The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-08
PROBING WAR SCANDALS
Majority of Complaints Without
Foundation.
FOOD WAS ABUNDANT
No Army Was Ever So Well ana So
Luxuriousiy Supplied as Was
the American Army In the
Spanish War.

| Washington. Oct. Three witnesses
were before the war investigating COM
mission. General Greene. who partici-
pated In the battle Of Manila, Colonel
Lee. chief quartermaster at Camp
Thomas. and Major Hersey. who was
for a time in command OF the Roose-
welt rough riders. Each admitted the
possibility OF individual cases OF suf-
| fering and discomfort, but all said that
the vast majority OF complaints were
exaggerated. IL not without foundation.
was ever so abundantly and luxur-
iantly supplied as was the American
army In the Spanish war.
General Greene, In his testimony
spoke OF the insurgents who lay be-
tween his forces and the Spanish lines
IL was, the witness said, impossible to
give an estimate OF their number but
he thought IL was about 10.0O0. They
were well supplied with Mauser and
Remington rifles. many of which they
had captured from the Spanish, and
others they had purchased abroad.
The health Of the troops was excel
lent and the commissary supplies were
abundant. but difficulty in getting them
ashore on account OF the storm, caused
some hardships. He considered the
surgeons efficient. II had been impos-
sible to properly supply the men with
shoes, and as a consequence about 300
or the troops marched into the city
barefooted after the capitulation
The site of Camp Merritt San Fran
cisco. was very poor. The location was
made by General Otis and General
Greene felt safe in deying the report
that there had been collusion with the
railroad authorities in choosing the site.
The most flagrant evidence OF neglect
that he had seen during the war was
the case OF transports at New York
Their condition was OF n character that
should have been remedied. He had
also seen green coffee used, both in
Florida and at Manila.
The officers appointed from civil life
were willing, but. as a rule. were with
out experience. and 'the great difficulty
was that there were-not enough regu--
lar officers to go around"
Major Hersey OF Sante Fe N. NJ, Of
the Roosevelt Rough Riders. said the
camp at Tampa. Fla. was low and fiat
and towards the close of his stay there,
In July. there was an increase OF fever
and kindred diseases. The troops, he
said, were well supplied from the COM
missary and other departments. but
there were some complaints Of the
bearing Of the physician who was left
ascribed the sickness OF the men in
Cuba to the climate and the hardships
of the campaign. Camp wikoff was
the most perfect camp he had ever seen.
Col James q. Lee. chief quartermas-
ter at Camp Thomas. said that his esti-
mates for supplies all had been met
with a remarkable degree OF prompti-
tude. There were some articles OF
which they were never able to get a
sufficient supply. army trousers. for in
stance. In the making OF contracts
with the railroads. Colonels Hecker and
Bird. in the Washington headquarters,
had manifested a disposition TO inter-
fere with him by prescribing impossible |
conditions. He had protested in sharp |
and vigorous language. and thereafter |
there was no trouble.
The contiguity Of Chattanooga. with |
Its saloons. and the freedom with which |
the selling OF pies and cakes and beer |
In the camp was permitted" he said, |
was far more prolific cause OF dis |
ease. TO my mind. than the sleeping OF |
the men on the ground or any other |
cause that had been suggested"