Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-26
TOO WEAK TO STAND
Private Holmes Gives Testi-
mony While Lying on Couch.
Says Volunteers Were Not So Well
Treated as the Regulars.
NED Cross Doctor Refuses to Apparently Grill.
else Government Officials.

New York, Nov. 25.-The first wit
ness before the war investiga ting COM
mission, today, was David McKeever
of this city. He said that his son,
Percy Mckeever of Co. X, list Regi-
ment. died at Mt Sanai hospital. New
York, on Aug. 81, of typhoid fever con
tracted in Cuba and that it was the
opinion of the witness that his death
was due to lack of attention at Camp
Wikoff.
The Rev. Dwight Galoupe of Jersey
City. who went to the front as chaplain
OF the 9Th United States Infantry. told
or the condition of the regiment at
Tampa, the voyage to Cuba and of the
work OF the regiment at the front.
Col. Roosevelt" he said, testified
that his regiment had some difficulty
IN hnding a transport to Santiago and
that great confusion prevailed at Tam
pa. saw no confusion and the only
delay to my regiment was one of an
hour and half by the tanning of a
gang plank. All of our men landed in
Cuba in splendid condition"
Mr.. Galoupe declared there was no
hardship in sleeping in the open air in
cuba. The air was warm and the
ground was dry sand. He slept sever
al nights in the open air from choice
and he heard no complaints from any
Of the men.
DR.. Q0hnor asked Mr.. Galoupe as to
the behavior of the medical men and
Mr.. 4aloupe spoke of them in terms of
warmest praise. He saw no lack of
medical supplies.
James P. Holmes, who served with
the list New York Regiment, was ex-
amined. He was takefF. sick in Santi-
ago and is still ii poor health. He was
allowed to lie on couch while giving
his testimony.
He told of his experiences with the
regiment and complained that no at
tentiOn was paid to the sick on the
sick on the transport Grand Duchess
Holmes said the volunteers were treat
ed with far less consideration than the
regulars. His regiment was especially
badly treated.
Replying to questions by Gen. Bea-
yer, Holmes said he did not blame the
government so, much as he blamed the
inefficiency, carelessness and selfish
ness of the reginiental officers:
Mrs. Mary Hatch Willard, who was
stationed at Camp Wikoff with the
Red Cross Auxiliary Relief Associa-
ton, saw everything at the camp in
it's brightest light.
I'm not one instance said Mrs. Will
lard, did l know of any abuse which
was not rectifed as soon as it was
brought to the attention of the proper
officers"
DR.. Monae Lesser who was in Cuba
i'm medical charge for the Red Cross
Society, was the first witness at the
afternoon session. He told of the ar
rival of the Red Cross in Cuba and OF
the offers of supplies made by him al
the instance of Miss Barton.
Were these offers refused?"
Il cannot say they were refused.
acted as spokesman for our party and
l was informed that there We're plenty
of government supplies on hand. 1 Of
fered Dr. La Garde at the Siboney
hospital, the services of the Red Cross
nurses and he said he had nurses
enough but he lacked cots In no in
stance was I treated with anything but
the most extreme courtesy"
DR.. Lessor said the wounded were
promptly cdIGu lOI anu SC1cHllilCdlly
attended to and that the surgeons gen
orally acted splendidly. None of the
fever cases was without shelter.
LAS far as l know" said Dr. Lesser
none of the sick at Siboney suffered
from lack of medicine. There was {
scarcity of food for the sick / believe
There were no supplies of sick food ex
cept those of the Red Cross Society,"
The transport Concho. DR.. Lesse
said was in excellent sanitary condi
ton, was we'll found in food and medi
cal supplies, and only the men WIFI
We're, actually convalescent were sen
aboard. The trouble at sea was occa
stoned by the relapse caused by tn
change of air. Men who We're appa
rently we'll when they left Cuba. devel
! oped malarial fever when they lande
eight days later al Montauk.
WAS the supply of food and medi
cine sufficient for those aboard?' aske
DR.. Connor.
Il cannot answer that question. IN
Red Cross usages do not permit me t
criticise the government"
You're not asked to criticise."
Il cannot tell if the supply was suffi
cient or not without criticising thos
who put the supplies aboard. I Nigh
tell, if I knew exactly what supple
were there, but 1 might not venture
opinion as to the sufficiency of the sup
ply
Dr. Lesser said that although
deaths resulted on the Concho from
lack of drugs, there was no doubt tina
had there been more drugs there woul
have been less suffering.
He declined to accuse the officers {
the government of any neglect in SEND
"a. ing so many men in poor condition
& the Concho. because there was no OF
portunty of making microscopic e2
Snnination. Many men VINO We're