The record-union., 1898-11-05
harrates at Length Conditions Ex-
listing Among the Soldiers
From The Time of Emharkation at Tampa
Until After Fall Of Santiago.
Says That Taking Into Considera-
tion the Conditions the Troops
Were Obliged to Face, the Char
acter of the Country and Its
Climate, There Were No Serious
or Gross Mistakes Made.

OF GrOSS MISTAKES Ina0c.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-Acting for
the War Investigation Commission,
Colonel DENLY has taken the testimony
of General Lawton, who was in COM
mand of the Second Division of the
Fifth Corps in the Santiago campaign,
and who has but recently been relieved
of the command of the Department Of
Santiago.
His narration began with the en-
barkation of the troops at Tampa. He
said the transports were furnished as
well as could be expected, as they
We're not troopships. The medical COM
missary supplies were sufficient to pre-
vent absolute discomfort. There was
some confusion owing to a miSunder-
standing of orders, but the General
did not believe that any real hard
ships had been encountered thereby.
After giving particulars of the land
ing, etc, General LaWtOn said that on
the morning before the beginning OF
the battle of FL Caney, after laying
his plans before General Shafter, he
rode with his brigade commanders over
the ground, pointing out to each Of
them the position he was to occupy.
Referring to the result of the battle
at El Caney he said: Il had received
very imperative orders to move to my
left, to the right of General Wheeler S
command, but my situation was such
that it was impracticable for the to
leave FL Caney until 1 had captured
it,
He said his division had lost 40 men
killed and wounded.
Colonel DENLY remarked that a
statement had been made to the eff
feet that some of the wounded soldiers
wandered into the woods and were
never seen again.
IT never heard that before" he said
''All the wounded We're accounted for,
and they were all taken to the field
hospitals" There were no ambulances,
but some litters-how many he did not
know
knowing there was going to be
fight, how does it happen that you
did not have enough litters, enough
surgeons and the proper hospital
corpse" Colonel DENLY asked.
well, 1 cannot say there were not
enough" General Lawton replied.
How do you account for the fact
that the medical men did not provide
themselves with everything necessary
for taking care of the wounded"
Il think they did provide themselves
with everything they thought neces-
sary. considering the material they had
to choose from. There was not time
to do more or get more surgeons than
we had. They were distributed to their
various commands"
The General said that while it was
difficult to get supplies to the men
while they lay in the trenches from
the ID to the 18th of July, he thought
the quantity was sufficient. There had
been no sickness worth mentioning un-
til after the campaign. There had been
no tents except the shelter tents, when
some had until just previous kb the
embarkation for the United States.
Asked where he fixed the response
bility for not having the tents there,
General Lawton replied:
THE fact is it was impossible to
unload them from the transports for
lack of time and facilities. There was
little complaint on account of the lack
of tents Complaints did not come to
me and I was with my men constant
ly. That they should have to lie out
as they did was one of the contingen-
duct of the war.
II. was true as reported he said, that
men had to wear their shirts for possi-
blv thirty days without a change but
this was because they had thrown
away their extra clothing. He held
+he climate responsible for the sick
ness that followed the campaign.
though it was possible that with more
appropriate food, better clothing and
shelter some of the sickness might
have been prevented. While the health
conditions are improving, there had
haan much suffering among the sol
diers left there.
..It is my opinion" he said, that
anv one going from this ctmate to
Cuba will have to suffer acclimatlzlns
+bara 7 doubt if l per cent. have
escaped absolutely.
Replying to a question as to whether
the navy should not have control oI lhe
transports. he said;
No. indeed
You think that the army ought u
have control of them?
Absolutely" was the lacomc reply
while they are acting together
Colonel DENLY asked, and the repis
was: They won't act together. Iha'
is where I make the point. TWO 1hei
cannot command the same affa1r-
Summing up. General Lawton salo.
Taking into consideration the condi
tions that we were obliged to race
the character of the country. It's en-
mate and other things being consld
cred, I can say there were no serious
or gross mistakes / can say thert
was no lack of care on the part o.
any of those in authority whose dutS
1t was to look after the interests. OF
the camp. We had with US as fne
staff of officers as there are in the
world: none better could be founo
These worked night and day, and ne
human being could do more thar
they"
TESTIMONY TAKEN AT CINC1N-
NATI.
CINCINNATI. Nov. 1.-THE War In
vestigation Commission resumed 1t:
work to-day. with General Dodge, Gen
eral Sexton and DR.. Connor present
DR.. Menage, contract surgeon serv
ing with the Sixth Infantry. testified
as to the absence Of hospital tents fol
A;s ,poirnent in Cuba He treated hi.