The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-05
The Generals Testimony Before Col
DENLY, of the Army Investigate
ing Commission.
EVIDENCE At FORT THOMAS
OFFICERS OF THE SIXTH INFANTRY
AND OTHERS EXAMINED.
Condition of the Transports Miami
and Seneca-COncIusion of the In
CURRY Mt Camp Meade.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4-Acting for the
war investigating commission. Colonel
DENLY has taken the testimony of General
Lawton, who was in command of the Sec
ond Division of the Fifth Corps in the San
tiago campaign and who has but recently
been relieved of the command of the De-
partment of Santiago. His narration began
with the embarkation of the troops at
Tampa. Speaking of the voyage over he
said that the transports were furnished as
we'll as could be expected, as they were
not troop ships. The medical and commits
sary supplies were sufficient to prevent abb
solute discomfort. True, there was some
confusion owing to misunderstanding of or
ders, but the general did not believe that
any real hardship had been occasioned
thereby.
After giving particulars of the landing
General Lawton described his march to ST.
honey, referred to the battle of Quasimas
and told how he pushed forward towards
Ell Caney and prepared for the fight there
He said on the morning before the begin
ming of the battle, after having laid his
plans before General Shafter, he rode with
his brigade commanders over the ground,
pointing out to each of them the position he
was to occupy Referring to the result of
the battle at Caney he said: II had received
very imperative orders to move my left to
the right of General Wheeler's command,
but my situation was such that it was inn
practicable for me to leave Caney until I
had captured it,.
General Lawton said his division had lost
40 men killed and wounded and that all
the wounded had been accounted for. This
latter remark was brought out by the sug-
%I1,k
statement had been made to the effect that
some of the wounded soldiers wandered
into the woods and were never seen again.
81 never heard that before" he said. "All
the wounded were accounted for and they
were taken to the field hospitals. There
were no ambulances, but some litters-how
many he did not know
knowing there was to be a fight how
did it happen that you did not have enough
filters, enough surgeons and the proper
hospital CORPSE" Colonel DENLY asked.
well, l cannot say there were not
enough" General Lawton replied.
How do you account for the fact that
the medical men did not provide them
selves with everything necessary for taking
care of the wounded"
II think they did provide themselves with
everything they thought necessary, consid-
ering the material they had to choose from
There was no time to do more or get more
uted to their various commands.
The general said that while it was difficult
to get supplies to the men while they lay
in the trenches from the I'd to the 18th of
July, he thought the quantity was suffi-
cient. There had been no tents except the
shelter tents which some had until just
previous to the embarkation for the United
States.
Asked where he fixed the responsibility
for not having the tents there, General
Lawton replied: 81 don't fix it at all, be-
cause don't think there was any respon-
sibility about it. The men were there with
out tents because of the fact that 1T was
impossible to unload them from the ships
for lack of time and facilities. 1t is a diff
cult matter to unload a ship In rough
sea There was very little complaint on ac-
count of the tents. Complaints did not come
to me, and / was with my men constantly.
That they should have to lie as they did
was one of the contingencies absolutely
necessary in the conduct of the war" 1t
was true as reported he said, that men
had to wear their shirts for, possibly,
thirty days without q change, but this was
because they had thrown away their extra
clothing.
sponsible for the sickness that followed the
campaign, though it was possible that with
more appropriate food, better cooking and
shelter some of the sickness might have
been prevented. He had, he said, remained
in Santiago until about two weeks since,
and while the health conditions, were now
improving there has been much suffering
among the soldiers left there. at is my
opinion he said, that anyone going from
this climate TO CuDd WOulu nave u suffer
the acclinatizing fever there. 1 doubt if
per cent. has escaped absolutely
Replying to question as to whether the
Navy Department should not have control
of the transport service, he said: mo, in
you think that the army ought to have
control of them?
Absolutely" was the laconic reply.
while they are acting together?" Col.
DENLY asked.
s'They won't act together That is where
I make my point Two men cannot COM
mand the same affair."" said the general.
Summing UP General Lawton said: Talk
ing into consideration the conditions that
we were obliged to face, the character of
the country. it's climate and other things
being considered, can say there were no
serious or gross mistakes made. 1 can say
there was no lack of care on the part of any
of those in authority whose duty it was to
look after the interests of the camp. We
had with us as fine staff officers as there
are in the world; no better could be found.
These men worked night and day and no
human being could do more than they"
IN