Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-15
NOT RIGHT KIND.
DR.. Seaman Thinks the Army
Rations Were Unsuited
For Service in the south--T estifes
Before the Investigation.
Lieut.. Hill Tells About Landing Skaters Ex.
petition at Santiago.

Washington, Oct. 14.-Dr. Louis S.
Seaman was the principal witness be-
fore the war investigating commission,
today. He complained that the com
missary supplies furnished the troops
in Porto Rico We're unsuited to the ce-
mands of tropical climate and that
they We're especially unfit for hospital
use. He said he had been in charge of
the 200 convalescents brought North on
the OLDHAM and had been unable to Sc
cure suitable supplies for them from
the government depots. He confessed
however, that he had made no formal
written requisition, but had acted upon
statements made to him informally &c
the effect that no communication of ra
tons would be allowed. He refused to
reply to some questions, declaring.that
he had been misreDresented by the
press and saying he would not reflect
upon his superior officers while he wore
the shoulder straps of a United States
officer.
Lieut.. Hill of the navy was also a
witness. He was in charge of the land
ing of the army at Santiago and told
the story of that exploit.
The commission will devote tomor-
row to preparation for it's Southern
tour and will hold no session.
DR.. Louis l.. Seaman, major and sur
geon of the 1st Volunteer Engineers, the
forenoon witness before the war inves-
tigation commission, today, saw service
in Porto Rico. and has been quoted as
making serious charges against the
manner of conducting the war He
asked that he be permitted to have
present in the room as a friend, Mr.. T..
F. Ayreault. an attorney of New York
The request being granted he said he
would rather affirm than be sworn. He
declined to stand up for this ceremony,
saying: Il will sit; 1 don't have to
stand up" No objection was made on
testimony proceeded.
DR.. Seaman said he had never seen
any military service before the Begin
ming of the present war, but he had
studied at Princeton and afterwards
in London, Berlin and Paris. After
joining the service and before going to
Porto Rico. he was stationed with his
regiment at Camp Townsend. There
his acquisitions were promptly filed
and no regiment went to the front bet
ter prepared to cope with disease or
casualty. The command sailed south
on the Chester and there was no ser-
Gus sickness throughout the trip.
He had left Porto Rico on the goth
of Sept; the regiment had enjoyed
better health in Porto Rico than had
;.oi,
two deaths in the command during the
stay there, up to the time of his de-
parture. A regimental hospital WAS
and there was never at any
time a deficiency in medical supplies.
The same was also true of the tentage
and the ambulance supplies furnished
by the quartermaster's department.
The commissary department had also
furnished sufficient army rations, but
he complained of them as being un-
suitable for an army in the tropics
1T is the same ration used in the
Lake regions when the mercury is 40
degrees below zero. 1t is not suitable,
and the men do not want it, he said
He added that the men were ait first
denied the right to commute their ra-
hundreds complaining of the depriva-
ton of this right. He complained es-
oecially of the shortage of rice and de-
clared that officers insisted the men
should take no more fresh meat than
they desired.
He said the sick were fed with the
same army rations. He failed to Sc
cure any change of diet for his pa
tents; Notwithstanding he made fire.
luent demands upon the quartermas-
-er OF the regiment and upon the sur
seon of the corps. He was told that no
other food was issued to any regiment
n that service and that it would be
II no use to make formal requisition
N writing. However, the men in the
hospital did not suffer because the Rel
ross furnished the desired assistance.
DR.. Seaman said that he had been in
,harge of 200 convalescents on the OBJ
lam returning from Ponce. The ship
vas supplied with army travel rations,
which while plentiful and good of the
Kind, were not suitable to invalids.
He refused to give this food to his pa
tents and appealed for a different va
riety to the Red Cross and National
Aid Society. and mad been supplied by
hem with what he desired. AS con-
sequence all the patients, with ore ex-
option. gained weight and strength,
Turing that voyage. He made no for
nal requisition to the government au-
Eorities for different rations because
lie was told he could only get the regu-
ar ration and because of the willing
less of the Red Cross to furnish what
lie considered better food.
When Gov. Beaver pressed the wit
hess to explain why there was no re-
luistion made for condensed milk and
ga. he replied that Chief Surgeon
had told him that they could
lot be had.
Returning to bis story in Porto Rico.
Dr.. Seaman sgd that there had been
complaint at the hospitals of |
! deficiency of suitable supplies. There !
we're times when the Red Cross Society |
lid not have these, While there was I
10 shortage of the regular rations he !
hought many men suffered for want |
# proper food. He had been told re-
,eateIly that the GO cent a day ration