The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-13
NEGLECT NOT THE RULE
General Graham Before the In
vestigating Commission.
MEADE AN IDEAL CAMP
Medical Attendants Were lnsxpsrisnosa
and Incompstsnt-Criticis os ous-
siders Who Are Ignorant Of
War Afhirs.

washington. Oct. 12.-Ceneral 0ro-
ham continued his testimony before the
war investigating committee to-day.
He furnished the committee with Q
statement showing the percentages Of
sickness In his command from the 1st
OF May to the 30th of September. The
statement showed a gradual increase
Tor the entire period. the highest per-
centage being per cent. towards the
end OF September.
In the beginning Of the camp history
OF Camp Alger, there were no bathing
places. but later the men were marched
several miles in brigades once q week
for baths. There had been no lack Of
medical supplies, but some Of the medf-
cal attendants were inexperienced and
inefficient. General Graham stated
that the commissary supplies were
plentiful. but the men were often with
out food SUPPLIES because the regimental
officers were not sufficiently impressed
with the Importance of drawing their
food. In one case an officer Of q Kan
fresh beef rations until he could have
a saw with which to cut II up. The
general also found many Of them to be
Ignorant of the methods Of preparing
the acquisitions. notwithstanding q
school had been regularly organised for
their education In these matters- He
said that the corps was for q time short
Of wagons for transportation. owing to
shipments to Florida. This deficiency
had occasioned some hardship to the
men.
General Graham testified to tempo
rary shortages OF hospital linen, ice and
other supplies at Camp Alger. but did
not believe any deaths had been caused
thereby. He positively denied that sur
face drainage had found its way into
the wells. There had been complaint
OF the hospital at Dunnloring. charg-
ing drunkenness on the part of the
medical attendants. but the attendants
were entirely vindicated in the investi-
cation that followed. Taking II all in
all. General Graham said he had no
doubt that the medical department at
Camp Alger was administered In a
competent manner. No doubt, he said.
there were Individual instances Of
neglect. but they were not the rule
With the reforms inaugurated. Camp
Alser would have been very heaithful
and the removal to Camp Meade was
largely sentimental and in obedience to
public clamor.
General Graham declared Camp
Meade to be an ideal camp and well
supplied. General Graham said that
he would recommend that i'm the future
there should be regular officers in all
volunteer regiments: that camp tents
should be farther apart than now: that
arrangements should be made for Gre
mating all effete matter.
General Graham said some OF the Of
ficers from civil life had proved effect
I've. but the others were inexperi-
enced. Some Of them were. he said.
too old to learn. He had no complaint
to make as to the management OF the
war department. but he thought that
war was such an emergency that the
department was at first not prepared
TO meet It's demands as promptly as de-
sirable. He thought. however. that the
criticisms Of citizens concerning the
conduct of the war were due to the
ignorance of the people who meddled
without sufficient information to en-
able them to speak wisely.