Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-10-20
THE WAR INQUIRY.
The Selection Of Fernandina as 4
Camp Approved.
The WITNESSES BEFORE The BOARD
Their Testimony Not Very Damaging to
Those iu Authority The Red Cross
society Liberal In Giving Sup
plies to the TrOOpa

plies to the TrOOpa
Jacksonville, Fla, Oct. 18th,
war investigating commission helt
three sessions yesterday, dealing dur
ing the two day sessions with the gen
sral'statf officers of the Seventh army
corps, and at night hearing the testi
mony Of officers and men Of the Second
South Carolina regiment, The genera
officers examined included the CHIEF
surgeon, the chief commissary, the
chief quartermaster and the inspector
general of the corps and all gave de-
tailed information as to theirrespective
departments of the service. The sub
committee consisting OF Gen. Wilson
and Capt Howell, appointed to investi
gate the selection of Fernandina as a
camp, returned last night and reported
their approval of the selection.
Col. Louis Maus, chief surgeon OF
the Seventh army corps, was the FIRST
witness sworn. He said there was
only small field hospital when he ar
rived in May, and there were not very
many sick men. Sickness developed
very slowly, and there was very little
Of it until July. He said that when
the order came for the establishment
Of division hospitals there was some
delay in getting supplies, such as
tents. He made his acquisitions on
Tampa, but, finding that all efforts
there were directed to getting the ex.
petition off, he made his acquisitions
upon Washington direct After this
they were promptly filed. There was
no suffering among the sick. Still
they did not have the luxurics at the
beginning of the war that there were
in the latter days OF it.
Replying to a question, DR.. Maus
said that, after the first few days, there
had been no refusal Of supplies, and
all acquisitions had been filed
promptly. He had never seen such ut
ter disregard Of expense in caring for
sick soldiers. He also said the Red
Cross society had given so much that
it was often unnecessary to ask the
government for supplies. There had
been no restrictions in the matter of
fitting out the camps. He thought ty-
phoid had been introduced into camp
by Mississippi and Virginia troops.
Shallow wells and surface drainage
had done much toward the scourge,
but he was confident that the regular
water supply Of the city had not been
in any way responsible for it. He also
thought the flies had done much to
disseminate fever.
Dr. Maus said he had found it diff
cult to prevail upon surgeons in the
volunteer service to learn the admin
istrative duties Of their positions. As
q matter Of fact, these duties were ex-
tremely onerous, and, for this reason,
the volunteer physicians were not SO
efficient as they should have been.
DR.. Maus was questioned In regard
to the camp at Miami. He said he had
investigated it and found 1t to be un-
suitable on account Of the water,
which analysis had shown to be i'm
pure. He also thought Tampa unsuited
to a large camp.
Col. Oliver F. Wood, chief commits
sary at Camp Cuba Libre under Gen.
Lee, was before the commission at its
afternoon session. He had occupied
this position since May 81 and he had
been able during all this time fully
and completely to meet all require.
ments made upon him for supplies, and
there had never been any lack Of them.
As rule, also. the quality was excel
lent At first there had been trouble
with the bacon, and about $50, 900
pounds Of it had been spoiled and
therefore condemned and ordered de-
stroyed. There had also been weevils
In some Of the hard bread, but 1t had
never been issued when found to be
bad. As rule the meat was excel
lent and in cases where the meat was
not good the contractors had replaced
it without requiring official condemna-
ton.
Capt Chauncey W. Baker chief
quartermaster, was also examined
during the afternoon session. He had
been in Jacksonville from the begin
ming of the camp on May 81, but at
that time was quartermaster for the
Second corps. He said that when he
arrived, the command was short Of all
kinds Of stores. and that he had been