Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-11-03
WHAT RONEYNE SAW.
Retired Army Officer Gives Evidence
Before War Inquiry Board.
PORT TAMPA EXPERIENCES.
Criticises the Way Troops Were
Landed-Says AmbuInuccs Could
have Hecn Put Ashore ns
Easily AS Artillery.

washington, Nov. 3.-The war inves-
tlgatlng commission held session here
Tor the purpose of hearing the testi-
mony of Major Henry Romeyne, a re-
tired army officer. He said that he had
asked at the beginning of the war for a
military assignment to go to the front
IN his capacity as an officer, but it was
refused, and he then went as a corre-
spondent of weekly newspaper.
His testimony covered the embarka-
ton of the troops at Port Tampa and
the campaign in Cuba. He said that
when he went to Port Tampa the bank
or the canal there was covered with
troops. He had wanted to go over with
the Tenth infantry, which was his old
regiment, but no one could tell him
where the regiment was to be found.
He asked staff officer and several 9TH
ers for this information, but none knew,
nor did any one appear to know on
what vessel any of the particular troops
were to embark. There was great con-
fusion, as consequence of which part
of command would go on one vessel
and part on another, and the COM
mands were in some cases separated
- Jill eAiSii olpi liz Ildu SCeI III OIutT
for the systematic embarkation of the
troops, and he had heard it said that
they were told to go aboard helter skel-
ter.
When asked to express an opinion as
to the preparations for the deharkation,
the witness hastated, saying that to do
so would involve criticism of his SUI
periors. The commissioners insisted
upon reply. and Mr.. Romeyna reptile
that he did not think the prepn ration
was such as Y should have been. 1.-THE re
was" he said, "a llci, of surfboats and
also of order and OF preparation for
landing. Whom the landing was UNDER
taken, the troops left the ships inds-
criminately"
Concerning the lighters.
He told of the effort to tow two light
ers over to Cuba, but said that one was
lost and that it was the general impress
SION that it was lost on purpose because
1t retarded the progress of the fleet. In
response to a question from General
McCook, Major Romeyne said that while
it was difficult to land anything, ambu-
lances and wagons could have landed
as easily ss artillery. He had seen only
II
of Ell Caney, and it was not used foI
conveying the wounded to the rear
Speaking OF the other incidents of this
battle. he said there was general sur
prise that an innat ed balloon lad beer
carried at the head of the attacking col
umn, thus indicating to the Spaniards
the exact location of the troops. but he
did not know at whose orders this had
been done.
He said the town of siboney was with
out exception the dirtest place he hat
ever seen in his life and that no effort
was made to clean it up before the fe
yer broke cut. There was a deficiency
Of proper food at the fever hospital, anC
the cooking was generally poor. ANY
one in this hospital was liable to con
tract yellow fever He had been a pa
tient in the hospital and said there hat
been no neglect of patients by the med
ical attendants ct this hospital or at the
HOSPITALS for the wounded. He haC
known surgeons in the latter hospital:
to work GO hours without cessation.
The Concha Condemned.
Major Romeyne said he had come
north as a convalescent with many 9th
err conyalescents on the transport Con
cha. and he criticised the provisioning
of the vessel in severe terms. Many o
the men were compelled to sleep OF
board hunks without blankets or pillows
and with no covering at night excep
the cotton uniform they wore during
the day. 1.-The water was offensive tt
both sight and SMELL" he said, land thu
| food was poor and scant, none beins
| provided especially for convalescents
| The meat was canned and inferior ant
much of the hard tack nodded
He also stated that there was onl.
one physician aboard the vessel ant
| that he was a convalescent. Six mel
had died on the way up, and Major Ro
meyne expressed the opinion, in re
sponse to question from Captain How
ell. that with proper attention and goo'
food the lives of at least some of thes
men could have been saved.
| General Wilson, Ex-Governor Beave
and Captain Howell are going to CAM
Meade for the purpose of inspecting
| that camp.