Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-17

ports but it was impossible to get
them landed.
DR.. Pope had made application to
the quartermasters department for
transported ton for this purpose but
was told there was none TO be had.
Later small boat had been furnished
for one trip only. General Shafter
had ordered the use of the boat for
this trip and had afterwards revoked
it to the extent of having the boat take
some officers aboard. There were
medical supplies which had never been
landed.
DR.. Munson had QUILTED some of
the hospital ships going North and on
one occasion had seized from the COM
missary department a large quantity
Of delicacies for this service which had
been left on the Iroquois.
DR.. Munson said that the condition
of the army before Santiago was la
mentable, owing largely to the fact
that the men were without tents. For
the first two or three days also they
were practically without supplies on
shore. So far as he could determine
the quartermaster's department had
iudtlc Iic ciIOIl " ASSIST the HleulcdI
department. leaving it entirely to its
own devices. He know that Dr. Pope
had protested against sailing until
supplies which had been ordered could
be received.
Col. w. II. Forwood, who was the
chief medical officer at Montauk Point,
testified that his instructions were to
have on hand at all times tents beds,
etc, and representations that they were
not there We're not correct. There was,
however, some lack of transportation
facilities and there was difficultyin get
ting supplies from the station. this
fact being due largely to the limited
capacity of the railroad depot. The
hospitals were oVercroWded at times,
but only for few hours. He asserted
that mot for a minute" had patients
remained outside the hospitals without
protection from the weather, though
there were times when cots were not
on hand. In these eases the patients
were laid on hair mattresses spread on
the tent floors.
DIR. Forwood said that much of the
crowding of the hospitals was due to
| the fact that many soldiers sought TO
gain admission as means of getting a
| furlough home. This condition of af-
| fairs might have resulted in keeping
deserving men out.
we did not do much business with
the letter pad said the witness. I'VE
did not use the pen nor resort to red
tape, but we got on our horses and went
with a vim to do what was to be done. .
But said Dr. Conner, these facts
| IL Lot, ~ 20
We're occasions when the tents were
overcrowded, when there We're more
sick men than could be accommodated
What steps We're taken to relieve this
condition."
DIR. Forwood: I'VE increased the
| number of carpenters and the laborers
! generally. We redoubled our own per-
sonal exertions. worked late at night.
DR. Connor: But how did it happen
that, after receiving an order, early in
| August, to have a 1000-bed hospital
ready in the latter part of that month
this had not been done. and there We're
sick soldiers who were not able to find
| hospital accommodations? Whose
fault was it-that of the medical de-
partment or the quartermaster's-
such was the case? Surely somebody
was at fault and you, as the chief sur
geon of the camp, ought to be liable te
tell us who it was"
DIR. Forwood: No: you have moi
| made case yet. Our first order was
for 500-bed hospital and after that fol
another of the same capacity. But
by the time you speak of We had moi
only room for 1000 beds, but for 2OOo"
DR.. Connor: Even then you had MOI
| sufficient tentage?"
DR.. Forwood: Not to cover the
whole earth: but we had all that wa:
necessary to cover the sick. There was
never a moment when we did not have
| tents there to put up"
At this juncture DR.. Forwood wa.
excused for the night.
Gen. Dodge announced at the close o.
the days session that the commission
would leave here, tomorrow night, fol
New York. While in that city the 5tl
Avenue Hotel will be the headquarter!
and meetings will be held there. tn,
first beginning. Friday, at 10 o'clock