Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-11-19
SKATER IS BLAMED.
Col. Jacobs States That He Was Or
dered Not to Take Ambulances.
The EMBARKATlON At TAMPA, FLA.
Dol. Jacobs Testified That Il Was Dscid-
sdiy Haphazard neutrality-suspicious.
Facilities at Santiago Dencient-
sick Soldiers Laid ON the Ground.

Washington, Nov. 17.-Dr In Gard
yesterday gave his testimony before
the war investigation commission con-
corning the conduct of the war from q
medical point of view. He spoke first
. Of the yellow fever hospital Mt Siboney,
which was under his charge in a gen.
eral way. DIR. La Gard expressed the
opinion that II the soldiers had been
fully equipped there would have been
less sickness among them, and he
thought that much Of the trouble was
due to the fact that the soldiers were
compelled TO lie on the ground with
out cover.
Col. j. W. Jacobs, who was chief
quartermaster OF the Fifth corps ut
Tampa and in Cuba, testified that
Gen. Humphrey had been in charge OF
the embarkation of the troops Mt
Tampa and that no order specifying
what vessels they were to occupy was
issued. In reply to a question from
Gov. Beaver, he said the embarkation
had been haphazard affair-''de-
cidedly So" He also thought there
was great deficiency in the provisions
for disem barkation, Us only two light
ers were provided and one of those was
lost on the way over.
Col. Jacobs had charge Of the trans
portation facilities at Santiago and
he expressed the opinion that there
was not sufficient number OF wagons.
He thought there should have been at
least one wagon to each troop and
company, in addition to those at head
quarters. Gen. Skaters first orders
had been to take only so wagons.
When Gen. Miles went to Tampa he
doubled the number; but even this or.
der did not secure sufficient number.
He knew no reason for not sending
more, except that there was no means
of getting them from Tampa to San.
tiago.
Gen. McCook developed quite IN ami.
mated episode by asking II there was
any reason why the cooking utensils
and camp equipage Of the troops
should not have been forwarded from
Baiquiri to the troops in the field.
"There was no reason" Col. Jacobs
replied, except that Gen. Skaters
order forbade" Continuing. he said
that the order was most positive. 1t
did not specify what should not be
forwarded, but was most specific in
providing that only forage and rations
should be forwarded. Gen. Skaters
orders to this effect were written, and
the general had given him strict ver-
bal instructions to see that the orders
were observed. Food had been sent
to the front cooked, but he thought
the men should have had some facili-
ties for cooking. The order had never
been changed during the month he
remained ut Baiquiri.
DR.. Conner asked whether orders
had been given to leave all the hospi.
tai equipments behind ut Tampa, and
Col. Jacobs responded that 1t was his
impression that such was the case.
He had personal knowledge that Gen.
Shafter had given such an order con-
corning the ambulances. ut was ex.
peCteu tuht IHerc WOuiu DC hu cuBoBo-
ment, was it not?" asked the doctor.
certainly" replied the colonel. 1--WE
went down there to fight" Then
should there not have been some pro-
vision for taking care Of the wounded%
II should say that these things should
have been taken along" "Then," con-
tinued DR.. Conner, "the medical de-
partment was left in the air and the
quartermaster's department Is respon-
sible." "The quartermaster's depart.
ment could not have been responsible.
We were acting under orders. l will
swear that Gen. Shafter told me not to
take the ambulances. though / do not
recall that there were any distinct or.
ders in regard to hospital equip
ments"
Gen. Dodge announced at the close
OF the session that the commission
would leave here at II o'clock Thurs
day for New York. While in that city
the Fifth Avenue hotel would be their
headquarters and meetings will be held
there, the first beginning Friday, at
ten o'clock.