The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04

Washington, Novmber 2.-The war
investigating commission held a ses-
sion here today for the purpose of
hearing the testimony Of Major Henry
Romeyne, a retired 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 correspondent of
weekly newspaper. His testimony COW
cred the embarkation of the troops at
Port Tampa and the campaigning in
Cuba. He said that when he went to
Port Tampa, the bank of 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, nor did any
one appear to know on what vessel any
of the particular troops were to en-
bark. There was great confusion, as
a consequence of which a part of
command would go on one vessel and
part on another. He had seen no or
the troops and he had heard it said
that they were told to go aboard he'll
ter-Skelter.
When asked to express an opinion
as to the preparation for the embarka-
ton the witness stated that to do so
would involve criticism of his superb
Ors. The commissioners insisted upon
a reply, and Mr.. Romeyne replied that
he did not think the preparation was
such as it should have been. There
was" he said, "a lack Of surf boats,
and also of order and of preparation
for landing. When the landing was
undertaken the troops left the ships
unfortunately, parts going at one
time and other parts at other times
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
impression that it wac lost on purpose
because it retarded the progress of the
7eet
In response to a question from Cen
eral McCOok, Major Romeyne said
that while it was difficult to land any
thing, ambulances and wagons could
have been landed as easily as the ar
tillery. He had seen only one ambu-
lance at the front at the battle of El
Caney and 1t was not used for con-
veying the wounded to the rear.
Speaking of other incidents of this
+ battle, he saiu there was general sur
prise that an inflated balloon had been
carried at the head of the attacking
column; thus indicating to the Span
iards 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
without exception, the dirtiest place
he had ever seen in his life and that no
effort was made to clean it up before
the fever broke out. There was a de-
ficiency of proper food at the fever hos
pitals and the cooking was generally
poor. Any one in this hospital was
liable to contract yellow fever. He
had been a patient in the hospital and
said there had been no neglect of pa
tients by the medical attendants at
this hospital or at the hospitals for
the wounded. He had known surgeons
in the latter hospital to work sixty
hours without cessation.
"Why did they not have more sur
geons?' asked Colonel DENLY.
The witness said he could not an
swer.
Major ROmeyne said he had come
north as convalscent with many 9TH
er convalescents on the transport Con-
cha. and he criticised the provisioning
of the vessel in severe terms. Many
of the men were compelled to sleep on
DOdIu DulikS NllnOuI DlanketS or Dll-
lows and with no covering at night
except the cotton uniform they wore
during the day. ''The water was of
fensive to both sight and SMELL he
said. "and the food was poor and scan
ty, none being provided especially for
convalescents. The meat was canned
and much Of the hard tack moulded
He also stated that there was only one
physician aboard the vessel and that
he was a cOnValeScent Six men had
died on the way up and Major Ro-
meyne expressed the opinion. in re-
sponse to a question from Captain
Howell, that with proper attention
and food the lives of at least some of
these men could have been saved. He
said he was unable to place the re-
sDonsibility for the neglect. but that
the captain of the vessel had stated
that when he made application to go
to Jamaica for fresh food and water
before starting on the voyage from
Santiago the request was refused.
General Wilson, Ex-Governor Beaver
and Captain Howell go TO Camp Meade
tomorrow for the purpose of inspecting
that camp.
CUBAN PROVISIONAL ASSEMBLY.
President Masso. Of the Z svisional
Cuban government. has cal y from
Santa Cruz del Sur to Senor esada.
secretary of the Cuban 1egat here.
saying: Assembly has not >ct met.
owing to the absence of the quorum"
This was called out by INQUIRY from
Senior Quesada as to reports coming
b. way CT Santiago. representfne the
Cuban assembly rs in session at Santa
Cruz del Sur and engaged in imoor-
tant questions relating TO the future
of the island, the disarmament Of the
Cuban army, etc.