The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-08
MORE WITNESSES
ARE EXAMINED.
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ter site could have been secured. The
location was made by General Otis ana
/ General Greene felt safe in denying the
report that there had been collision with
the railroad authorities in choosing the
site General Greene stated that the
most fragrant evidence Of neglect that he
had seen during the war was in the case
Of The transports at New York. Their
condition was OF a character that should
have been remedied. lie had also seen
green coffee ISSUED both in Florida ana at
Manila.
FAVORABLE COMPARISONS.
Comparing the experience Of his troops
with those Of Turkey and Russia, he said
he had seen more suffering in the Turkish
ARMY in Il day than he had seen In the
American troops I'm "a month. and there
were GO00 Russian troops III by typhoid
fever at the close Of t. Russian cam
paign. lie spoke from observation and
said the comparisons az every point were
favorable TO the American troops. Major
Henry b. Hersey. Of Santa Fe. y. NJ, of
the Roosevelt Rough Riders. was next
examined. He said the men were gen
orally i'm good health at San Antonio as
they were I'm the main at Tampa which
was the next stopping place.
lie complained. however, that ~ the
IdiIcr place luc camp Wd0 INV NtiA it''N
and toward the close Of his stay there in
July. there was an increase Of fever and
kindred diseases. The troops were. he
said. well supplied with provisions from
the commissary and other departments.
but there was some complaint against
the physician who was left with the
squadron at this point.
The chief cause Of criticism appeared To
be the bearing Of the man toward the
men.
MONTAUK POINT
At the afternoon session, Major Hersey
related his experience and observations az
Montauk Point. He had come North on
the Miami which was considered ono OF
the worst Of the transports. sui the Voy-
age was not characterized by any speclaI
dscomforts He considered Camp NlkoH
the most perfect camp he had even seem
This witness was followed by Coionei
lanes G.. Lee. who was chief quarter
master at Camp Thomas during the MS
tory of that camp. He said that neither
the regulars nor the volunteers had SUI
ocientlv transportation facilities when
thov came I'm and their wants IN this re-
snect we're supplied lie had immediate
IL made estimates for supplies ana am
had been met with a remarkable oeBree
Of prompitude.
NATURAL DIFFICULTIES.
Colonel Lee dwelt upon the natural dli-
fculues of supplying an army or MY
six thousand men. They were impatient
as a rule and seemed TO expect 10 ne
able to turn q faucet and get everything
they wanted upon the spur or the mo.
ment. There were some articles OF
which they were never able TO get a sur
0cient supply army trousers for In
stance. he remembered one case ln
which there appeared likely 10 be a clash
in the making of contracts with ine lall-
roads for the transportation OF Woors ln
which men who were his juniors in me
Washington headquarters were MANIFEST
ing a disposition TO interfere with nm
bv prescribing conditions with which it
was impossible TO comply. He had p+o-
tested i'm sharp and vigorous language.
and thereafter there was no trouble as
the WASHINGTON office receded from It,
position. ..-.,,
General McCook asked for the names
of those who had interefered, and in-
sisted upon having them. After hesitat-
ing somewhat. Colonel Lee said the oliii-
Guilty arose in the transportation branch
OF the department in charge or Coiohels
Hecker and Bird.
IItnrNN
onel Lee said that his contention was
that he should be allowed TO make all
the rates. He found that the passenger
rates had been made at Washington, and
while these were very low he found when
he came to getting freight rates they
were too high. He did not believe that
any actual suffering had arisen on ace
count Of the inefIiciency Of officers. He
thought. on the other hand. the suffering
had been caused by the failure Of the
men TO control themselves. He thought
the beer drinking in the camp and the
whisky drinking outside had much to do
in causing distress and disease
In conclusion, Colonel Lee said he be-
lleved that the department should have
credit for what il had done. and not
be blamed for what it had not done and
ne thought the accomplishment OF the
past five months were simply marvellous.