The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-02
HlRSCH'S CHARGES AT HAND.
FILES A STATEMENT on BEHALF OF
THE NEW YORK WORLD.

Tie Styles 1t "a Record Of Facts Re-
gnrdinE the Establishment OF
Camp Wil<oT and Its management
Specific Instances of Abuses In
cIuded-Wnr Department Charged
With Frequent and Confusing
Changes of Plans - Men Suffered
for the Necessarfes of Life, and
slept without she1ter-AmbuIances
Used for sightseers When Needed
By the sick.
Washington. Oct The war investigat-
ing commission devoted its time to-day
largely to the consideration of state
ment fled by Nelson Hirsch on behalf
OF the New York World, giving what he
styles a record of facts concerning the
establishment of Camp Wikon and its
management. together with specific in
stances of abuses, charged to have exist
ed. dates, number OF sick in hospital, and
deaths.
1t is asserted that at the time Montauk
Point was selected for a camp site it was
a barren waste. It was charged that
when the first detachment of Us troops
arrived, Aug. 8. the camp was not ready
to receive them and they slept under
their blankets and in the open air, and no
tents had arrived. This 1t was added,
was eleven days since IL had been decided
TO establish the camp.
Continuing, the assertion is made that
by Aug. 10 the sick were reported suffer
ing from want of proper accommodations
and food; that their tents were without
floors and with only their blankets be-
tween the sick men and the ground, and
that a glass of sour milk apiece was the
only nourishment they received in twenty
four hours.
The war department is charged with fire.
Quent changes of plans and 1t is asserted
that Gen. Young was given only six days
for the preparation OF the camp before the
arrival of troops, when two weeks was
necessary, which caused great confus-
ion"
On Aug. II DR.. Edison visited the camp
and found that the 400 troops there We're
almost wholly dependent for drinking pur-
poses upon body of water without inlet
or outlet, known as Fort Pond. This pond
received the drainage from the camp and
the doctor found the water 20 contain 30
grains of salt to the gallon. This condi-
ton, he said, caused disease and rendered
the pond a constant menace to the men.
BY Aug. 30 there were 10000 men in camp
and 300 in the hospital with many unable
to secure admission from the transports.
The regulars were reported to be suffer-
ing for the necessaries of life and had
received no pay for three months. Con-
tract surgeons were reported to be living
at the expense of patients.
After the doctors had lunched," says
the account, twenty-five empty Apolli-
naris bottles were counted on the table,
said to have been diverted from hospital
stores"
Particulars are given Of the death In his
tent of Private Hugh Parret on Aug. %,
and 1t is asserted that DR.. Tabor refused
him permission 10 enter the hospital on
the ground that he was not sick.
The assertion is made that when on
Sept. 3, DR.. Lee went to Camp Wikoff
with a special train to take sick soldiers
TO the Brooklyn hospital "he was unable
to get more than fifteen men to the train
on account of the lack of ambulances,
which We're being used TO carry sight
seers around the camp. While hundreds
Of sick soldiers We're waiting to be trans
ferred to boats and trains a dozen am
balances were at he depot filed with
laughing men and women who were see
ing the camp with officer friends
After. this incident Gen. Young gave
orders that the ambuances We're to be
used only for the transportation of the
sick.
A long list of witnesse was forwarded
and there was a general request that cor
respondents and reporters of the World
be called.
The commission directed that a reply
be forwarded to Mr.. Hirsch informing
him that the statement should have care
full consideration.