The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-08
STORIES UNI OUNDED
Three More Officers Vindicate the
War Department.
ARMY WELL SUPPLIED
MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS
WERE EXAGGERATED.
General Greene, Major Hersey and
Quartermaster Lee Testify Before
the Investigation Commission
Declared No Army Was Ever So
Abundantly Supplied.

Abundantly Supplied.
Washington, Oct Three witnesses
We're before the war investigating COM
mission, General Greene, who partici-
pated in the battle of Manila; Colonel
Lee, chief quartermaster at Camp
Thomas, and Major Hersey, who was
for time in command of the Roosevelt
rough riders. Each admitted the posi-
bility of individual cases of suffering
and discomfort, but all said that the
vast majority of complaints were eX-
aggerated, if not without foundation.
They agreed in saying that no army
was ever so abundantly and luxurious
ly supplied as was the American army
in the Spanish war.
General Greene sailed from San Fran
cisco to Manila on the steamer China,
an excellent vessel he said, which was
inspected by a board of officers before
it was chartered. He found the ship
in good condition, but the men neces-
sarily We're crowded. Four months pro-
visions and a large quantity of quar-
termaster's and medical supplies were
carried.
With a few exceptions, the loading
some displacement, owing to haste.
General Greene said that there was
no complaint during the voyage of
scarcity of supplies, but during the
first two days out there was some dis
satisfaction with the cooking. This
was soon improved and no criticism
was heard afterwards.
The health of the troops was excel
lent and the commissary supplies We're
abundant, but difficulty in getting
them ashore on account of the storm,
caused some hardships. Only on one
day were they without food, but dur
ing the other "A days they had sufficient
food to sustain life, though there was
a shortage. due entirely to the inclem-
emit weather. He considered the sur
geons efficient.
1t has been impossible to properly
supply the men with shoes, and as a
consequence. about 800 of the troops
marched into the city barefooted after
the capitulation.
General Greene thought the army
regulations should be adapted more TO
campaign exigencies than at present
Since the civil war the regulations had
been refined until they had been gotten
down to so fine point that you could
hardly move under them.
POOR CAMP SITE.
The site of Camp Merritt, San Fran
cisco, was very poor. The location was
made by General Otis and General
Greene felt safe in denying the report
that there had been collision with the
railroad authorities in choosing the site.
The most fragrant evidence of neglect
that he had seen during the war was
the case of transports at New York
Their condition was of a character that
should have been renedied. He had
also seen green coffee used, both in
Florida and at Manila.
Comparing the experience OF his
troops with those Of Turkey and Rus
STA, he said he had seen more suffer-
ing in the Turkish army in day than
he had seen in the American troops in
a month, and there were 5000 Russian
troops i'll of typhoid fever at the close
of the Russian campaign. He spoke
from observation, and said the com
pariscn at every point was favorable
to the American troops.
The officers appointed from civil life
were willing, but as a rule, were with
out experience. and the great difficulty
was there were not enough regulation
officers to so around"
ROUGH RIDERS EXPERIENCE.
Major Henry B. Hersey of Santa Fe, |
\. NJ. of the Roosevelt rough riders, |
and fiat and towards the close of his |
stay there in July there was an in |
crease of fever and kindred diseases.
The troops were, he said, well supplied !
from the commissary and other depart
mentS, but there were some complaints
Of the bearing Of the physician VINO .
was left with the squadron at this /
point He ascribed the sickness of the /
men in Cuba TO the climate and the
hardships of the campaign.
He had come north to Wikoff on the
Miami. which was considered one of
the worst of the transports, but the
voyage was not characterized by any
special discomforts. Camp Wikof was
he most perfect camp he had ever
seen.
QUARTERMASTERS.
Colonel James G. C. Lee, chief quar-
ermaster at Camp Thomas, said that
lis estimates for supplies all kad been
net with a charitable degree OF
Colonel Lee dwelt upon
he natural difficulties of supplying an
irmy of $4,000, who seemed to expect
% be able to turn a faucet and get
they wanted on the spur Of
he moment. There were some articles
# which they we're never able to get
sufficient supply, army trousers, for
Instance. In the making of contracts
win the rallrOdQS, COiOnelS hSCheI anu
cird. IN the Washington headquarters,
lad manifested disposition to inter-
ere with him by prescribing impossible
conditions. He had protested in sharp
md vigorous language and thereafter
here was no trouble. The passenger
ates had been made at Washington
nd were very low, but when he tried
o get freight rates, they were too high. I
lie had felt that he could give better
esults if allowed to make both lines
f contracts, as with one rate already
made the government would be in the
ower of the railroads. He had con-
ended for this light and it was con-
eded to him. He did not believe that
ny actual suffering had arisen on ac- ,
cunt of the inefficiency of officers.
THE contiguity Of Chattanooga, with
IS saloons. and the freedom with which
he selling of pies and cakes and beer
4 the camp was permitted" he said,
was a far more prolific cause of dis ,
ase to my mind than the sleeping of
he men on the ground or any other
ause that had been suggested"
EN-. STERNBERG'S STATEMENT.