The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-10-27
A SURGEON DENOUNCED
By a Witness Before the War De-
,partment Investigators.
SANTIAGO VETERAN TESTIFIES.

Lieutenant Colonel Bisbee Tells OF the
InsufiicientSupplyo OF Medicine Sent
With the Invaders OF Cuba-Santiago
Surrendered just in Time.
Admission. Ala. Oct. 25.-The war In
vestigating commission sat from 3
o'clock till $50 yesterday and exam
ined about n dozen Of witnesses. in
cluding a number OF volunteer officers.
1t is now expected that the commits
sion will leave for Huntsville tonight.
Major David Vickers. who was inspec-
tor general for the Second division.
Third corps, at Chickamauga, attrib-
uted the troubles In that camp to the
shallowness OF the sinks. He said also
that some OF the regimental officers in
sisted on making poor selection OF camp
sites. and in one instance a Mississippi
colonel. who had put his men in a
| swamp. had insisted upon remaining on
the ground that a Mississippian had
a natural affection for swamps. New
| ertheless, his men were taken sick.
Major Vickers also complained that
the drinking water was poor. He
thought the camp site unfit for so large
privates were better fed than the Of
| ficers. He said that at one time the
beds of all the patients were on the
floor, and that there were some cases
when they were on the ground. Asked
as to the competency of the surgeons
at the hospital, he said there was one
man In the hospital whose proneness
to profanity untitled him for the SER
vice This man was Major Hubbard,
surgeon OF the Ninth New York. His
profanity was OF such n villainous
character" said Major Vickers, las to
pretty nearly make me sick, and
know 1t could not have had pleasant
effect on the patients"
Lieutenant Colonel Bisbee. In COM
mand of the First infantry. told the
story OF transportation Of his regiment
to Santiago. briefly described the fight
ing about Santiago, spoke OF his expert
ence in Cuba. OF the return to Montauk
Point and OF the stay at that place and
the transfer south. Asked II the land
Ing at Santiago could have been ac-
complished II opposed he replied: THE
facilities were so poor that I think
not. at least should say II had been
|
permitted to land. cannot say how
II was with the Spaniards."
He said there was considerable diff
icuty in getting food while in front OF
Santiago. but we had enough. He said
| II there had been more to eat the men
would probably have been sicker. He
cxprn'scd the opinion that the only
| deprivation had been In not having
| proper food Cor the sick. They could
not tafe the food N the condition It
was in. h" said. he thought the ra-
| usnH contained too much fat meat for
the clir.rte. Colonel Bisbce stated that
himself and lG men were the only mem
| bers of h!s regiment who had not been
III ~ some time during the Santiago
campaign.
1T had been Impossible to secure
medical supplies said the witness.
"and II we had them we could not have
carried them
He added that the army was badly
broken up in that respect. and It did
not get into shape for some reason
He said the men were Just beginning
to break in health when Santiago sur
rendered. and the capltulatlon came at
!
render OF the city there was plenty for
all to eat. Speaking OF the Spanish
troops Colonel Bisbee said: Il think
about ree-fourths Of them would
have been enlisted but for their home
ties. They found that we were giving
them better treatment than their own
government did. I am satisfied their
own officers were swindling them. The
| officers were fat and sleek looking. but
the men were Ill and pale and appar-
emily underfed."
He did not believe there was suf-
ficient number of doctors in the Cuban
campaign. He thought the contract
| surgeons were capable doctors, but
they were not familiar with army
methods and did not know how to get
the necessary medicines. Speaking
generally Of the Cuban experience ne
expressed the opinion that supplies had
been as liberal as could have been
reasonably expected. Colonel Bisbee
said he had not complained OF the
voyage north. The regiment was held
at the detention camp for three days
| He said In reply to questions from
! General McCook that a distress signal
had been put out for food while they
lay out at sea. and when some vessels
! came alongside, hs said. he called out
to those on board to bring them food.
He stated in explanation that the food
was wanted for the officers mess. THE
men had enough" he said. such as 1t
was" After this and while at Mon
tauk they got more than they needed.
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