The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-16
GEN. BROOkt'S TESTIMONY.
FLATLY AND EMPHATICALLY CON-
TRADlCrS SOME STATEMENTS.
Explains the Shortage In supplies
In the Early Stages of the War
by the DifacuIty Of Equipping an
Army without Reserve Supplies.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1a.-Maj. Gen. }.
r Brooke testified before the war inves'i-
CATION commission today that most OF the
volunteers at Camp Thomas came sup
posedly with ten days raiions. but this
was the so-caled field ration, and at iirst
they were hungry. This was femeuieu
nv the commissary department quite
nromptly The volunteers We're suppheu
with all sorts of tentage most OF II anu
onateA. their uniforms were old and their
continent in general was what mad peen
accumulated Through the parsimoniods
poIicv OF the war department through the
preceding twenty-five years
Some were unarmed and some In their
citizens clothing. with only one blanket
me whole energies OF the commanding
officer were bent on equfppng this hetcro-
reneo,s mass of men. but the work WAS
necessarily SLOW Early IN June the com
u,ar.lsng general was ordered 10 senu
eight of the hest equipped regiments 10
Tampa. and TO do this |. vas necessary TO
strin some of the regiments 10 heip our
others Even with this expeaient some OF
the regiments left for Tampa poorly
equipped. Gen. Brooke noticed me 1's,,. oss'
uhich left camp with its belts tied toseinsF
Win strings The war department al tnis
time had exhausted all the canvas anu
;entace In the country. Canteens, hnaNes'
go esrrxS and the like were also snort
a,lyf mis- CONDITION, he said continued pFao~
tiraiiy IN 10 the end N mis- adinihisd asio''
At Camp Thomas
On Brooke said tha. he had nothing 20
IN with the selection of the camp gfouna,
Iett being assigned there ne MADE II rs
business to look after IN: water supptS
and - ace that the necessary sanitary reg
stisstara we're promulgated and enforced
lie made personal inspections as frequent
" az his time would permit, anu iutoe
strenuous efforts 10 regulate the ehtIai an
80 tn
of fhis he safi that the sick report lefi on
from 81 to So per cent
Il deem il proper 20 say" continued tfeti-
rrnoke *.in esynfroyeTsion Of certsin re-
nn-ss that I have heard. that dii ans Pc !
tha camp sinks and kitchens continually.
we save plenty 81 testimony before
as said Gen Dodge. tHdt sS~ "tA N''''
=; was more than frequently sad Gen.
Bra.ke. lit vas daily.
Gen Brooke SAID that there were IN the
beginning q great many Complaints OF
scarcity Of medicines, but th3t the army
hat shundar. food suppl -. TIE army OF
shs Potomac IN 1851. he said. was rot near
IN SO well supplied. AAiie there sas some
shortage In sa9es and some varieties 81
claiming q; times. Z Was only what inign M
have been expected. when three armies
r..,trrs CHATTANOOGA. Tampa and san
Francisco He enphaticAliY Getiieo q safe
r,ent hS one u his staI otficsTs max inc
headquarters camp was IN distinctly
filthy condition.
susaking % ,Ae hospitals. Gen. Brooke
said:
In ;,,st5ee 20 rngself.-i saOGld say thai
sh- location Of me First uIv.ssan HOSPITAL
was nor 81 my own seseetIor. left this 10
Col. Hartsur. my chief surgeon, and IL
was the are ioeation l cossdemne1- yiS-
rcd tfbs hospital and {. was working bad
IL due probably. 10 sas surgeon directly
" charge
Gen Brooke testified that ne gave hss
pe-soraal attention 10 nc Sinks, the care
| AZ sae camps tae striking of isnsz. polio
Inc ire ~s..s. etc and by tits rnsaas got
things under eesssrcl.