Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-05
GEN. LAYTON
Says Army Was as Well
Equipped as Possible.
Many Things Neglected Owing to the
Haste Of Departure.
Still Further Evidence that Camp Thomas
Was Not Exactly Paradise.

Washington, Nov. 4.--Acting for the
war investigation commission. Col.
DENLY has taken the testimony of Gen.
Lawton, who was in command of the
I'd Division of the 5th Corps in the San
tiago campaign. and who has but re-
Gently been relieved of the command of
the department of Santiago.
His narration began with the en-
barkation of troops at Tampa. Speak
ing of the voyage over, he said the
transports We're FURNISHED as well as
could be expected, as they were not
troop ships. The medical and commits
sary supplies were sufficient to prevent
absolute discomfort. True, there was
some discomfort owing to misunder-
standing of orders, but the general did
not believe that any real hardship had
been occasioned thereby.
Referring to the result Of the battle
at Ell Caney. he said: Il had received
very imperative orders to move to my
left, to the right of Gen. Wheeler's
command, but my situation was such
that it was impracticable for me to
leave Caney until had captured it,"
Gen. Lawton said his division had
lots 40 men killed and wounded, and
that all the wounded had been accoun-
ted for.
This latter remark was brought out
by the suggestion made by Col. DENLY.
that a statement had been made to the
effect that some of the wounded SOL
diers wandered into the woods and
were never seen again
II never heard that before" he said.
"All the wounded We're accounted for.
There were no ambulances but some
litters--how many l do not know
knowing there was to be a fight,
how does it happen that you did not
have enough filters, enough surgeons
and the proper hospital CORPSE" Col
DENLY asked.
"Well, l cannot say there We're not
enough" Gen. Lawton replied.
How do you account for the fact
that medical men did not provide them
selves with everything necessary for
taking care of the wounded?'
II think they did provide themselves
with everything they thought neces-
sary, considering the material they had
to choose from. There was no time to
do more OF to get more surgeons than
we had. They were distributed to their
various commands.
The general said that while it was diff
cult to get supplies to the men while they
lay in the trenches from the I'd to the 18th
of July, he thought the quantity was sif-
ficient..
Asked where he fixed the responsibility
for not having tents there, Gen. Lawtor
replied: ~ don't fix it at all, because
don't think there was any responsibility
about it. The men were there without
tents because of the fact that it was i'm
possible to unload them from the ships
for lack of facilities
It was true, as reported, he said, that
men had to wear their shirts for possibly
30 days without a change, but this was
because they had thrown their extra
clothing away.
He held the climate responsible for the
sickness that followed the campaign
though it was possible with more appro-
pirate food, filter cooking and shelter
some of the sickness might have beer
prevented He had remained in Santiago
until about two weeks since, and while
the health conditions were now improv
ing. there has been much suffering amons
the soldiers left there.
at is my opinion he added, that an!
one going from this climate to Cuba VII
have to suffer the acciimatizing feve
there. / doubt if per cent. have es
capped absolutely
Replying to a question as to whether
the navy should not have control of tn
transports, he said: mo, indeed
Summing up Gen. Lawton said: TAX
ing into consideration the condition tina
we were obliged the face, the characte
of the country, it's climate and othe
things being considered, l can say Their
were no serious nor gross mistakes made
l can say there was no lack of care OF
the part of anv of those in autnorit.
whose duty it was to look after the In
terests of the camp. We had with us
fine a lot of officers as there are in tn
world; no better could be found. Tines
men worked night and day, and no hu
man beings could do more than they
NeCl ECT AND INCOMPETENCE