The National tribune., 1898-08-11
WAR NOTES.

Col. Charles HSyI, OF the Inspector Gen
erals Office, has returned to Washington
from New York, where he went at the di-
rection OF Secretary Alger to make an ex-
animation TO fix the responsibility of the
official who sent the transport Concho to
New York from Santiago in an unfit con-
ditIon Tor carrying the SICK and wounded
The Secretary gave out this statement
on hearing Col. HeyPs report:
"At the time the ConchO and Seneca
left Santiago the general desire of CON
valescents to come home doubtless over
crowded both ships. From the commence
ment of the Santiago campaign until
within d few days the terrible conditions
on that coast, where ships had no shelter,
and always with a high surf, made the
landing of troops, supplies, ammunition,
artillery and medical stores very difficult,
and there is no doubt much inconveni-
ence and suffering. was thereby, caused
that was unavoidable. The Captains OF
the Seneca and Concho did not report to
Gen. Shafter, nor to Quartermaster
Humphrey, that they needed water. Had
they done so, OF course, it would have been
provided. Then, also, Il large number OF
civilians rushed aboard TO get away, and
they occupied many staterOoms that
should have been given over to the sol
dieTs. No recurrence Of such conditions
will be possi sible hereafter, and no one re-
gTets more than the Secretary OF War that
anything of the kind should have hap
pened." . ,t. -s.4, -sl.
Capt. Charles F.. Clark, the commander
of the battlcship Oregon during her famous
| run from San Francisco to join Admiral
| SIMPSONS feet, and whose management
Of his ship during the fight with Cervera's
squadron won him special praise, has
| Broken down as result Of the terrific
strain ht has been under, and has been
detached and ordered home on The recon-
| mendationS OF o medical board. Capt.
| Barker, OF the Newark, former commander
of the Oregon, and the highest ranking
officer at present with the fleet, will com
| mand the Oregon again.
/ Jacksonville is the most healthful camp
yet established for the United States Vol
unteers. The official figures show on
Aug. that in the Jacksonville camp
there are 15,255men not including the 1st
S. c., which has lately arrived. OF this
| number only 301 are sick in all the hOSpi-
tails, being less than per cent This in
cludes all cases, such as measles, mumps
and, indeed, every ailment for which sol
dier is sent to the hospital.
| 1t was stated last week by an Army off
Ger that it would probably be necessary
TO garrison Cuban posts with at least 30
600 troops. Congress may not, therefore,
be called upon or authorized to disband
the Volunteer Army as efficient work is
lexpected 10 be found for il pending the ad-
justments following possible peace CON
| ciuSionS. II IL believed that not less than
IS 000 men VIII bc left in Manila, Cuba
and Porto Rico to maintain tho status quo
| in those islands.
| AS an evidence OF the manner in which
some things are being done at Santiago,
when the transport Breakwater returned
| to New York City from Santiago officers
| of the army were surprised to find that
| thousands of pounds OF food which had
| been sent South had never been unioadcd
| from the vessel and was still in the hold.
| A board of survey was appointed. This
| has reported that the stores were not un-
| loaded because there was immediate need
of the vessel TO transport the sick and
wounded, The board declares that it is
unable to fix the responsibility for the
| failure TO unload the supplies.
The use of wood in the construction and
equipment of warships should be reduced
! TO the utmost minimum possible. Loaded
| torpedoes above the water line are seri-
Gus menace to the vessels carrying them
and they should not be SO carried by yes
sels other than torpedo boats. The value
OF rapid-fire batteries cannot be too highly
estimated Ali water and steam pipes
should be laid beneath the protective
deck and below the water line. These are
| the conclusions OF a board OF naval Off
GERS appointed by Rear-Admiral Sampson
after the battle of July TO report upon the
condition of Cervera'S sunken feet, the
extent of damage done by American shells
and the lessons to be learned therefrom
| to guide the United States in its future
ship Eonstruction. The board found that
the SInfanta Maria Teresa, Aimirante
| oQucI.do and Viscaya were destroyed by
conflagration caused by the explosion OF
shells IN the interior setting fire to the
woodwork.