The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-18
GEN. YOUNG TESTNIES
Before tho Commissioners Investi-
eating the War Department.
POPULAR IMPRESSION REFUTED.

The Rough Riders Were Not Ambush-
ed. as Currently Reported, at the
Battle Of Guasima-Cubans Gave No
Ald-IIeld Back by Skaters Orders.
Washington, Nov. 1s.-Dr. Forwood
..bntinued his testimony before the war
investigating commission yesterday
concerning conditions at Montauk
Point, where he was chief army SUR
gsOn. He said that from the beginning
to the end of the history of the general
hospital at Camp Wikoff there was
never a time when there were not from
80 TO 500 vacant beds. Many patients
soon after arriving were sent away to
hospitals in neighboring cities, largely
in response to public clamor. During
the first 30 days Of the history of the
camp 5000 patients were treated, and
1t would have been ou, of the question
to take care of them all in the camp
hospitals. DR.. Forwood declared there
had been sufflciency of medicines and
medical supplies at all times-a waste
tul abundance. in fact.
Major General s. B. M. Young was
before the commission at its afternoon
session. relating In detail his expert
ence at Santiago and vicinity and af
terwards at Montauk. He said he had
landed at Daiquiri on the 21st of June.
and that by the morning of the 23d
his entire brigade had been put ashore.
He had notified General Wheeler and
had received orders to move on four
or five miles and secure good camp.
He had accordingly pushed on to Sib-
Oney. He had asked Wheeler where
the government camping ground was
occupied it, II them" said General
Young, asked permission to go out
to see the ground, saying 1 would like
to get 1t for our own troops, to which
General Wheeler assented."
In accordance with this arrangement.
he moved out at o'clock next morn
fng to fight the battle of Guasima,
sending the volunteers, the rough rid
ers, by one road. the regulars going by
smother. He declared that there was
no surprise In this fight and no ambus-
cade, as had been reported General
Young said he had occupied the enc
ny's camp that day, land it was very
good camp" he added naively.
In reply to a question as to what aid
he had received from the Cubans in
this fight he replied none whatever.
The Cuban guides had deserted him
upon the first fire. After the fight was
over. however. some of the Cubans had
come UP under the command of a
Frenchman, who saluted him very
tragically with his sabre, saying that
he had been ordered by General Cas-
lilo to follow the enemy and fight him
wherever he could find him. General
Young said he simply ordered the Gu
bans to the rear. and the only service
they had performed was to gather up
the baggage that the American soldiers
had discarded.
General Young said that Immediately
after the Guaslma fight he had looked
the ground over toward Caney and had
informed General Wheeler that he was
confident he could take the place that
night with his brigade if allowed to do
30. General Wheeler had replied that
his orders from General Shafter were
not to advance without notifying him,
and that he would notify the general
Of his General Young's) wishes. He
had not heard anything more officially
In regard to the matter.
With this General Young's service In
Cuba ceased, as he was taken down
with fever on the 3Oth OF June and sent
back home. After period of sickness
he was sent to Montauk Point to es-
tablish Camp Wikoff. He considered
10 fnl fba ct
desirable. "As to what was done there
Tor the soldiers" he said. Il think I
deserved more credit for what l did
at Montauk than for what I did at La
Guaslma. l think more was done than
should have been done for the SOL
diers"
Telling Of the hardships of one COM
mand which had just arrived from Cuba
hr said: "They We're not the heroes,
being only regulars. He said the pri
vztIons of the war were not so serious
as Indian campaigns he had been en-
gagged in. There had been occasions
when he and his command had had to
live on corn, and others when there
meat or burro meat" But that" add
Gu llle general, VAS IlDl Ill llp NEWS
papers" He was satisfied that most
of the complaints against the camp
were unfounded. General Young con-
cluded his testimony with the state
ment that the soldiers We're far better
cared for than they had been In the
civil war.
The commission adjourned at
O'Clock to meet at the Fifth Avenue
hotel. In New York. today. General
Dodge stated that letters had been re-
ceived from about a hundred persons
in the vicinity of New York. but said
ne did not know whether all of these
would appear as witnesses. After con-
cludng the work In New York the
commission will proceed to Boston, and
returning will stop at Philadelphia, to
make certain inquiries there. Colonel
DENLY Will remain in WashingtonEhile
the other members of the commission
hre absent and will take the testimony
sf such persons as may ask to be heard.