New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-27
PRICE THREE CENTS.
sTIERED BY COMPLAINTS.
WAR DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE
STORIES OF ILL-TREATMENT.
OFFICERS ANXIOUS FOR AN INQUIRY
TROUBLE OVER CARE OF MEN IN HOS
PITALS-MAY INJURE THE SERVICE

PITALS-MAY INJURE THE SERVICE
Washington. Aug. 26-General Corbin Ad1u.
tant- General Of the Army. says that no com.
plant has reached the War Department from
major general, brigadler- general. colonel or men
Of the Army regarding want. or destitution, or
lack Of supplies for the care OF the troops No
demand has been made for supplies other than
the regular acquisitions for troops which come
In the ordinary routine way General Corbin
declined to talk the subject OF the many
stories afoat regarding destituton and misman-
agement in the war. saying that the facts will
come out in due time. and the people will see
for themselves what was done.
The whole Department Is great stirred over
the many newspaper accounts Of what has been
going on. and it was the subject OF discussion
everywhere about the War Department. Appar-
emily each head OF a bureau believes that an in
vestigation OF the subject will vindicate him and
his department. The officers in Washington say
that the accounts of suffering have been exag-
gerated. but if there has been suffering further
than the incidents Of war naturally would bring
about the fault has not been with the officers
In the Department here Each officer processes
to be ready and willing that there should be
Investigation. Some officers say that II will be
necessary. and that they will welcome COM
pete Congressional inquiry. which will bring out
all the facts
No official statement is expected in the ab-
sence Of Secretary Ager, who will return to-
morrow.
One OF the complaints which had been made
was in regard to the Sth New-York at Chicka-
mauga. 1t is stated at the War Department
that General Boynton. in command at Chicka-
mauga. has been ordered to make thorough
and complete investigation Of the hospitals at
that place. to ascertain how the men have Jared,
and report all the facts to the Department II
there have been any shortcomings he is in
structed to ascertain who is responsible and TO
include the names of those found to be at fault
in his report
ARMY SURGEONS BLAMED.
There seems to have been neglect in carrying
out the order Of the Department, No. 116 which
allowed 60 cents a day TO all soldiers In hos
pitals tha amount to be d general fund from
which could be drawn money to purchase deli
cacies and necessaries for the sick soldiers.
This order is dated August 10 According to
the records Of the Surgeon Generals office 1t
was received there the 18th, and sent out
10 the various officers on the 18th II should
have reached these officers on August II. and
especially those along the Atlantic seaboard.
1t seems. however, that II IT did reach them
The Surgeon Generals office complains that
other orders sent out have not received the at
tenton which should have been given to them
This order No 49, II is said. not only sent
out through the Surgeon Generals office but
was sent direct from the Adjutant-Generals Of
fee TO the commanding officers in various.
camps. II II has not been carried out. the fault
II is declared, has been with the officers in COM
nand and the surgeons in charge Of hospitals.
II is probable an investigation will be made at
once 10 see whether the order has been dis
regarded and why.
WILL INJURE THE ARMY.
Officers at the War Department deprecate the
manner In which complaints have been made
on the ground that the whole matter will dis
credit the American Army and have a bad Of
feet on discipline The soldiers. they say, will
be made 10 believe that they have been badly
tl.ated: that they are being imposed upon. and
at some juncture It may result in mutiny and
INSTRUMENTATION. for the reason that the troops.
in case Of some order which seems especially
hard. will take matters into their own hands.
saying the people are with them. IL Is said
that II the stories are all true II will indicate
that the American Army is OF really little ac-
count and cannot bear hardship.
War is a tragedy. from one end TO the
other" said prominent officer OF the Depart
ment today. There were some people who
thought 1t was a picnic. and that the war In
Cuba was to be a holiday time. No man who
considered the matter. knew anything about the
climate the difficulties and the trials which
would have To be undergone. felt that way.
They expected hardship; expected that the
troops would enter the portals OF danger and
death: would have to face bullets and fever.
II is only wonderful that we have escaped so
easily Our losses are less than was expected