The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-07
SOLDIERS LIKE
SCHOOL BOYS.
They Complain When There's
Nothing to Complain About,
Says General Fitzhugh Lee in
His Testimony.
HIS MEN ALL RIGHT.
Touch the Button and They Are
Fully Prepared
To Go to Madrid if Necessary He
Says.

washington. Oct. General F1tZhugn
Lee was before the commission Al Is AZ
eruoon session yesterday General Lee
had 10 complaint 70 make IN regard %
SUPPLIES In June. while the expeditions
were being gotten OF. there was some de-
lay but this was natural and since I-el-
supplies OF all kinds had come WITH reg
uIarity and in abundance There nave
OF course he said been some complaints
Soldiers are Ike schOOlO0ys- they some
times complain, even when there Is no oc-
casion for complaint
He thought the army ration was aoun1-
ant. and IN the main well suited 10 cam
paigu IN a tropical climate Yet ne
thought some changes might De made
For instance. it would be better 10 sand
live animals to Cuba than 70 send retrlg-
Grated meat. as at present According 10
his ideas. The men should have more 1rulL
and less meat. During the course OF the
questioning IL developed that General Lee
had been notified that he would be ex-
pecred 10 move his corps 10 cuba IN the
vicinity Of Havana about the 1sr OF NO
vem1er. and that he considered his troops
properly equipped for the campaign
The Spanish uniforms he thought better
adapted 10 q tropical climate tnan ours,
as they were cool and could Be washed
He was fearful that the shirts and Ol1uS=S
of our men would be found TOO heavy LoE
c0uf0rr General Lee made the = gu4tl-
cant announcement that ne was counting
- -.f--7 5irs.- n rS-Irs-=7r thar the
80 ~ ne - - c5S-s - 80 a1T
properly owning SpaulardS were especially
F5r tFe ursserv5ri57 5f order Ths health
per cent being sick He said the meat
vas received in refrigerator cars and that
rule It was good In few I1s -ance5
the outer edges OF the large pieces OF
meat were spoiled as was also the hard
r4rk in one 5r Two cases a sh5Drns1r Of
potatoes had been reported 10 pc IL bad
n
Lee said most OF the civilian officers learn
ed duties very promptly others were very
slow 70 learn Others 1TeE-lsarled-
blaming Of the situation in the Jackson
vile camp This letter said the camp was
nlrhy- The bread moulded, the doctors gen
Is thar from ny command General
Lee asked IN evident surprise " le1 IN
ast0uished and asked FOR the name of the
OCCASIONAL complaints had come 10 him
found them 70 be unfounded-
Then r. said Governor Beaver. after
yourself in good condition IN every
way % start On the expedition 70
4 do" replied General Lee Touch
pIryos; ana We are prepared even 10 90 10
He expressed the opinion that it was
impossible Tor any foreign troops 10 do
in the summer months on account Of the
heat NOT ever the Spanish and cuban
forces had ever been very active in rf,e
summer season
Some Of the regtmentaI surgeons. he
knew. were not as competent as they
should be The surgeons Of higher rank
were al competent men He expressed
the opinion that the site Of the camp
jacksonville was vel selected
Captain HOWeu asked General Lee # he
considered that he had been sideLracked
in the campaign
I don't think So" replied the general
i have from time 70 time seen something
n The newspapers % the effect that IL was
not the intention OF the authorities that
should have an opportunity for active
PARTICIPATION IN the campaign I Of course
had no claim 70 90 10 Santiago or Porto
Rico. as other officers in the army ranked
me It was always the understanding
rnar my corps was organized for the Ha-
vana campaign had some ambition TO
80 there because / had not been allowed
10 stay while I was there I wanted 70
g BACK Win some men and show our enc
mics that I could stay"
He continued by saying that the prssi-
dent had told him within the past few
days that ne mad always intended 70 send
him 70 Havana and IN case there had been
an assault upon the city that he should
lead IL
General Lee dxeIt upon the importance
OF taking proper care Of the sinks as a
preventive of disease He said the
healthisst regiment IN his camp was the