The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-21

On my return to the United States from
Santiago / was greatly astonished at the
ignorance that exists of how lie campaign
in Cuba has really been conducted. don't
know whether this arises from the disin-
clination of correspondents TO write things
that would be disagreeable reading for the
American public or whether it arises from
a want of knowledge of how military
operations such as this campaign, are
carried on by civilized nations. Against
this latter theory is the fact that / be-
Heye several American correspondents
were with the Greek army in the war last
gear and their experiences there should
have formed some standard in their
minds.
The people of the United States seem
totally unaware that in the commisSary,
transport, engineering and army medi-
cal departments of their army they have
afforded the world an example of inef-
nciency and Incompetence absolutely with
out parallel in modern times. Speaking
generally II may be said that not one
single regiment has been properly fed
since landing in Cuba. and in many in
stances TO my personal knowledge and OBJ
servation the men have been for several
days in painful bodily hunger. 1 think
II Is not surprising that sickness is now
spreading to such an alarming extent
their arrival in this trying climate were
weakened by want of food. When the
hghting was hottest through dense cover
ana at San Juan the men on the fighting
line got nothing for days but small sup
ply of hard bread and coffee. ITp to the
date / left many of the regiments. es-
pecialiy that encamped on the right of
what was the line of intrenchments be-
lore the capituiation, were still complain
ing OF not getting enough to eat
On July - a man who was acting = :
cook for a company in the Rough Riders
1otd me that his duties had been very
ight for some days before, as he got
nothinS TO cook but +-hardtack" and
coffee until the day before. when they
had got a little bacon With regard 20
the transport department. first 1t must
be borne in mind that everyone was
aware We had 10 face a campaign dur
ing the rainy season. This year the
rain has been exceptionally light Many
natives / spoke to said that for many
years back they could not recall cor
Responding period with so little rain
Secondly, the fighting line was only
twelve miles distant from the base of
supplies at Siboney In the English cam
paign in Ashanti the troops al Coomas-
sic, 10 miles from the coast, in addition
10 being well fed. were kept supplied with
a total want OF intelligent system
throughout the American transport de-
partment. While most of the regiments
were hungry and the starving women at
CaEey were wandering around the bushes
driven to trying TO barter their most pre-
ciOus possessions for bareback, five wa
CONS Were employed bringing oats for the
officers horses at Gen. Skaters head
quarters. and several others We're en-
ployed bringing that useless black powder
ammunition for the volunteers. Rifles
Employing black powder ammunition
should now be regarded as obsolete an
arm in modern warfare as bows and ar
rows. In one way il would have been
preferable to have armed the United
States volunteers with bows and arrows,
as these would not have made the men
a mark.
The engineers in point of inefficiency
ran the commissary very close. Between
Gen. Skaters headquarters and the front
the main road crosses streams in four
places. The streams are narrow, the
water about knee deep during dry days,
but after rain rising 10 a torrent that
runs breast high. Only in one place was
there a bridge. which got carried away
after a few days, but was subsequently
rebuilt OF course there was great traf-