The herald., 1898-10-08
WITNESSES ALI. AGREE
THAT WAR WITH SPAIN WAS
WELL CONDUCTED
SOME SOLDIERS SUFFERED
But No Army Was Ever So Luxuri-
ously Supplied as Were the
American Troops

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7.--Three witnesses
were before the war Investigating commits
sion today-General Greene. who partici-
pated in the battle Of Manila; Colonel Lee
chief quartermaster at Camp Thomas, and
Major Hersey who was for time in COM
mand Of the Roosevelt Rough Riders Each
admitted the possibility of ind. vidual cases
of suffering and discomfort, but all sad
that the vast majority CT complaints were
exaggerated, Il mot without Goundat ton.
They agreed In saying that no army was
ever SO abundnntiy and luxuriously sup
Piled as was the American army in the
Spanish war.
Greene's Testimony
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7.--Gen. +. v,
Greene, who was In charge of one of the
divisions of the United States troops at
the battle of Manila, was before the War
Investigation Commission at Its forenoon
session today. lie sailed from San Fran
cisco to Manila on the steamer China, an
excellent vessel, he said, which was in
spected by board of officers before 1t
was chartered. He found the ship In good
condition, but the men necessarily were
crowded. Four months provisions and
large quantity of Quartermasters' and
medical supplies were carried. With few
exceptions the loading was carefully done.
though there was some displacement ow-
ing to haste.
General Greene said that there was no
complaint during the voyage of scarcity
of supplies, but during the first two days
out there was some dissatisfaction with
the cooking This was soon improved. and
no criticism was heard afterwards. The
details of the ocean trip and of the bat
tie of Malate were related in a manner
calling for the closest attention from the
commissioners, hut covering the same
ground as his report to the War Depart
ment recently made public.
He spoke Of the insurgents who lay be-
tween his forces and the Spanish lines II
was, the witness said. impossible to give
an estimate OF their number, but he thought
1t was about 10000. They were well sup
piled with Mauser and Remington rifles,
many Of which they had captured from the
Spanish and others they had purchased
abroad.
The health of the troops was excellent
and the commissary supplies were abund-
ant but difficulty In getting them ashore
on account of the storm caused some hard
ships Only on one day were they without
days they had sufficient food to sustain
life, though there was a shortage, due en-
tirely to the inclement weather. He consid-
cred the surgeons sufficient.
1t had been impossible to properly sup
ply the men with shoes and as conse-
quence about 200 of the troops marced into
the city barefooted after the capitulation.
General Greene though the army regula-
tions should be adapted more to campaign
exigencies than at present. Since the civil
war the regulations had been refined until
they had been gotten down to so fine
point that you could hardly move under
them.
The site of Camp Merritt. San Francisco:
was very poor. The location was made by
General Otis, and General Greene felt safe
in denying the report that there had been
collusion with the railroad authorities in
choosing the site. The most fragrant evil
dence of neglect that he had seen during
the war was the case of transports at New
York. Their condition was of a character
that should be remedied. He had also seen
green coffee used both In Florida and at
Manila.
Sternberg's Letter
WASHINGTON. Oct. 7.-Surgeon-Gen-
eral Sternberg has sent to the commission
investigating the conduct Of the war the
following memorandum relating to the
medical department Of the army:
'The number of medical officers allowed
by law is inadequate In times of peace. The
total number allowed is 1872 There are at
present 13 vacancies. The administration
of the Surgeon-Generaps office and the
army medical museum requires six. Eleven
are on duty at medical supply depots and
as chief surgeons of military departments
One is at the Soldiers Home. 56 are at gen.
eral hospitals, on hospital ships and at gar
risoned ports. Four have been disabled
since the commencement of the war by
sickness. Five are on duty as chief sur
geons of army corps. This leaves 81 med
ical officers available for duty with troops
in the field. OF these 35 have been ap-
pointed brigade surgeons of volunteers and
are distributed among the various army
corps Since the declaration of war the
losses by death have been two, and % are
now absent from duty on sick leave.
This deficiency in regular medical Of
f1cers has made 1t necessary to employ
more than 650 contract surgeons. Most of
these doctors from civil life are doing good
service and many Of them are we'll equip
ped physicians and surgeons with ample
hospital experience, but 1t has been i'm
possible to make careful selection, ow-
ing to the great pressure Of business in the
Surgeon-General's office, and the urgency
has been so great that 1t has not been
practicable to have examining boards to
pass upon their qualifications. have en-
deavored, so far as possible, to order sat
isfactory professional Endorsement before
making a contract with an applicant. The
number of applications has been so great
and the personal visits of applicants and
their friends SO numerous as to constitute
a serious embarrassment In conducting the
business of any office.
''In addition to this, there have been ap-
pointed by the President eight corps sur
geons with the rank Of Lieutenant-Colo
mel, twenty-four division surgeons with the
rank Of Major and eighty-six Brigade sur
geons; also three medical officers for each
of the regiments of United States Infantry.
Cavalry and Engineers All volunteer reg
iments have three medical officers appoint
ed by Governors Of States.
1.-THE very small proportion of experi-
enced medical officers has seriously en-
barrassed the efficiency of the medical de-
partment, but many of the division and
brigade surgeons from civil life have shown
great aptitude for the service and have al
ready become valuable medical officers.
The same Is true of many Of the doctors
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