The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-03
ROMEYNEs TESTIMONY.
Conduct OF the Cuban Campaign Crit
icised by q COrrespOndent.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.-The war investi-
day for the purpose of hearing the testi-
mony of Maj. Henry Romeyne, 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 correspondent of weekly news
paper. His testimony covered the embarka-
tion 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 regiment, but no one
could tell him where the regiment was to be
found. He asked 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, in con-
sequence of which part of command
would go on one vessel and part on an
other and the commands were in some cases
separated from their stores. He had seen
no order for the systematic embarkation Of
the troops and he had heard it said that
they were told to go aboard heller SHELTER.
When asked to express an opinion as to
the preparation for the embarkation, wit
ness hesitated, saying that to do so would
involve criticism of his superiors The COM
missioners insisted upon reply and Mr..
Romeyne 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 prepara-
ton for landing. When the landing was
undertaken the troops left the ships indis-
criminately, parts going at one time and
other parts at other times" He told of
the effort to tow two 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 General
McCook, Major Romeyne said that while
it was difficult to land anything, ambu-
lances 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 used for conveying
the wounded to the rear. Speaking of other
incidents of this battle he said there was
general surprise that an inflated balloon 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. with
out exception, the dirtiest place he had
made to clean it up before the fever broke
out. There was deficiency of proper food
at the fever hospitals and the cooking was
generally poor. Any one in this hospital
was liable to contract yellow fever. He had
been a patient in the hospital and said
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 hospitals to
work sixty hours without cessation.
"Why did they not have more surgeons?"
asked Colonel DENLY.
The witness said he could not answer.
Major Romeyne said he had come North
| as a convalescent with many other con-
| valescents on the transport Concha- and he
| severe terms. Many of the men were COM
| blankets or pillows and with no covering at
/ during the day THE water was offensive
| to both sight and SMELL he said. land the
| food was poor and scanty, none being pro-
| yided especially for convalescents. The
| meat was canned and inferior and much of
/ the bareback nodded" He also stated that
| there was only one physician aboard the
vessel and that he was a convalescent Six
| men had died on the way un, and Major
/ Romeyne expressed the opinion in response
/ to a question from Captain Howell, that
1 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 responsibility for the neglect. but
/ That the captain of the vessel had stated
that VIXEN he made application TO so 70