Evening journal., 1898-10-12
THE ARMY INQUIRY.
Enior General Graham Before the
Board.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12.-Major GeR-
eral William NJ Graham was the only
witness before the war investigating
commission yesterday. He was first in
command at Camp Alger, Va, at the
beginning OF the war, and detailed the
conditions which prevailed at that
camp.
There was only one railroad running
to the camp, and the station was about
~ miles distant. No running stream
was near by, but there were many fine
springs and small brooks formed by the
springs. He thought the water supply
was sufficient when the camp numbered
no more than five regiments OF troops,
but as the troops increased Il became
necessary to dig wells. There was de-
lay in digging the wells. 40 OF which
were sunk-one for each regiment. The
supply was ample for all purposes ex-
cept bathing. The wells were well
cased, and there was no surface pollu-
ton OF them.
Before the wells were sunk, General
Graham said there undoubtedly was
some inconvenience on account OF the
necessity of going long distances for
water. 1t was also his impression that
there had been some complaints of sick
ness on account Of the water famine,
which had continued from the goth of
May until the 25th Of June, with vary
ing degrees of intensity. Much com
iplaint as there was. however, concern
ing the water supply, he had been
through campaigns before In which the
water supply was not equal to that at
Camp Alger.
General Graham did not believe that
the spring and well water had been re-
sponsible for the sickness at Camp Al
ger but was inclined to attribute much
Of the trouble to the fact that the SOL
dlers insisted upon taking the water
from the little streams running through
the camp.
! There had been considerable typhoid
fever at the camp. but II did not orlgi.
nate there and the first cases were iso.
lated During the entire stay at the
camp less than 4 per cent of the com.
mend was sick. There were SO deaths
five being those of officers. Much Of tn,
sickness was in his opinion due to deli.
cacies sent the soldiers from home, and
he had issued an order prohibiting the
sale of ice cream. pies. etc. in the camp
and all the milk sold there was ana
lyzed.
When typhoid fever began to be con
sidered an epidemic, he issued stric
orders for the detailing Of guards fo
the care Of the sinks, making any neg
lect punishable by arrest. Many othe
precautions were taken to protect TIL
men from contamination. including tn
removal Of the sick to a proper dis
tance from the kitchens. At this poin
the commission adjourned for the day
General Graham not having concluded
Surgeon General Sternberg yesterda,
sent to the war investigating commits
sion a report upon medical supple
, furnished the army, accompanying
with a letter, in which he says:
The temporary deficiency in medica
supplies at Santiago is fully accounte
for by the fact that some supplies wer
left at Tampa, Fla, and, owing to tn
rapidity with which the troops wer
disembarked at Siboney and pushed t
the front, considerable quantity q
the supplies taken were left upon tn
transports"
e Lieutenant Colonel Pope, chief SUI
= geon of the Fifth corps, in an accom-
> panying document says he left half {
the medical supplies in the storehous'
. at Tampa. Fla, because he felt certai
they would be needed by the volunte'
organizations which were constant
4 arriving there.