The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-31

ing. and that each camp was finely located.
1T was not until the newspapers began to
bring newS as to the real condition of things
that the War Department knew anything
about 1t. Some people are disposed to hold
the surgeon general personally responsible.
They forget that the medical officers in the
camps do not report directly to the surgeon
general. They report to the commanding
officer of the camp, and he is supposed TO
report TO me. If the medical officers ever
made reports as to the lack of supplies or
the regularly increasing sickness among the
men never heard of it until the newspaper
reports began telling it. Then 1 sent a
special board of medical officers to inquire
into the situation. AS soon as the facts
were made known to me the most prompt
and energetic measures were taken TO have
the camps moved and TO supply any def
ciencies that existed
PAYS TRIBUTE TO SHAFTER.
''Who is responsible. Mr.. Secretary, for
ordering the advance on Santiago before
supplies had been landed?"
General Shafter; and the country owes a
large debt of gratitude to him for having
done so. If he had not ordered the advance
we would have been there yet, dying in the
trenches before the city.
General Sumner, General Wheeler and
General Young all told me personally that
the only thing that saved our army and won
the day was General Skaters insistence
upon making the advance while our men
were strong and in good condition. 1t was
the impetuosity Of their attack that struck
terror to the hearts of the Spanish and
finally caused them to yield
IF they had waited until all the supplies
had been landed under the difficulties which
were encountered the attack would, have
been made in the midst of the terrible
storms which followed. and our men would
be in the trenches to-day, dying more from
the effects of the climate than from Spanish
bullets. There were many hardships en-
dured there. One of the victims of them
is now lying in the next room sick. 1t is
my own son. The lighters that were sent
were also lost, until finally one lighter that
the navy had at Key West was safely con-
veyed down there My son told me that the
rocky beach in the neighborhood of San
tiago was strewed with the wrecks of boats
smashed in the attempt to land supplies
before that lighter came. For two or three
days, BECAUSE of those difficulties, there
was some shortness of supplies. Then, when
the bad weather came, the roads became
almost impossible. My son, in his rawlings
Of delirium after he came home, spoke about
these roads, such an impression did their
condition make upon him.
But through all the difficulties the dash
and vigor displayed by Shafter and his men
so impressed the Spaniards that when the
demand for surrender was made, coupled
with the promise that we would send their
soldiers home, they were touched by the
generosity and agreed to surrender. 1t was
I who made that suggestion"
who is responsible for the horror ships
Concho, Seneca and Mohawk"
THE Concho and the Seneca are an old
story now. / had an investigation made,
and it seems that the captains of the two
ships made no requisition upon the quarter
master general for water. The men crowded
on board, apparently believing that it was
their last chance to get home, and the re-
suit was overcrowding. far exceeding the
supplies provided. The result was deplorable
and no one regrets the condition of the men
on those ships more than do. Orders were
at once sent to prevent any overcrowding
in the future, and so far as know it has
not occurred since.
"As to the Mohawk know of no espe-
cial cause for complaint regarding it. Gen.
Ludlow came up on that boat with part of
board and the ship, which is a large one,
4SO feet long, was supposed to provide ac-
commodations for 1000 men and /, 900 horses.
but no animals were brought on it, Gen.
Ludlow assured me that he had made a
daily examination into the condition of the
men and is quite sure that they suffered no
inconvenience and that they had everything
they needed.
$50 far as I know, there has been no
lack of supplies of any kind anywhere.
Whether they reached the men or not do
not know, but If the officers in charge did
their duty the men should not have lacked
for anything. There has not been a single
complaint to reach the War Department
about lack of food.
THE newspapers have sought out some
individual cases of men who had complaints
to make, and in their efforts to attack the
War Department have made much of these
instances. Supplies of all kinds have been
furnished freely whenever they have been
asked for. The principal cause of complaint
is the unfortunate spread of typhcid in the
camps, the reason for which / do not
know"
GEN. MILES IN FOR 1T.