the prevention
If disease was shown ut Chickamausa,
In the Eighth Massachusetts,. Inc coiohSl
NJ that regiment looked after the heai,h
OF his men as Lee did after that Oh NE
corps The result was that he had oHly
twelve men sick and about the same mum
Der in hospital at the time this report
was made 10 me.
"These two commanders simply pro-
vided tubs for the use Of the men, anu
compeIled them to be used. During the
dav they were filed with lime, ana AT
night they were emptied. 1t was a simple
enough precaution. yet it was splendldy
effective
.eTbese camps were all in charge OF
ragtiIar army officers. 1t was part OF
their business 70 look after the heallh
OF the men; to report on the CONDITION
OF their camps, and to see that the men
had everything they needed IL anything
was wanted all that had to be zone was
10 ask for il. Yet there is nothing saiu
about these officers. To see the puDllc
prints one would suppose that inc oIuS
person TO be criticised was the Secretary
Of War"
"Win an investigation be ordered 10
fix the responsibility for the mlsihahase-
ment OF the camps?' the secretary was
asked
Will, LEAVE IT TO NKINLEY.
"That is something I have not decided
upon vet" was the reply. Il shall nave
TO consult the President about that.
II could not order an investigation
made now. II l did, the public would
cav that I was endeavoring TO throw
off some of the responsibility upon others
Rut I hone Congress will order an inves-
tioation. and hope IT will be thorough
one. l have nothing 10 fear from II.
"Did not the commanders Of the camps
report 10 you as 90 the condition OF their
menu"
yes. they reported that the men were
IN good condition, that they wanted Tor
nothing. and that each camp was ninety
located. 49,,
ct was not until the newspapers began
TO bring news as TO the real condition oil
things that the War Department knew
anything about 1t. A.
"Some people are disposed 10 hold the
surgeon-general personally responslpie'
They forget that the medical ofhcers IN
the camps do not report directly 10 the
encouragement. They report TO the
commanding officer OF the camp, ana ne
Is supposed 20 report 10 me. II the ineul-
cal officers ever made reports as 10 'he
Iock of supplies or the regularly increas-
ing sickness among the men new
hoard OF il until the newspaper reports
began telling it. Then ! sent speCi"'
hoard of medical officers 10 inquire
ir+o the situation. As soon as the facts
we're made known 10 me the most prompt
and energetic measures were taken 10
have the camps moved and to supply any
deficiencies that existed.
TRIBUTE TO SKATER.
"wbo Is responsible, Mr.. Secretary, for
ordering the advance on Santiago peloFe
supplies had been landed
general Shafter; and the country owes
1arco debt Of gratitude to him for hay
ing done so. II he had not ordered inc
advance we would have been there yet
diving I'm the trenches before the city.
general sumner General Wheeler
General Young. all told me personally
tbot the only thing that saved our army
and won the day was General Shalter
insistence upon making the advance while
our mon were strong and in good condi-
tion. II was the impetuosity of their at
tack that struck terror to the hearts OF
the Spanish. and finally caused them l.
yield.
IF they had waited until all the sup
rlios had been landed under the dllhcu!-
Ties which were encountered, the attack
would have been made i'm the midst n
the terrible storms which followed. and
our men would be in the trenches to-day,
diving more from the effects of the climate
than from Spanish bullets. There were
many hardships endured there. one Of
the victims OF them is now lying in the
next room sick. 1t is my own son. The
lighters that were sent were also lost,
untu finally one lighter that the navy had
Al Key West was safely conveyed DOM
there.
INV son told me that the rocky beach
In the neighb0rhoOd OF Santiago was
strewed with the wrecks Of boats smash
ed I'm the attempt TO land supplies before
that lighter came. For two or three days,
because of those difficulties. there was
some shortness Of supplies. Then. when
the bad weather came, the roads became
almost impossible Ny son, in his rawlings
Of delirium after he came homo, spoke
about these roads. such an impression
aid their condition make upon him.
But through all the difficulties the dash
and yigor displayed by Shafter and his
men so impressed the Spaniards that
u,hen the demand for surrender was
made. coupled with the promise that we
would send their soldiers home. they were
touched by the generosity and agreed
10 surrender II was l who made that sug-
gestion."
THE HORROR SHIPS.
"Who is responsible for the horror ships
Concho. Seneca. and the Mohawk"
"The Concho and the Seneca are an old
story now. l had an investigation made,
and 1t seems that the captains OF the
two ships made no requsition upon the
general for water. The
men crowded on board. apparently be-
lieyjng that it was their last chance 10
Get home. and the result was overcrowd-
ing far exceeding the supplies provided.
The result was deplorable. and no one re-
grets the condition Of the men on those
ships more than / do.
"Orders we're at once sent 70 prevent
any overcrowding in the future and so