The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-04
THE WAR INVESTIGATION.
carr. MRAY sAYs THE TRANSPORTS
~ WERE III RIGHT.
ne superlntended the Embarkation of
Troops Mt Santiago, and Admits That
the Seneca Was Overcrowded-Why We
naa.tA a. ne. 49, NJ 49,

Troops Mt Santiago, and Admits Thai
the seneca Was Overcrowded-Why We
Didn't Get Plans Of Porto Rico Forts.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 3.-Tho Wal Investiaat-
ing Commission resumed its session this morn
inE. Capt. Mckay. whose examination was
not concluded yesterday. continued his testi-
mony about the embarkation OF troops at Tam
pa and the Decentralization IN Cuba. He said
that he sup~erintended the embarkation Of the
troops at Santiago for the trip North. and Jaw
each vessel that left with soldiers to come
home. The men were not all embarked at san-
tiaRo. but all boats leaving there were In
sDected ex,ept-the Concho. which took sick
on board at Siboney. There was q full supply
OF Ice for ell t~ransports. The criticism OF the
Allegheny he pronounced unjust. II was, In
his opinion. one OF the best ventilated ships in
the transport service. Referring to the Sem
eoa. on which vessel he came North. he said IL
was so crowded that some OF the men lay on
the decks. She had Ice for only two days. The
sick had been put on board at Siboney. There
| we're two contract surgeons on board. He
did not see the steward of the vessel sell deli
cacies to the sick. He had q storeroom and
sold beer 70 the officers. but he did not believe
canned fruite or such articles were sold. One
reason why ice gave out on some Of the trans
ports before revolving Montauk was that there
was not room for ali the ice needed. He de-
MED that Col. Pope OF the Medical Department
had ever applied to him for transportation for
medical supplies.
Il never saw Col. Pope from the day 1 ar
rived at Santiago to the day l left" he said.
There would have been no trouble in getting
medical supplies ashore had application been
made to me. II could have been accomplished
ibid the medical officers know, that you had
NJ don't see II they ns did il not. DR.. Pope
knew it. because when we first arrived he
s sRo Q him %e The so9 oiiye { n0s ny position opiR an was 5
known TO Major Jacobs"
Gen; Milsonmpid you have smSle lime to
Cuban expedition A.-There was consider
able hprrylng, toward the last
inG about the expedition, and orders were be-
ing re A sGnfitsInYtly Atoh hSSTTE + S "a D
A.ooFnrSomne Taking ING With sGa eesS ii E HUM aRrssma''on'
eree d the sHpedisiS GaR %cll T pfoyids sii i9r ne at f Tsmsa
and that ali possible provision had been made
for the debarkatiSWp u Cnba. :, .,o r..,...u
Oorps testified. to making surveys at Chicka-
manga Park for q water supply for Camp
stan Of Gen. Brooke. While at Camp Thomas
6S p0tl fSI. t Rss true tss s oi ess meas Essda PSstiSqisr as
camps we're placed under Tie trees. The
drill grounds, for them. When, the regular
troops were In Chickamauga, they used the
pitched their tents under the trees. No gem
eral effort was made TO air the tent sites In the
fSs enSp sna 70 sh nerve T SITES no { Ee rssims shaft would d
depart and another would occupy the same
Capt. Goethal talked of his trip to Porto
Rico. He embarked on the st, Louis at New
port News. The, boat was horrible and bed;
as 'abominable. There was no ventilation.
and ne hfthn no @s OpR FSSt n1lr.r to examine amin the
S Sadar eeou 9dene Wat @Sai air e SmSfF b 9Sssiees T Sas
to be used for the benefit OF stokers., The men
had th~e-foryard and rear part OF the deck to
the oficers. On arrival in Porto Rico the men
did not seem any worse for the "Trip; They
Gen. MeCook said that he. once crossed the
ocean on the 81: Louis. and found 1t a most
Gen. Wilson inquired Of Can't. Goethal how 1T
was that the plans OF the Qualifications, In Porto
Rico were not secured by the American ON.
no effort was made to get these documents
unit, after the signing OF the protocol. Capt,
sion until after the middle OF september, Bo-
was asked 81 the Captain General Of Porto
Rico by the American officer in command.
Before granting this permission o. all The plans
iards on board-a vessel. and sent away. so
that when, the American officers arrived they
MOIO uuablO " oto tic pninCic Snpt.
Goethal Thought the troops should not have
been held back from San Juan. but should
permission from Gen. Machias. II that. had
been done promptly. the plans would have been
Col. James NJ. Moore. Assistant Quarter
Witness examined. He denied that the hat
s Sample socs sp %fi By AP eRe d S9s fnRslt0F Al Il e3e
perts agreed that the hats accepted were
ent times to pick ont Of a bunch the three best
hats. Not one OF them picked out a Knox hat,
he seId, IN fact. it would not require an expert
Col. Moore testified regarding conditions at
Moptauk. saying that there was a surplus OF
ambulances that were not called for. Surgeons
did not call for the ambulances. Thirty am
balances remained in the corral unused.
the Medical Department had sworn that every
effort was made 70 Set. ambnlances; Now
smbuiances at Montauk than We're asked for.
truth, but 1 would like to understand the situ-
Gen. Beaver suggested that probably the two
Witnesses spoke OF different periods
Col. Moore toldthe commission that there is
much difference q opinion as to the proper
question is being considered now. he said. but
the department. commander differs In opinion
with Q board Of officers appointed to report on
mission about the Plant system ohaFges at
make an investigation and look alter the in
terest OF the Government. In the short time
save the Goyernment about 100000. One bill
alone he reduced s22,450. This was Just about
for bringing, water, In one case was one
cent per gallon; This he. reduced to, one
half a, cent. The wharfage on coal was
reduced from % cents TO 20 cents per
ton. A similar reduction was made on the
Wharfage for horses. The Plant Company made
a charge Of 10 cents per man for wharfage. but
upon protest by Col. Moore the entire charge
was eliminated. At Tampa. all water used by
the troops. had to be paid for by the Govern
ment. This WINS not true ip all the cities. No
charge was made In Now Orleans.
This concludedthe examination OF witnesses.
and the commission held AN executive session
Ia. discuss several reports now under consider
alton. Owing to the great number of witnesses
yet TO be examined, II is not believed the com
the adjournment OF the coming session Of Con-
gress. The c9pmissi9n Is behind IN It's CON
the heads OF the War Department bureaus. and
much time has to be devoted TO this work. Col.
AL