The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-15

ed In the battle of La Quasima the sec
ond day after landing, when he was
the only officer of his regiment present.
Major Knox said the ship on which his
regiment went from Tampa to Santia-
go, was greatly crowded and that when
they landed the men were in poor con-
dftion for a campaign. 'the worst ev-
er saw" he said. This condition was
due to the fact that they had been shut
up in the hold OF the ship for is days.
for they had been in good shape when
they left Tampa.
He sad that the medical corps had
done as well as could have been expect
ed with the means at command He
thought IL would have been better IL
there had been more surgeons and prob
ably II would have been better IL there
could have been ambulances and more
litters. but the expedition had been has
tily organized and he had no crit
icism to make. Furthermore. the tran
sports were so crowded with men that
there was little room for more men or
for ambulances. All efforts had been
directed toward getting as many SOL
diers over as possible. and not toward
furnishing such conveniences for the
men as might be considered desirable
under other circumstances.
General j. c. Breckenridge also ap-
peared before the commission during
the afternoon session. His testimony
dealt largely with Camp Thomas. of
which he was in command from the 1th
of August until the camp disintegrated.
He said that when he assumeu charge
the camp was at the beginning of an
epidemic of fever. and that this condi-
ton gradually grew worse. He found
much that needed remedying from a
sanitary point of view when he assum-
ed command, but the conditions varied
In the numerous regimental camps. He
was under the impression that all or
dinary efforts had been made by the
officers In command to instruct the reg
imental officers in the manner of sani-
tation. and he thought this instruction
had borne fruit.
General Breckenridge expressed the
opinion that Chickamauga park was
suitable as camp site. He was of the
opinion that the water could have been
vastly improved II there had been a
willingness to go off the reservation for
IL. He had made no recommendation
for IL. He had made no recommended
ton for water supply after taking
command, because the soldiers were so
infected that he thought the best rem
edy was to disintegrate the command.
and he had made recommendations to
the latter effect. In fact, the greater
share of his attention had been given
to getting the men away from Chicka-
mauga. General Breckenridge said that
he had increased the number of men.
giving leave at a time from two to six
to a company because the men seemed
depressed and he thought they needed
as much change as possible. He was.
he said. aware that this order had been
criticised, but my theory of discipline
is to make soldier do his duty for all
that he Is worth, and then let him have
his fun for all ne deserves"
General Breckinridge said that the
condition of all the hospitals at Camp
Thomas, except Sternberg. was bad.
They were crowded and there was a
lack of skill on the part of the attend
ants. He also thought the quartermas-
ter's department had been remiss in
some of its duties; but he attributed all
the trouble to want of experience.
There had been a lack of tentage at the
hospitals, and he knew of no reason
why the tents should not have been
supplied. as he was Informed that the
tents were in the quartermaster's de-
pot.
DIR. Connor made an effort TO get Cen
eral Breckenridge to say where the re-
sponsibility rested for the poor condi-
tions in the camp. but the latter said
he had never attempted to locate the
responsibility, devoting himself partic-
ularly to remedying the evil.
I'VE all recognized that the condition
was abnormal" he said, and 1.-THE ques-
tion was how to meet II. The purpose
was to get each man what he needed.
This seems simple enough TO do. but as
a matter of fact IL was not simple. The
trouble seemed to be that the hospitals
attendants were not familiar with their
duties and there was not a sufficient
number OF men in the supply depart
ment to follow up the hospital attend
ants and instruct them
He said that apparently up to his
time of arrival. the first duty had been
conceived to prepare for war. He had
changed this by turning the attention
Of all to taking care Of the sick. and IL
he deserved any credit i'm his admins
tration IL was for this change. Hefsaid
that the war department was apparent
ly as unprepared for the epidemic as
were the men on the ground. Return
ing to the question of passes 10 visit
Chattanooga, DIR. Connor asked II the
condition in that city were not such
as TO inture the morale Of the army.
General Breckinridee replied that such
was the case, but you can't make a
prison OF a camp" Continuing, he said
the town was run wide OPEN and IL
was impossible TO keep the men in
their camps under the circumstances.
General Breckenridge had not con-
cluded his testimony when the commits
cior adjourned a for tho dav