The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-05
THE SICKNESS IN THE CAMPS.
Caused Chiefly by the Dainties Which the
Soldiers Relatives Sent Thorn.

Caused Chiefly by the DaintteB Which the
Soldiers Relatives Sent Thorn.
HARRISBURG. Pa. Nov. AT to-day's hear
ing before the subcommittee of the War In
v~estiRatinR Commission the evidence adduced
was OF a character which will enable the board
to reach an NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. regarding the
complaints against the management Of the
War Department. Starting with Col. Guy
Howard. Chief Quartermaster Of the Second
Army Corps. and concluding with Col. Duvall.
Chief Ordinance Officer. everything that could
be helpful in throwing light on the alleged
mismanagement was brought out. Col. How
ard said that the troops at Camp Alger last
July were eaua to any army in the world. Col.
Alleson. Chief Commissarv Of the CORPS. was a
good witness. He made 1t very clear that. in
his Judgment. the cause OF the trouble In fur
nishing and distributing food to the troops
was the failure Of the higher officials to listen
to the suggestions of those who had practical
experience In their departments. He men
toned one case In point. While he was Com
missary in charge Of the preparation for the
Alaskai expedition he pressed into service a
young Lieutenant who was thoroughly quail
fed for the duties Of a brigade or division or
corps'commissary, and a recommendation for
his promotion was forwarded to Washington.
but nothing had ever been heard from 1t.
The Lieutenant is still with his company In
LhC . hO SNhNA SaoSo " Wiz
same character. and the inference was that.
instead Of taking the experienced regular
army commissary. political influences had been
used to have appointed men from civil life
who were incompetent. This sort Of testi-
mony ran all through to-day's hearing and
seemed to impress the board.
Gen. George W.. Davis. commander OF the
Second Division. o skilful and experienced Of
flcer of the regular army, suggested hat It
uvaa imnnGGihla IN nlnna inpYnnFianna1 nan in
charge OF commissary and quartermaster's
departments and expect good results; that
special training is required for this kind OF SER
vice. Gen. Davis was q most interesting wit
point. He was sent to Chattanooga and Allan
Ia TO report on the camp sites there, and he
site shia t tS:da mHi fihsi c~a esmp n tSs T coun ses finest as
Commended the camp The had known that the
it should have been piped from the spring. In
his judgment too many troops were sent to
kept there too long There was also too much
%eEowdlna, Capt Howell asked Gen. DAYS.
Michigan SHSsisl regiments sent to Cuba we're not In
tit condition. as reported. and whether 1t was
not a fact that other regiments had to 20 with
P Dors. f9F ths t st ! ta me : ssid On shs sb, was poI the re- re-
Michigan TROOPS. The First Rhode Island had
button missing and was ready for Immediate
service. even to ammunition.
Gen. Davis voiced the testimony Of all the
cause of sickness in the camps. He said the
Commissary Department had not failed to sup
ply the troops. with the sustenance to which
they ara entitled. but that there, were some
complaints on account OF inefficient regimental
He thought the prime cause OF the sickness
which .developed was the indiseretion OF the
Thing and the CARLOADS ads Of express paeka9sss
from their relatives at home containing per-
ishable dainties were ressponsl6le for a large
P Pioti@ as Of one di sissae alter a 4 few @ days O e eRs st sssy
ing process with food, Of, that Kind.
The General added that the rations were
more than abundant. 4 properly cared fQry and
every day enough good food TO, supply one or
two regiments, He suggested that the rations
should be Issued to the troops ct shorter inter
t tsss ONCE ofiesr 50 ' 6el. iA %fli Sc sh N his ts 81 GSiSn1
told Of the CONSTANT receipt OF express
boxes by tho New York cavalry squadron and
s sG,o 9ntt6ses ss@ 0I syp %sTs teSe5 u f is ea frnm While ~
ease. Chief Surgeon. Girard testified along the
same line and also declared that some OF the
doctors had entered the army with the idea
having upon them the responsibility of 1000
men. Camp Alger, he said. was located In a
typhoid district. Warrington families that
brought the disease back with them. Lieut..
Col. Watts OF the Eighth Pennsylvania thought
the assistant surgeons had no heart Ia their
respond promptly to the calls OF the sick sol
diers. The health OF his regiment Is good and
he declared the complaints OF Improper food
testimony will be heard In Washington before
the full board. Gen. Beaver left for his home
at Beletonte to vote and Gen. Wilson and Cant.
Howell went back to Washington Tonight