The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-02
GO HELTER SHELTER.
That Was the Order for EN-
barkatiOn of Shafter's Army
at Tampa.

Washington, Nov. 2.-The war invest
igation commission held a session here
today for the purpose of hearing the
testimony of Major Henry Romeyn, 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 a weekly newspaper.
His testimony covered the embarkation
of the troops at Port Tampa and the
campaign 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 regi-
ment, but no one could tell him where
the regiment was to be found. He ask
ed a staff officer and several others for
this information but none knew, nor
did any one appear to know on what
vessel any of the particular troops were
to embark. There was great confusion
as consequence Of which part of
command got on one vessel and a part
on another. The commands were in
some cases separated from their stores.
He had seen no order for the systemat-
ic embarkatiOn of the troops and he
had heard it said that they were told
to go aboard helter skelter.
When asked to express an opinion as
the witness hesitated saying that to do
so would involve criticism of his super
iOrs. The commissioners insisted upon
reply and Mr.. ROmeyn 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 land
ing. When the landing was undertaken
the troops left the ships indiscriminate-
ly parts going at one time and other
parts at other times"
= fn fnv
lighters over to Cuba, but said that one
was lost and that it was the general
impression that it was lost on purpose
because it retarded the progress of the
fleet. In response to a question from
Gen. McCOok, Major ROmeyn said that
while it was difficult to land anything
ambulances and wagons could have
been landed as easily as the artillery.
He had seen only one ambulance at the
front at the battle OF FL Caney, and it
was not used for conveying the wound
ed to the rear. Speaking of other in
cidentS of this battle he said there was
general surprise that an inflated bal
loon had been carried at the head of the
attacking column, thus indicating to the
Spaniards 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 his hospital was Ii
able to contract yellow fever. He had
been a patient in the hospital and there
had been no neglect of patients by the
medical attendants at this hospital or
at the hospitals for the wounded He
had known surgeons in the latter hos
pitaI to work 60 hours without cessa-
ton.
'eWhy did they not have more sur
geons?'' asked Col. DENLY.
The witness said he could not an
Major Romeyn said he had come
north as a cOnValeScent 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
board hunks without blankets or pill
lows and with no covering at night ex-
wore during the day. THE water was
offensive to both sight and SMELL" he
said, land the food was poor and scam
ty, none being provided especially for
convalescents. The meat was canned
and inferior, and much Of the hard tack
moulded" He also stated that there
was only one physician on board the
vessel and that he was a. cOnvalescent
Six men had died on the way up and
Mai. ROmeyn expressed the opinion in
response to a question from Capt. How
ell that with proper attention and good
food the lives of at least some of these
men could have been saved. He said
he was unable to place the reSpOnsi bill
lty for the neglect but that the captain
OF the vessel had stated that when he
made application to go to Jamaica for
fresh fOOod and water before startine
was refused.
Gen Wilson, Ex-Governor Beaver and
capt Howell go to Camp Meade tomor-
row for the purpose of Inspecting that
camp.