The times., 1898-12-17
OFFICERS NOT TO BLAME.
en"piain McCook Before The Aigep
Relief Commission.


The most interesting testimony pfve.
before the Alger Relief Commission ves-
terday was that of the Rev Henry n
Mccook. chaplain Of the Second Pennsyt.
vania Volunteer Infantry. Capt. Mccoolx
said he was assigned by the President ON
his return from Santiago after the battle
TO go back and mark the graves Of SOL
diers who had fallen there. His first visit
was in the interest OF the National Relief
Association. and In this capacity he is
said to have done much commendable
work.
In mis- narrative regarding the work
given him on his last trip to Cuba Capt.
McCook said he had found and marked
the graves OF about 100 American soldiers.
In many instances his iabors were tedious
and difficult Vegetation, which grows rap
idly in Cuba. had sprung up around ami
hidden the resting places of many SOL
dters. and it was with much trouble that
they were found He felt more than re-
paid. however for all OF the work ne had
performed by the many letters of heart
felt gratitude that had reached him from
mothers, sisters and wives of the dead.
If the United States Government con-
cluded to have national cemetery in
Cuba. he said. ii should be located on San
Juan Hill. He suggested that a naval
cemetery ought to be Focated on Guam
tanamo Him, where the marines mad their
encounter.
OF the treatment of sick and wounded
on transports from Cuba, Chaplain Nc
Cook said that criticism of the officers
of vessels was unjust. 1t was not their
fault that the suffering soldiers did not
have clothing to keep them warm or suf-
ficient food. 1t was the duty of the Gov
eminent to provide for them and to the
Government belongs the blame for their
cruel neglect.
Speaking OF Siboney. Chaplain McCook
. declared the soldiers there suffered f0-
bismuth and eggs" The National Relief
Association mad dozens Of doctors, fifty
nurses. hundreds of cots and thousands
of pounds of dainties, and it gave 1t To
the men without any red tape"
Gen. John F. Wade, who was chief
commissary officer for Gen Shafter at
Santiago. said that the bulk of the vege-
tables sent to Cuba by the War Depart
ment We're rotten and useless when they
reached there, and vast quantities OK
bread was ruined by rain
Quartermaster General Ludington took
up most of the time OF the commission
at its afternoon session He said that
at the breaking out of the war there was
much difficulty in getting supplies of
every kind for the army. from stockings
TO tents. No one seemed to think there
was going TO be u war and manufacturers
had made no preparations for the draft
that came upon them. II took a month
for the factories to get to furnishing
these things after war had been declared
1t would have been impossible. consider
ing the condition of his department when
war was declared. to have fitted out the
American army in less than three
months. He had never. previous to the
day war was declared, been called into
consultation with his superiors with re-
gard to preparing for-such an emergency.
Gen. Ludngton said that he did the
best he could in the way of getting medi--
cines and hospital supplies to the camps
He gave them preference over other ship
ments, realizing the great value OF them
in early need In every instance where.
complaints were made of delay in trans
portation, he tried to hunt up the cause
and bring about speedy delivery.
Gen. John NJ. Wilson, chief of engi-
neers was the last witness of the day
He devoted his time to outlining for the
edification of the commission the work
done on seacoast defense when 1t became
apparent that America had to fight Spain.