Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-10-08
THE WAR INQUIRY.
Gen. Wheeler Completes His Testi-
mony Before the Commission.
GEN. DOYNTON TAKES THE STAND.
He Declares the Location OF Camp Thomas
In Chiukamauga Park to Re Most
Healthiui spot-suppiy Meth.
ods Eulogissd.

ooa hotoktnous
Washington, Oct 8.-Gen. Wheeler
completed his testimony before the
war investigating commission yester-
day and was followed by Gen. II. v.
Boynton, who was still on the stand
when the days session closed. Gen.
Wheeler's statement Of yesterday dealt
entirely with the conditions ut Camp
Wikof and Gen. Boynton's with those
at Camp Thomas, where he is now In
command. Gen. Boynton described In
detail the provisions for supplying the
Georgia camp with water, and told
many interesting facts about the loca-
tion Of the troops and the precautions
taken to care for and protect them,
whether sick or well.
When the investigating commission
began work Gen. Wheeler resumed his
testimony on the line OF the New York
World charges He said that II there
were any "camp horrors on the 27th
Of August, as charged, the commander
of the camp was responsible, for he
had full power to furnish relief. There
probably were individual cases Of 'suf-
fering, but as rule he knew the SOL
diers were we'll cared for. There was
certainly no lack Of food.
Gen. Wheeler said IL was true that
many soldiers would fall on the streets
He thought that all OF them had been
weakened by their experience In Cuba,
and most OF them had the germs Of
fever In them. It was not strange,
therefore. II some of the men had fallen
to the ground at Wikoff. The general
took up statement attributed to DR.
Sem concerning the sinks He said the
sinks were covered every hour with
earth or lime. He had examined the
ground and found that the soil was not
porous He also found that other ply.
sicians did not agree with DR.. Sem rs
to the danger from typhoid. lie ad.
mitted also, in reply to charge attri.
buted to DR.. Cyrus Edison, that a small
percentage OF the men in hospitals
were without cots and were lying on
the floor on August 90. They were,
however. supplied with beds, and in
no case was there complaint on this
account
Gen. Dodge asked the witness for q
general expression of his opinion as to
the conduct Of the various bureaus Of
the war department Replying, he
praised the work OF all the supply de-
partments, saying they were actuated
by zeal and characterized by intelli-
gence. He had found the medical de-
partment, from Gen. Sternberg down,
to be efficient and anxious to promote
the best interests OF his department
The same was also true of the ord
nance, commissary and other depart
ments.
Gen. II. v. Boynton took the stand
in the afternoon. Since the sth Of
July he had been on duty ut Camp
Thomas. Recently his especial duty
had been that Of looking after the
water supply Of that camp. and still
more recently aud at present he was
in command Of the camp, which was
entirely within the limits Of Chicka-
manga park. He said the park had
always been considered one Of the
most healthful spots in the country.
lie said that while there was plenty Of
water aud OF good quality for the camp
considerable water had been brought
In recently In barrels from springs
four or FIVE miles outside. This was
done because of the suspicion of some
of the surgeons concerning the water
In the camp. When the men began TO
get sick the surgeons insisted upon
going away from the camp for water,
and this was done, Notwithstanding
the analysis showed the water to be
pure.
Gen. Boynton said he had given espe-
cial attention to the hospital Of the
Second division OF the Third corps, rs
It had received the special attention
OF the able and influential sensational
press. He had found that, out OF 2, 483
cases OF illness In this hospital, there
had been only 278 cases Of typhoid.
The fever had In all cases been Of q
mild character.
Gen. Boynton had never seen such
efficiency in the supply department Of
the army in the field as in the case Of
Camp Thomas. All the officials had
worked day and night to render the
system effective and had succeeded.
The storehouses were SO full toward
the last rs to render an overflow
house necessary. Sufficient medicines
were sent to Atlanta from Camp
Thomas to supply 80 regiments for
q campaign. There was no lack Of
rations and the rations were all
good. The variety was equal to that
supplied by family grocery. Each
man had loaf OF bread daily. Fresh
meat was supplied. Sometimes some
Of the meat was spoiled, but as rule
was good. He believed that there
was more food left over every day than
the army Of the Cum berland had for its
entire Chattanooga campaign. mo
army was ever so we'll supplied with
food, and IL the men did not know how
to cook It, certainly Secretary Alger
nor President Mckinley nor anyone In
Washington can be held responsible"
said the general, with some emphasis
Most of the complaints were, he said,
from the typhoid fever patients, who
were, of course, kept on low rations
as medical precaution. There was
never any shortage Of rations, the
newspaper statements TO the contrary
Notwithstanding.
sixth Missvuri 90 Go On Cuba.
Ianlrannuilla Fla 0rk A. The hnua