New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-02
THE ARMY INVESTIGATION.
TESTIMONY TAKEN BY COMMISSIONERS
IN LEXINGTON.
SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES At SANTIAGO

SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES AT SANTIAGO
-cAT-srs OF SICKNESS AT CAMP THOMAS.
Lexington. Ky. Nov. General J. C. Bates testi-
fed before the members OF the War Department In
vestieating Commission here to-day in regard TO
the Santiago campaign and the camps at Mobile
and CaickamauGa He went 70 see General BROOKE
regarding the lack Of equipments. clothing and
other supplies lie said:
The day before eft NOBLE W. got pretty vel
POINT Vas not the proper place for. a camp Of sick
learned that the Long Island Railroad had an ex,
elusive contract to haul the soldiers to me cry.
and help take OF The sick 49,.
~ cuba medical supplies were wofuly short
The medical officers said they could not sst lnelh
This especially true az Siboney In gong oDer f
we had enough medical suppiies aInbusnces taken
for tho squadron ] think The anbuances ! took
we're the oniv ones ashore whon the Rough Riders
hghf occurred on the 2ith OF June
When asked what In his opinion was the weak
ness In the medical department. General Bates
said he thought A great mistake was made IN not
sending medical officers in sufficient number with
regiments ordered to the field. Additional trans
portation should have been furnished for medical
officers and medical supplies. ambulances and
horses.
Replying 70 cuestions by Or. Conner. General
Bates said that with modern arms danger IN re-
creased: that II would be difficult for ambulance
men and ntter-5esrers 10 live in the increased zone
Of fire In cuba il was difficult get oatmeal and
delcacles Tor the sick Il think there is no
sufficient for medical supplies being snort
in Cuba said General Bates. Better prepare
lions could have been made for transportation
have no recommendations to suggest as TO improve
mcnt IN War Department regulations nor regdrols
the ratons These matters have been suoJect 70
consideration OF boards and aole oincerS' anu
don't care 10 offer an opinion
THE WATER SUPPLY AT CAMP THOMAS.
Dr Edgar A. Mearns. surgeon in charge Of the
Gibbs General Hospital here. was asked regarding
the sanitary condition OF Camp Thomas. "here ne
was brigade surgeon He read report on me
condition Of the sites there. which showed they
were disease-5reeders. He thought the men de-
- ed from the regiments the division hospltal
were incompetent Or Mearns condemned lhe
water supply at camp Lhomas pecSu beu grInkinc
typhoid tsver there. The or1et 10 POI ,9 he
water was generally obeyed when boilers couia De
should receive what they ask for as has been done
here With competent men in charge thsrs sho t
Do no waste ana nothing would he asked LOT lnau
HIaio- 4 - Glsrnan who was captain and as
sistant surgeon i'm the Regular Army, ana was
made major and brigade surgeon OF voluiltsers On
sn.auca ana Tampa with the 9Th C-valry He later
runed 70 chs Fi - oTp He said that
, 5I'e tbsn he lad been used 10 seeing that
enough to make the camp heslthfuI and tnet ~: -
water supply was affected by this. He repof ed or
these conditions. botn verbally and IN wTiIins anu
made recon M ndatiOns. but no attention va tFe'
PAID % mis- reports RE said h knew OF certain
7, gmcnis where the sick were kept LOT Weehs us-
cause the division hospital had no room for tnenl
lie bal eyed she water I'm every We'll ~ 'Hlck
afn5uca Park contained the colon bacillus, "nlcn
indicated contamination by sewage g.
Mass husets attributed he typhoid 70 tn wafer
milk and lemonade drunk by the men. IL sd!I
that the clothing and blankets belonging 70 men
vi, died from typhoid we're brought bash VIZ ~
HAVING been washed or boiled. and used by otner
men VI The regiment. He mentioned other abuses
which he said were reported 10 the higher au-
tr,rItfos without action being taken II tnres
months ana d half while he was at camp lnoh5s
d. knew Of Dr. Hudeko2er the Corps G,ssgi.,
r,... visited the camp OF the Nth Massa nus Oh
only rwice. He had grel difficulty IL sSf zee ri
medicines he said and had 10 buy dru@s ou', OF Il
-~.,a,e fi,rd Ie told OF the RED tape which Te-
auired a requisiuon for medicines 10 60 thIougn 4
dozen channels and then back before the suppHeS
could be secured = 49,, r,o,,,.- Army,
who recently served a. adjutant-s general 81 me
di5fricr OF Ponce. Porto Rico, SAID tn@t ne Wds
wholly couversant With the conditions connscssl
vrith me sailing Of the transport Oodan. ana may
Dr seaman who returned IN charge or that VesseI;
had positive orders nor 10 take any man on po@''
l,. frsIF com