The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-26


q. Ross. assistant surgeon in the First
Infantry, was the nTst witness before Tho
War Investigating Commission to-day.
lie was with this regiment and with the
Fourth Infantry in cuba. lie arrived at
Santiago on the 10th of july lie found
the medical supplies short and was un-
able to secure any of them for q few
days until he learned how 10 get them
from the division hospital. There was
a suhlciency OF quinine bat a shortage
OF morphine. However. he had all Of this
later remedy that was absolutely neces-
sary. lie was able 20 secure hospital
stores. such as food and dolicacies by
husung for them. from the Rel Cross
Society and then going to Santiago for
them.
lie had made q requisition on the chief
surgeon OF the division for these sup
plies. but he had been unable 10 secure
them because they were not there. How
ever. he had no serious illness I'm the
command
GOVERNMENT SLOW.
Dr. C0nnor asked II the government
could not have gotten these supplies TO
81
and DR. Ross replied that while he had
no Information. me thought it could have
done so. H,Thad left Santiago with the
Fourth Infantry ana gone 20 Montauk
Point on tho Seneca. When they left
cuba ne said the commad was "all
broken up and every man Of the COM
mand was SEX on tho way North. The
doctor himself was sick and I'm the de-
tention hospital at Montauk. and he
testified 10 the careful conduct Of that
institution. saying the supplies were am
pie and the attention was al that could
have been desired.
SUPPLEMENTARY EVIDENCE.
Colonel Fife, Of the Third Tennessee.
having made a request 20 supplement
Dis statement Of yesterday concerning
The sinks used byS1is regiment. Tie said
they were very near the tents and that
it was impossible 10 remove them fur
ther owing 20 the proximity OF the other
regiments six OF them being within q
stones throw In one instancedhe sinks
of another regiment were within twenty
PAGES OF the tents of the line officers
The character OF the soil also had rem
dered St impossible to put the sinks down
more than four feet. rendering It neces-
sary TO renew the sinks every three or
four days. Thus the soil became honey
combcd with sinks. Nevertheless the
sinks were carefully looked after, and |
his regiment had been especially COM |
mended by the brigade commander for |
tho condition Of fits camp.
OTHER WITNESSES.
Other witnesses examined were Lieuten- |
amt Reid. Of the Fourth Wisconsin; Lieu
tenant West OF the Third Alabama ana
Lieutenant Haley Of the Third Tennes-
,ee
West is the commssary and quarter
master Of his regiment and Reid was
,ommissary for his regiment for a time
West said the supplies We're ample and
EXCELLENT. but Reid complained somewhat
% the meat supplied before the regiment
eft Wisconsin
Lieutenant Haley SIS commlssary for
0is regiment. lie said there had been a
ew complaints that the rations were not
efficient, but he thought the complaint
vas caused by the return OF men on fur
ough.
Other witnesses in the forenoon session
we're Fountain Ragland and Edward
'lmmons TWO colored men Of the Third
Aaoama II. C.. Lemke. a Quartermaster
ergeant Of the Third Wisconsin: Con-
.ressman Colson. colonel of the Fourth
Aentucky, and Lieutenant-C Colonel Cabell
V tho Second Arkansas.
HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.
Colonel Cabeil said In reply to questions
'ut by Dr. Connor that ne had observed
. condition of affairs at the hospital of
ne second Division OF the Third Army
.orps ~ JIne, which he considered hor-
iole lie had himself seen one sick man
wing In the rain without the protection OF
tent fly, and be had been informed by
'ther oheers that several others had
cen left in the same way He thought
he doctors were honest enough. but they
ia not know how TO get supplies. Mule
rivers had been used for nurses and he
sd been reliably informed that many OF
hem were IN the habit Of getting drunk
nd on this account neglecting their pa
ents
He said Or schooer was the division
urgeon at the time. Colonel Cabell is a
eutenant IN the regular army and his
made an impression upon the s
ommssiOn. =
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Major Charles +. King surgeon OF the +
'ourth Wisconsin Regiment. was one OF !
be FIRST witnesses OF the afternoon. Dr. +
ling said the medical supplies OF his reg +
Dent were insufficient and that there I II
as much delay IN getting requlsitions
led lie thought there was q sufficient ,
uantity Of food. but said some Of the !
lon would not eat it. preferring 10 buy /
lod FOR themselves. General Wilson ask, !
d ~ the men had ever complained 70 him / +
s surgeon OF the regiment and DR.. King +
epAed that they had 5
"What dld you say TO them?" asked the !
eneral u
81 tod them 10 go TO the devil and eat :
hat they had" he replied. =
AN IMPROPER REPLY. =
Il think that a very improper reply FOR :
ou 10 have made" said General Wilson 4
nd he declined 10 further continue the I
\
d.. Henry II. Lee major and surgeon \
ne Third Brigade. First Division. b
bird Corps said he had urged the re- 5
oval OF the camp from Cnickamauga p
.cause he considered the water bad and
.cause Of the impossibihty OF getting
Yep sinks. Major Benson. who was in II
'ectcr general OF the First Division. .
bird corps az Chickamaugs. said 1t had