The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-07

WaF-HAd no Complaint 70 MaAe
AEaln,, ths War Dspar,m'nVs Treat
msns ofhIs Oommaua-saya Hts TrooPs
are Ready to March On msdrld, ifNso''-
ary.
WASHINGTON. oct. s.-The war ln-
vestIgating commission held two ses-
stons to-day. In the forenoon General
II. v. Boynton concluded mis- testimony
and General Fitzhugh Lee was heard in
the afternoon. General Boyntnn dwelt
to-day upon the causes Of disease at
Camp Thomas. charging the increase
towards the close Of the camp to the
lack OF suniclent care on the part Of the
regmental and brigade commanders in
covering the sinks.
General Lee detailed the conditions
prevailing at the camp at Jacksonville.
He said the site was a good one, the
supplies were plentiful, the men well
taken care OF, and ne mad no complaint
to make Of the war departments treat
ment OF his command. He also took oc-
casIon in reply to a question put by Cap
tain Howell TO say that he did not con-
slider that he had been sHghted in the
war. He had wanted to 90 to Havana
and the President had recently told him
that in case It was necessary to take
Havana by assault ne had intended to
ask him General Lee) to lead the as
saulting army.
PraoosdInGa tn Detail.
WASHINGTON, oct. 6.-General n.
V. Boynton concluded his testimony be-
fore the war inquiry commission to-day.
In reply to charges formulated by sur
geon Milo B. Ward, OF Kansas cItYwho
said In a letter to the commission that
the camp was without drainage, that
the water Wes unit to drink, that there
was no proper food ana that all OF the
5000 men in the camp was suffering
from intestinal diseases. General Boyn-
ton said;
"of course in 90 large camp some
painful things must necessarily happen.
Eur instance when measleo broke out
the hospitals were quite crowded. But
to say that there was any puFDoseiy I'M
flIcted neglect Is" hO declared, "as false
as II is possible 20 be-"
These complaints led eenetaI Boyuton
to enter upon general statement In re-
gurd to the condition of the camp and
to give HE opinion as to the cause of IT.
He attributed the prevalence of disease
to the exposure Of the reglmental
KItchen and hospital sinks. TheSe had,
he said. In the latter part of the camp's
history. been left uncovered by earth
contrary to directions by the surgeon
geperal and to this Fact more than 70
all others he considered responsible for
the spread Of disease. This failure 70
carry ont sanitary orders ne thought
was due to the negligence Of the spbor-
dlnate officers, the brigade and regimen
tai commanders. The trouble only be-
gan otter General Brooke was ordered
to washington.
SnbOFdInAtes In Charge.
Prior to that time General Brooke re-
quired daily reports from the regImOntal
officers and prompt attention to any ne
elect of sanitary precautions. This syl-
tenn and the care which accompanied 1t
had had the effect of keeping the camp
in good condition, When General
Brooke ieGt for Washington the camp
was necessarily in charge Of The subor-
dinate oaicers. When General Brooke
returned his time was devoted almost
entirely to preparation for the Porto Ri
can campaign 90 that he could not give
90 much heed to sanitary regulations aS
he had previously done, General Boyn-
ton elaborated upon the strict discipline
maintained by General Brooke in peace
and sanitary matters but said there was
suspension of this care after the Porto
Rican campaign was decided upon. Az
ter General Brooke left there was a
material Increase of disease and at one
time almost a panic.
Returning to tn conditions subsequent
to the date when General Brooke was
ordered to Washington. General BOyn-
ton said the exposed condition of the
sinks had encouraged the presence of
multitude Of fles, which bred dlsease by
carrying germs from the sinks to the
tents. ''They were" said the general,
"as thick throughout the park as they
eyer could have been in Egypt, and they
went back and fOrh from the sinks to
the mess tables OF men and officers with
the greatest immunity covering every
thing in sight"
who wors Rssppnalbis.
General Boynton was questioned at
some length as toWhere the responsible
ty for tho condition Of AFFAIRS lay and he
sais that 1t was with the brigade and
regimental commanders 81 am salts
ned" ne said, "that the medical officers
reported to them tho condition and
warned them Of the serious consequences
Of falling to obey the surgeon generals
orders fortho covering OF the sinks, but
tho medical officers could not give or
den; they could only advice. would
not say that tho commanding officers as
n. whole naid no heed TO these reDresen-