Evening star., 1898-12-10
Major Havard Before the War In
vestigating Commission.
DIFFICULTY IN LANDING SUPPLIES
Efforts to Fix the Responsibility
For 1t.
IN s PECT1NG TRANSPORTS

4
in session in the Lemon building this morn
ing. DR.. Conner was the first cf the COM
| mission to examine the witness
| Maj. Havard stated that he had been sta
| TONED at Tampa chief surgeon of the
| cavalry division. and he related the prepa-
rations he had made for the medical euuip-
ment of the Shafter expedition to Cuba.
! When he went to Cuba he took nearly all
the medical supplies ne had at Tampa
! Was there enough TO satisfy any demand
! that might be reasonably expected to be
made during two weeks?"
Yes, sir"
| you to Cuba?'
Yes. sir"
| Maj. Havard stated that not all the medl-
cal supplies were landed at the time the
cavalry went ashore. His stores were not
on one transport, but were scattered about
among the various regiments.
Difficulty in Landing suppIIcs
He arrived on the transport Alleghany.
and as soon as he reached land he hastened
to the front as battle was impending. He
LETT instructions that the supplies we're 20
| be put ashore at once and hastened 10 the
field of action.
He had a sufficient supply for all immedi-
ate and necessary purposes when he went
establish hospitals.
DO You know if there was any such lack
as to endanger the health and lives OF those
men OF The cavalry who came under your
Care?"
NO. sir"
He responded to an inquiry by stating
that ne Knew Capt. Mckay who had
! something 10 do with transportation at ST.
| honey when he reached there.
W ere you or your representative pro-
vIded with rowboat. steam tug. lighter
and other transports bearing medical sup
pies?'
Il had but one boat"
lis st, or Is il not. q fact that there was
always on that shore officer or some one
connected with the quartermastar's de-
partment who was ready at any time day
or night, to bring medical supplies ashore
from the transporter"
Il cannot say"
Did you have any difficulty In getting
your supplies shore?'
Il had great difficulty"
Did you make all reasonable effort with
the proper authorities to have It done2"
L did.
And you failed?"
81 did"
Ibid you have enough supplies for the
cavalry in case a fight took place? As a
matter of fact fight did take place. Were
there enough supplies?'
There was surticency."
Was there sufficient number of medi-
cal officers at the division hospital after
the fiEht?"
Yes sir
Maj Havard stated that the surgeons be-
came completely worn out by the continuous
strain. When they landed fight was eN-
pected, and precautions had been taken. He
had but one medical man to each cavalry
regiment. When at Tampa he did not
know officially till just before starting that
they were to go to Santiago. He knew that
they Were TO go somew here, and that there
was likely TO be fighting, in which men
U9llIJ he killed wounded
Gen. DodSc-"Ceryera 5 fleet was in the
harbor of Santiago then?"
Wtness-"Yes, sir"
Gen. Dodge-'Didn't YOU know the CNpc-
diton was to go against him?"
Witness-"Not officially; no, sir.
Too Few Surgeons.
DR.. Conner-''Would it not have been bet
ter to have a larger number of medical
officers with the expedition"
Mai. Hayard-''I think So"
DIR. COnner-''Is II not a fact that one sur
geon with regiment is not enough for SER
vice in the ficld?'
Witness-'Ies. sir"
DR.. Conner-"Isnt it a fact that at the
time Of the fight there were a number OF
Instances where one surgeon had to look
after number of regtments?'
Witness-"Ies, sir.
Major HaYard stated that this condition
arose when the surgeons were i'll. These
officers were just as liable as the men TO be
taken i'll. Asked IL there would have been
any difficulty IN obtaining mere medical
men to go with the expedition before It
started, he stated that there would have
been trouble in getting them at Tampa.
Major Havard admitted that there was
a deficiency, but not a great one of supplies
after the fight. although he was sure that
the hospital at Siboney and the field hos
pitfalls had enough There We're not enough
surgeons.
Dr. Conner-''Starting from the time you
reached Cuba and until you left Santiago
last, dtd you get such assistance from the
quartermaster's department as YOU We're
properly entitled to?"
Witness-'I think so. / can't remember
instances He spoke in uncertain tones.
Dr. Conner-"It has been stated that the
medical stores were scattered on the trans
ports, that they were not properly landed
and that there was great difficulty in find
ing and forwarding them after they were
put on shore Is all this fact?"
Yes, sia.'
Trying to Fix Responsibility.
Then does not all this indicate that you
did note get proper assistance from the
quartermasters department."
II thought you had reference in the first
question to a later period"
DR. Conner-"I am trying to learn il II
is a fact that, as stated. the medical sup
plies were in limited quantities"
Yes, sir" said the witness. There were
no adequate means of unloading them or OF
Major Havard admitted that when the
yellow fever broke out he had enough sur
geons and supplies.
General Beaver-"Major, do you know IL
any suffered from this lack of atten-
ton and supplics?'
Il do not know of any Individual cases.
but know our wounded suffered for lack
of clothing and bedding"
General Beaver-''So far as you know
were any lives lost resut?''
Witness-"I do not know"
Condition of Transports.
Examined as to the sending OF hospital
ships and transports from Cuba, Major Ha-
ward stated that the Concho and Seneca
were sent prior TO his assumption of con-
troll OF such matters. He said that no
transport was sent away by him that was
not adequately supplied. A board of medf-
cal men in every instance made an exami-
nation and report as to the needs of each
vessel.
Yellow Fever at siboney.
AS to the yellow fever later at Siboney.
Major Havsrd stated that he had made gen