The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-18
CAMP CUBA LIBRE INSPECTED.
WAR INVESTIGATION COMMISSION
TRYING TO UNENRTH FAULTS.

commissioners Separate Into Divi-
Sions of Three for the Inspection
and Comparison of Notes of the
Day Disclosed But One Complaint.
Col. Jones of South Carolina Finds
Fault With the Climate-Mcn to he
Examined Under Oath.
Jacksonville, Fla, Oct. 1.-THE war in
vesugating commission spent the after
noon inspecting the camps in the lmmedi-
ate vicinity Of Jacksonville heavy
rain was falling during a part of the tour,
but the commissioners performed their
self-appointed task of going through the
camp from one end TO the other in a very
painstaking manner. They took carriages
from the depot Immediately after the ar
rival of the train at 1890. and did not re-
turn until after nightfau. The commission
separated into divisions of three MEM
bers each but the carriages kept pretty
closely together in the main. They were
escorted from point to point by Gen. A.
X. Arnold, who, in the absence of Gen.
Lee, is in command Of the corps. while
Col. Curtis Guild, Jr.. inspector general,
led a cavalry detachment which accom-
panied them on their rounds.
The party drove first to the headqu1r-
ters Of the First Division comma nder
Gen Lloyd Wheaton. and after leaving
this point made a quite thorough inspec-
ton of the camp of the First Brigade OF
this division, including the First Texas,
the Second Louisiana and the Third Ne
braska Regiments While here the mem
bers of the commission made call upon
Col Bryan, who Is personally acquainted
with most Of them. They found him al
most completely recovered from his recent
illness but very much occupied In ar
ranging for the mastering out of the
men in his regiment, relieved by the order
Of the war department reducing the size
of the companies of his regiment 10 the
minimum of eighty men. lie said he was
making an especial effort to relieve tie
men who had families dependent upon
them.
A portion of the commission also made
a special inspection OF the Forty-ninth
Iowa Regiment as a compliment to Gen.
Dodge, who found in It's colonel, w. @.
Dows, an old friend. A third regiment
which received particular attention was
was the newest regiment In the camp.
The commissioners interviewed officers
and private alike, and made personal visits
to the quarters of both the men and their
commanders. They lifted the covers from
eommssary stores, went through the
kitchens, visited the drug stores, inspect
ed the apparatus, talked with physicians
and nurses and made especial inquiry into
the method of conducting the hospitals.
All three of the division hospitals were
visited and inspected, the commissioners
going through the tents and In some IN
stances, where conversation was allow
able, talked with the patients They found
the patients to be apparently we'll cared
for, and, so far as could be discovered,
they were as contented as sick men gen
orally are. Many of them were reading
BOOKS and magazines but In greater
number of cases the men either held be-
fore their eyes or clasped closely in their
arms letters, which had evidently been re-
ceIved from home. The patients were all
found occupying clean-ooking beds or
cots, and in no instance was hospital
tent or pavilion found to be without
floor. Indeed, almost all the tents in the
camp were hoored. In many cases the
hospital tents were effectually screened
against flies and mosquitoes.
But one complaint was heard In the en-
tire round, and this was evidently not
Jones of South Carolina found fault with
the climate, saying that fully 90 per cent.
of his men were i'll, and largely on this
account. He also said some rations Of
refrigerator beef had been received in bad
condition, which was due TO the weather.
Summing up the results of the inspection
Gen. Dodge, chairman OF the copmission,
said: I'VE have compared notes after the
days work, and find that complaint was
made but from one regiment during the
day This was the objection made to the
climate by Col. Jones We saw both off,
GERS and men, sick and well, and we gave
all an opportunity to be heard, asking the
men, in the absence OF their officers. IL
they had any criticism to make. We shall
tomorrow begin the inquiry by examining
men under oath, and we hope if there are
any shortcomings to thus uncover them.
We found the sick doing exceptionally
well, and were pleased to congratulate
their physicians on the excellent ar
raugements made for their care"
This statement was made In the presence
of the other members Of the commission,
and was indorsed by them.
subcommittee of two each were ap-
pointed to inspect camps, and II neces-
sary take testimony a Tampa and Fer
nandina, the committee for Tampa being
composed or Messrs. McCook and Sexton,
and that for Fernandina Of Messrs. Wilson
and Howell. The subcommittee for out
side points leave Jacksonville tonight or
tomorrow.