The record-union., 1898-11-22

Was Left Undone.
NEW YORK, Nov. 21-Major A. ].
Ives, Chief Surgeon of the Third or
Provisional Division of the Fifth Army
Corps, was the first witness before the
War Investigation Commission to-day.
Replying to questions by General
Wilson, Major Ives said that while at
Chickamagua he saw no distress
among the soldiers for lack of med
ical supplies. He left Tampa in the
transport Saltwater with the Second
Cavalry. The transport was fairly
comfortable, but there were no suit
able accommodations aboard for the
horses.
Major Ives told of his experiences in
attending the wounded of the Ell Caney
fight. Asked as to his previous ex-
perience in action, he said he was in
the Indian wars. in the Victoria war
in 1880, the Geronimo in 1880 and
1856. and in the Sioux wars of 1890.
I'm view of those experiences" asked
General Wilson, what do you think
was the condition of the xnen in the
Cuban campaign as compared with that
of the men in the Indian wars?"
II think it was as good as could nave
been expected under the circum-
stances"
was anything left undone that
would have alleviated the condition of
the men?''
There should have been more am
balances. There were only three at
the disposal of my division. l do not
know if more could have been obtained,
and 1 cannot think of anything that
could have been done for the men
which was left undone.'
He said that at first he was opposed
to the employment of women as nurses,
but changed his mind later, as the
women did excellent work.
In closing his testimony the Major
said: MY personal opinion is that
the army was we'll equipped in every
respect, except that at times there was
not enough ambulances and at times
there was lack of medical supplies. I
never knew a time when If surgeon
took the trouble to hustle for medicine
that he failed to get all that was need
ed When I wished supplies mounted
my horse and rode after them, and
when I could not get things which were
not at headquarters, I bought them,
with the permission of my superior
A message was brought from General
Dodge from Colonel Roosevelt to the
effect that he knew nothing of interest
to the commission.
On motion of Ex-Governor Woodbury.,
it was decided to invite Mr.. Roosevelt
to appear and place himself on record
to that effect.
Mr.. Roosevelt said a meeting of the
Soldiers Protective Association is to
be held tomorrow, and at that meet
ing a list of witnesses and the subject
of which they are to testify is to be
prepared for presentation to the COM
mission.
Miss Julia Halstead Chadwick, one Of
the women who worked for the sick at
Camp Wikoff, submitted a written
statement Of the conditions she found
there in the latter part of August, and
told of the distribution of food and
drink to the Rough Riders. negro cav
airy and Eighth and Twenty
Infantry She told of the inefficient
supply of bedclothing and undercloth-
ing She heard there was plenty of
both in store but she know the SOL
diers did not have them. She said the
regular soldiers suffered the same as
the volunteers, but made no complaint
and declined proffered relief.
Miss Chadwick told at length Of the
work done and attempted at Camp
Wikoff by the volunteer visiting women.
Samuel L. Parrich, a lawyer of this
city, who visited Camp Wikoff several
times, said that the great drawback to
the camp was the lack of one active,
continuous, intelligent directing mind.
Everybody in authority did his best,
but there too many changes. One day
General Wheeler was in charge. When
he became familiar with the conditions
he went away. General Shafter sue
ceeded him. and General Bates sue
ceeded General Shafter.
General Beaver asked if there were
many complaints.
Indeed, no. There never was a
more accomplishing man than the
American soldier I saw disgraceful
conditions, but heard no complaints. If
President Mckinley had put himself
IN my hands 1 could have shown him
some things that would have shocked
him. He saw none of them. He was
permitted to make only parade IN
spection."
.'All the trouble and suffering at the
camp" Mr. Parrich declared, in sum-
ming up his views, was due to lack
of foresight and the neglect of some
one. I cannot say who is responsible
for the conditions that prevailed, but
1 can testify that very undesirable con-
ditions did prevail
To the question asked by General Nc
Cook, Did you see any officer of the
army or doctor neglecting his duty?'
Mr. Parrich declined to answer. lie
explained that in his opinion the fact
that all testimony before the commis-
sion must necessarily be voluntary kept
many from testifying who would be
glad to give testimony if compelled to
do so, and thus placed under the pro-
lection of the commission.
SERGEANT DOBSON'S DEATH.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 21.-Dr. S.
Clifford, an assistant surgeon in the
First Volunteer Regiment of the Dis
trict of Columbia, to-day explained to
Colonel DENLY of the War Investiga-
ton Commission his connection with
the case of Sergeant Dobson of that
regiment, who died in a Brooklyn hos
pitaI last September. He said he had
not attended the case until the Sd of