Evening journal., 1898-10-19
THE ARMY INQUIRY.
Commission Continues Work
In Southern Camps.
SELECTION OF FERNAyDIyA APPROVED
Secretary Ayers Son Exonernted
From Charges of Land specuia-
tion-shortagc of Supplies at
Jacksonville Explained.

JACKSONVILLE Fla, oct. 19.-The
war investigating commission held
three sessions yesterday, dealing dur
ing the two day sessions with the gem
erol staff officers Of the Seventh army
corps and at night hearing the testi-
mony Of officers and men of the Second
South Carolina regiment. The general
officers examined included the chief
surgeon and chief commissary, the
chief quartermaster and the Inspector
general of the camps and all gave de-
tailed information as to their respective
departments of the service. The meet
ings yesterday We're held In General
Dodges private car, but the moving
train made so much noise that II was
found necessary TO secure other quar-
ters, and hereafter the meetings Will
be held in the city council chamber.
The subcommittee, consisting Of Cen
eral Wilson and Captain Howell, ap-
pointed to investigate the selection Of
Fernandina as a camp, returned last
night and reported their approval Of
the selection. They made special in
quiry into the report that the camp
had been located there for the purpose
OF enhancing the value of land owned
by a son Of Secretary Alger goine
through the county records as part Of
their work. They failed to find his
name I'm any OF these documents, and
their Investigation convinced them that
he had never owned any real estate I'm
that vicinity or had been in any way
interested In any.
Colonel oliver T.. Wood chief com
missary at Camp Cuba Libre, under
command OF General Lee. was before
the commission at its afternoon session.
He had occupied this position since the
2lst OF May, and he had been able dur
ing all this time to fully and complete
~ meet all requisitions made upon him
for supplies. and there had never been
any lack Of them AS a rule also the
quality was excellent. At first there
had been trouble with the bacon, and
about 10000 pounds OF Il had been
spoiled and therefore condemned and
ordered destroyed There had also been
weevils I'm some Of the hard bread, but
Il had never been issued when found TO
be bad. All the fresh beef was brought
10 the camp in refrigerator cars
AS rule this meat was excellent and
in cases where the meat was not good
the contractors had replaced IL without
requiring official condemnation. Yet il
was necessary either TO cook refriger-
prevent It's spelling In this climate. In
this connection, Colonel Wood read a
letter he had written TO General Lee in
response to complaint made by Colo
mel w. ]. Bryan concerning the beef. In
this letter he said that IL beef was
spoiled II was generally due to the al
most criminal negligence Of reglmental
and company officers. He said also in
the letter that the beef must be inspect
ed when issued that this inspection
must be Anal, and after this no COM
plants could be entertained.
Captain Chauncey V. Baker. chief
quartermaster, was also examined dur
ing the afternoon session. He had been
in Jacksonville from the beginning OF
the camp on the 21st OF May, 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
unable In the beginning to meet all re-
quisitions for supplies when made by
the regiments as they arrived. There
had, for instance, been some trouble in
securing tentage. There was also short
age in clothing and In most cases he
had assumed the responsibility of MAX
ing purchases and his course had after
received was not of good quality but
It afterward improved. However the
men were as a rule glad enough to get
anything. and there was no complaint.
Indeed the troops had manifested a dis
position TO be satisfied with whatever
they received. Captain Baker said that
he attributed whatever delay had been
experienced to the necessity of equip
ping so large an army in so brief time.
and he thought that under the circum-
stances 1t was no greater than was to
have been expected.
Explaining General Lawton's selec-
tion of the first camp here. he said IL
was due to the fact that the railroad
company could offer facilities and to
the additional fact that water could be
secured conveniently. The site was
low, and .9le men were moved when
the rainy Season began. General Law
ton had expected the troops to be or
dered almost Immediately TO cuba. and
this circumstance controlled him en-
urely In the selection of the site for
the first encampment. He said that
the volunteer regimental quartermas-
ters had all worked hard to learn their
business and that their service had
been satisfactory. Captain Baker was
@NA-Nf'~N ~ NRANAtA AuAlla ArullQ. aE..
Inspector general OF the corps. Colonel
Guild said he had been on duty I'm
Jacksonville since June /. He said he
had made it his business to make an
early morning inspection Of the camp
each day with regard to sanitation. and
he knew this had been the custom of
others In his department He had also
invented form of weekly report which
had given excellent satisfaction. Colo
mel Guild said he had found the officers
of the volunteer forces willing TO ac-
cept suggestions, and I'm many cases he
had been thanked for them. He had
also made frequent Inspections Of the
hospitals. In the beginning there vva
a lack Of government supplies for these
institutions, but the deficiency had
been supplied by the Red Cross. The
witness testified TO the devotion of the
medical department. and in referrino
TO the interest of all in the care OF me
sick he instanced the fact that i'm the
recent cyclone here not a single hos.
pital tent had been blown down. In
some instances Ia tais emergency en-.
tire brigades turned out 10 protect tre
hospitals and held them down.
Colonel Guild mentioned some caess
in which goods had been received ir