Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-10-13
WAR INVESTIGATION
Gen. Greene, Col. Lee and Maj.
Jersey Testify Before the Board.
MANY COMPLAINTS are UyFOUyDED.
The Possibility Of Individual Cases Of suf-
fsring and Discomfort Admitted-NO
Army So Luxuriously supp led ~
the American Army.


Washington, Oct s-Three witnesses
were before the war investigating
commission yesterday-Gen. Greene
who participated 10 the battle Of Ma
Mia; Col. Lee, chief quartermaster a
Camp Thomas, and Maj Jersey. who
was for time 10 command Of tn.
Roosevelt rough riders. Each ad
mitted the possibility Of individua
cases Of suffering and discomfort, but
all said that the vast majority Of com
plants were exaggerated, il not with.
out foundation. They agreed in say.
ing that no army was ever SO abun'
dainty and luxuriously supplied as
was the American army in the Spanish
war.
Gen. Green, the first witness, sailed
from San Francisco to Manila on the
steamer China, an excellent vessel, he
said. which was inspected by board
Of officers before it was chartered. lie
found the ship in good condition, but
the men necessarily were crowded.
Four months provisions and large
quantity Of quartermasters' and medi.
cal supplies were carried. With few
exceptions the loading WINS carefully
done, though there was some misplace
ment owing to haste. He said that
there was no complaint during
the voyage Of scarcity Of supplies
but during the first two days
out there was some dissatisfaction
with the cooking. This was soon i'm.
proved and no criticism was heard aft
erward. The health OF the troops was
excellent, and the commissary sup
plies we're abundant, but difficulty In
getting them ashore on account Of the
storm caused some hardships. Only
on one day we're they without food,
but during the other "a days they had
sufficient food to sustain life, though
there was shortage, due entirely to
the Indictment weather. He consid-
cred the surgeons efficient. Ithad been
impossible properly to supply the met
with shoes, and as consequence
about 300 OF the troops marched into
the city barefooted after the capitula-
ton. Comparing the experience Of his
troops with those OF Turkey and Rus.
sia, he said he had seen more suffering
in the Turkish army in day than he
had seen in the American troops in
month and there were 5000 Russian
troops III Of typhoid fever at the close
Of the Russian campaign. He spoke
from observation and the comparison
at every point was favorable to the
American troops
Maj Henry b. Jersey, Of Santa Fe,
N. NJ, OF the Roosevelt rough riders,
said the camp at Tampa, Fla, was low
and fiat, and toward the close OF his
stay there In July there was an In.
crease Of fever and kindred diseases.
The troops were, he said, we'll supplied
from the commissary and other de.
partments but there were some com.
plants Of the bearing Of the physician
who was left with the squadron at this
point He ascribed the sickness OF
the men in Cuba to the climate and
the hardships Of the campaign. He
had come north to Wikoff on the
Miami which was considered one Of
the worst Of the transports, but the
voyage was not characterized by any
special discomforts. Camp Wikoff was
the most perfect camp he had ever
seen. The water was wholesome and
the sin ks were carefully attended to.
The sickness of the command decreased
rapidly at this camp. Soldiers were
never taken care of so we'll as at Mon
tauk.
Col. James {. c. Lee, chief quarter
master at Camp Thomas, said that his
estimates for supplies all had been
met with remarkable degree of
promptitude. Col. Lee dwelt upon the
natural difficulties of supplying an
army of SO, 900 who seemed to expect
to be able to turn q faucet and get |
everything they wanted upon the spur
Of the moment There were some
articles of which they were never able |
to get a sufficient supply; army trous.
ers, for instance. He did not believe |
that any actual suffering had arisen |
on account of the inetliciency Of off,
GERS. "The contiguity Of Chattanooga
with its saloons and the freedom with |
which the selling Of pies and cakes
and beer In the camp was permitted
was" he said, "a far more prolific
cause OF disease, to my mind, than the
sleeping OF the men on the ground or
any other cause that has been suQ.
gested."
Kansas Christian Endsavorer.
Wellington, Kan, Oct sunday
school and Christian Endeavor work
were the principal subjects under dis
cussion at yesterdays session Of the
state Christian convention. There are
now aol Endeavor societies in the S tate,
with more than 5000 members con.
nected with the churches.
Bayard Was Not Wealthy.
Wilmington, Del. Oct THE will
Of Thomas \. Bayard, former secretary
Of state, was entered at the registers
office yesterday. The estate is valued