The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-10-14
COMPLAINTS PROBED
Gen. Boynton's Testimony Before
the War Inquiry Commission.
GEN. FITzHUCH LEE TESTIFIES.
he Thought the Army Ration Abundant,
Yet some Changes Might Be Made
Many Coua pla,nts Unfounded-
Taking Care of sinks

fore the war Enquiry commission yes.
terday. In reply to charges formu.
lated by Surgeon Milo Il. Ward, of
! Kansas City, who said in a letter to
the commission that the camp was
without drainage, that the water was
unfit to drink, that there was no
proper food and that all of the 45, Oot
men ia the camp were suffering from
internal diseases, Gen. Boynton said;
''0f coursa, in SO large a camp, some
painful things must necessarily hap
pen. For instance, when the measles
broke 'Out, the hospitals were quite
crowded. But to say that there was
any purposely inflicted neglect is" he
declared, ''as false as it is possible to
be-
These complaints led Gen. Boyntop
to enter upon a general statement in
regard to the condition of the camp
and 80 give his opinion as to the cause
of it. lie attributed the prevalence of
disease to the exposure of the regi-
meR tai kitchen and hospital sinks.
| These had, he said, in the latter part
of the camps history, been left ancov-
'ered by earth, contrary to directions
by the surgeon general and this fact
more than all others he considered re-
'sponsible for the spread of disease.
Gen. Boynton elaborated upon the
strict discipline maintained by Gen.
Brooke in police and sanitary matters,
but said there was q suspension of this
care after the Porto Rico campaign
wasdecded upon After Gen. Brooke
LETT there was a material increase of
disease and at one time almost a panic.
In discussing with Capt Howell the
question of rations supplied to Camp
Thomas, Gen. BoyBton volunteered
the suggestion that there had been no
con- plants from southern soldiers in
the camp. And" he continued, II
do not believe we would have heard
half the cutlery that has been raised
/ II all the soldiers had been from the
sou It'll" Gen. Dodge said that only
two or three charges had been re-
ceived from the south and they were
not from soldiers. The testimony of
Gen. Boynton concluded, the commits
sion adjourned till afternoon.
Gen. FitZhugh Lee was before the
commission at it's afternoon session.
Gen. Lee had no complaint to make in
regard to supplies. Ia June, while
the expodi tions were being gotten off,
there was some delay, but this was
natural, and since then supplies of all
kinds had come with regularity and in
abundance. There have, of course"
/ he said, been some complaints Sol
dieps are like school boys: they some
times complain even when there is no
occasion for complaint
He thought the army ration was
abundant, and in the main well suited
70 campaign in n tropical climate.
/ 9et he thought some changes might
be made. For instance, il would be
better ID send live animals TO Cuba
than To send refrigerator meat, as az
present According to his ideas the
men should have more fruit and less
meat The health of his troops had
been good about two per cent
being sick He said the meat was re-
eeived in refrigerator cars, and that as
a rule 10 was good. In few instances
the outer edges of the large pieces Of
meat were spoiled, rs was also the
hardtack in one or two cases. A ship
meut of potatoes had been reported TO
be in bad condition and board was
appointed which condemned all the
goods
/ Gov. Beaver read letter complain
ing of the situation in the Jackson
Vile camp. This letter said the camp
was filthy, the bread nodded the doc
tors generally drunk, etc. 'is that
ffom my command?" Gen. Lee asked
in evident surprise. When informed
that it was, he said that he was aston
| ished, and asked for the name of the
author lie said ia this connection
that occasional complaints had come
10 him which he examined and in
every case found them TO be unfounded.
''Then," said Gov. Beaver, after some
further questioning, you consider
yourself in good condition in every
way to start in the expedition to Gu
ba?" II do" replied Gen. Lee. Touch
button and we are prepared even TO
go to Madrid"
Some of the regimental surgeons he
knew were not as competent as
they should be. The surgeons of
higher rank were all competent men.
He Xpressed the opinion that the site
of the camp at Jacksonville was well
selected
Gen. Lee dwelt upon the Importance
of taking proper care of the sinks as
preventive of disease. lie said the
healthiest regiment in his camp was
the One Hundred and Sixty-frst In.
diana regiment Most of his troops
were anxious to go to Cuba, but some
desired to be discharged. He said in
conclusion that he knew of no case of
distress, starvation or death from any
neglect or that was due to any inetii-
cheney on the part of government Off
Gals. He said he had no complaint TO
make against the war department and
knew of none of his command who had.
Christmas Presents for Manila Soldiers.
Washington, Oct lO.-Since the pub