The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-24
Saw Much Confusion in the Army al
One Time, "A Plague of Flies and
an InundatiOn of Beer.
OPPOSED TO BUREAUCRACY
WHICH, HE THOUGHT, HAMPERED
BROOKE AT CAMP THOMAS.
General Miles Determined to Fix Re-
spOnsibiIity for Bad Beef-The
Minority Army Bill.

WASHINGTON, Dec 23.-,rhe war investi-
eating commission to-day was reduced to
two members-chief of engineers, Gen, John
NJ Wilson, and Colonel DENLY. General
Wilson has practically transferred his War
Department office to the commissions quar-
tiers, and Colonel. DENLY to-day officiated as
interrogation, with Gen. o. o. Howard, re-
tired, in the witness chair.
General Howard told how disappointed he
had been in not securing assignment for
active service during the war, and how he
had done the next best thing for his country
by accepting the office of visiting delegate
for the Army and Navy Christian Commits
sion and distributing tracts and other things
through the Southern CAMPS He said these
camps, as a rule, were in good condition,
but he noticed confusion in the railway ar
ranGements at Tampa, an inundation of beer
in one colored camp there, and plague of
flies on his second visit to Mobile. He went
at some length into the question of odors at
Camp Thomas during July, where, he said
they were varied and repulsive. He had
suggested chloride Of lime to General
Brooke, who received the suggestion favor
ably, and distributed thirty-nine barrels of
lime in one day. The smells persisted He
said the Army and Navy Christian Commits
sion furnished hymn books and ice water in
appreciable quantities at Camp Thomas
both being thankfully received. The Chris
tian Commission had done an excellent work,
he said, and the soldiers had asked to have
it continued. having sent a contribution of
$500 from Cuba for that purpose
Regarding General Lees command at
Jacksonville, General Howard said he had
not believed before that it was possible for
H.
General Howard said he was strongly OPP
posed to bureaucracy, and thought COM
handing general should be in absolute con-
troll of his camp or corps. General Wilson
became interested at this and asked if Gen.
Howard thought the management of Camp
Thomas had been hampered by bureaucracy.
1t took about fifteen minutes to get direct
answer to this, the witness offering numer-
Gus illustrations and examples of what he
thought constituted bureaucracy. But on
the third repetition Of the question. General
Howard said he thought there might have
been something of the sort in connection
with Camp Thomas
AS to the lessons of the war General How
ard said he thought it had been thoroughly
proved that troops could not be acclimated
in Southern camps for service in more ma
arious regions of the West Indies General
Howard said he had never approved the law
which prevented the President from calling
on retired army officers for service in time
of war His experience confirmed this and
he thought there were many experienced re-
tired officers who could have served the gov
eminent better than some of the young and
inexperienced men who were appointed from
civil life. He thought all officers not regu-
lars should be examined as to their fitness
before being admitted to service. General
Howard was also in favor of staff school
for officers, and said all staff .appointees
should be compelled to receive this training.
General Howard said he had met the Sc
guranca on her return from Santiago and
returned with her from Tampa to New
York. The men were in a very rundown
condition, and thought they had been badly
eminent" But after they had been fed and
nursed a bit they felt good deal more
kindly towards the administration He
thought their first complaints were largely
due to distorted mental perspective that
could be largely laid to their recent sickness.
The examination then adjourned till Tues
day next