The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-03
WAR PROBE GETS
DOWN TO BUSINESS
INTERESTING TESTIMONY BY A
RETIRED ARMY OFFICER.
Tells Of the Confusion and Lack OF
Preparation at Tampa and of the
Difficulties and Inadequate Ar
rangements at Santiago-Facts
Told but Blame Net Located.

Lexington. Ky. Nov. 2.--The war in
Nestigation commission held a session
here today for tho purpose of hearing
the TESTIMONY of Major Henry Rom
eyne, retired military officer He
said that he had asked at the begin
ming OF the war for military assign
Inent 30 go to tho front in his capacity
ns an officer. but il was refused, and he
then went as a CORRESPONDENT FOR a
weekly newspaper.
His testimony covered the embark
alton of the troops at Port Tampa and
the campaign I'm cuba. Ee said that
when he went to Fort Tampa the bank
VI the canal there was covered with
troops. He bad warted TO go over with
the Tenth infantry which was his old
regiment, but no one could tell him
where the regiment was to be found.
He asked 4 staff officer and several
s others for this information. hut none
knew. nor old any one appear to know
on what vessel any particular troops
were TO embark. There was great con-
fusion as 4 consequence of which
part OF command would go on one
vessel and part on another and the
cr'tNn1nh- we're i'm some cas"s serai-
atad fr II tnci.' StorcG He hTd seen
no oiCe~ tar ~" systematic sm.pari;a-
tiun Of H." troops and he hal hnaTd 1t
SAID that they were told to so aboard
h"itrr s!.C,t"l.
LACK or PEEPARA A"irN.
When asked To express an opirion
rs - ,hc preparation 10" he embark
nrlnn ihe witness hesirttJI, sayins;
that tc 60 so WuulG be 10 involve
critics. Of his superiors. re COM
ni"siVners insisted upon a rrply n'.l
Mr.. I.arlr. ne replied that ,e lid not
think the preparation was such as it
should have heen. There was" he
sal!. "a lack ri surf boa $ ana also
of nrH'r and OF preparation .or land
I'M. Wien the landing vts undertake
en- the troops left the ships lniis.rim-
insi"iy, Parts going at one tii:lc ami
othcr l'al - at other times
Tie toli Of the effort - ton /" o
lighters "rer To Cuba, bui stid tnat
ore vas lest ani that 1t was the ger
eral i!uprr'G'ion thai Il was lost on par.
l'cS". t',1l'sc ii retarded the prOErns )
of the Eset. In response to It .!.:.'st,Gh
fyunl Gcuer9l McCook. MtiIr I;omeynr
said that wagons could have beer
landed as easily us artillery. He had
seen only one ambulance at the front
~ tho battle OF El Caney. and it YVES
used Tor conveying the wounded to
the rear. Speaking Of other incidents
Of this battle he said there was gen
cral surprise that an inflated balloon
lad been carried at the head Cf tn.
attacking column, thus indicating tn the
SpaniaTds the exact location Of the
troops. but hc did not know al whose
orders this had been done
A LACK OF FOOD.
He said the town of SibOncv was
without exception the dirtiest place he
had ever seer In his life, and that nc
effort was made to clean II up before
the fever broke out. Thera was n de.
hciency Of proper food at the fevel
hospitals, ana the cooking was genpr.
ally poor. Any ore in this hospita
Nas liable to contract yellow fever. Hc
had been a patient in the hospital anc
said there had been no neglect of pa,
lents by the medical attendants a
this hospital or AT the hospitals for tn,
wounded. file had known surgeons il
the latter hospitals TO work sixty hours
without cessation.
why did they not have more sur,
geons?" asked Colonel DENLY.
The witness said he could not an,
sWer.
Major Romeyne SAID he had com,
north as 2onvulescent with many
other convalescents on the transpor
Concha. and he criticised the proyis
toning uf the vessel in severe terms
Many of The men were compelled Il
sleep on board bunks without blanket
or pillows, ana with no covering a
night, except the cotton uniform thel
wore during the day. "The water wa,
offensive to both siEht and smell" h,
said, and the food was poor anC
scsnt none being provided aspeeiall!
for convslescents. The meat wa
canned and inferior ana much Of tn,
hard tack moulded"
ABOARD THE CoNCHA.
ilo also stated that there was onl!
oac physician aboard Jhe vessel, an,
th"t h. war q .nIya!cscent Six mel
A"d died "u 'hc way up, and Majo
Eora""ro ""rrcsscd 'he opinion In re
s?orsc 20 question from Captain