The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-13
Suffering of the Troops.

VI thC
In spite of every effort there were oc-
caslons where troops suffered from poor
tentage, or from lack of tentage, and abb
sence of straw for bedding, where cloth
ing was scarce, and troops suffered dis
comfort for lack of shoes, shirts, and other
articles of apparel. This was noticed even
as late as October in the camps at An
niston, Huntsville, and Lexington, while
at Huntsville Ala, and Fort Monroe, Va,
in spite of the cool nights, there was a
lack of stoves in the hospitals and at
Huntsville the supply of wood was short
With some of the troops sent from San
Francisco to Manila the deficiency In shoes
of proper size continued even up to Au-
gust 81.
"At Santiago the deficiency at the front
appears TO have been caused rather from
lack of transportation from the coast than
from lack of clothing and tentage, sup
ply of which was on the transports.
Great complaint was made of lack of
transportation facilities at the camp at
Montauk Point, N. Y.
Many complaints were made in refer
enee to unnecessary delays and lack of
promptness in moving regiments, and in
the care of sick and convalescents re-
turning home.
Complaints at Tampa.
Great complaint was made of the rail-
road congestion at Tampa and the abso-
lutte lack of ability to bring order out of
chaos at that place during the early part
of the period of its occupancy by troops
Supplies for 10000 men for ninety days
were ordered there The confusion at
Tampa was very great, 1000 cars being
sidetracked, some of them as far back as
Columbia, S. @.
I'm the hurry and rush the contents of
cars were unknown at Tampa; bills of lad
ing We're not forwarded, and 1t seemed i'm
possible for time to determine where alb
solutely necessary articles were located.
'eThe condition of the railroad conges-
ton during the early portion of the time
Tampa was occupied by troops seems Iln-
paralleled, showing an almost inexcusable
lack of executive ability on the part of
those charged with the loading, unloading
and handling of the trains. st4Y
Gen. Humphrey testified that there
were very poor facilities for transfer
ring troops and supplies arriving at Tam
pa via the Florida Central and Peninsu-
lar Railroad to the Plant System to 90
direct to Port Tampa. Order was finally
brought out of chaos, the cars unloaded.
the congestion overcome
Congestion also occurred at Chicka-
manga Park, probably with not SO seri-
GUS results as at Tampa.
Crowding of the Transports.
"The first call upon the quartermaster's
department was for ships to transport
5000 men to Cuba. Soon after the call was
increased to transport 25,00O. The fleet of
transports concentrated at Port TAMPA
Fla, for transportation of these $4,000 men
to Cuba consisted of thirty-eight vessels
Upon loading these vessels it was found
that their capacity had been largely over
rated, and ii was impossible to carry upon
ger, more than 5000 men, with their
equipment, and 2,295 animals, for a voyage
of 1000 miles. Even with this reduction
the vessels appear to have been crowded
Had the fleet encountered severe storm
while en- route to Cuba the discomfort
would have been intense, and there might
have been loss of life. The quarternnas-
ter's department ought to have been able
to more thoroughly equip these vessels
and surely it should have been more GER
tain of their carrying capacity. A suffI-
Gent number of vessels for Transporting
25 600 men should have been secured even
had such action rendered necessary the
seizure of every steamer on the Atlantic
and Gulf coasts sailing under the Ameri-
can flag.
Testimony shows that the vessels were
not loaded systematically. The Second
Seventh and Seventeenth Regular Infantry
were each divided up. and portions in
each case sent on three different vessels.
Complaints of Delay.
"Gen. James H. Wilson, United States
Volunteers, testifies that his command
while en- route for Porto Rico, was delay
ed two weeks in Charleston, S. c.. by fail
ure of the transports to arrive.
''Thirty-six vessels arrived at Porto
Rico, without invoices 10 show their con-
| tents, causing much confusion and requir-
ing the overhauing of the entire cargo
| in order to learn the contents of the ship
Contracts covering millions of dollars
| were made by the quartermaster's depart
| ment during the period between April 1
and oct. /, and, although indefinite charges
have from time to time been made Of fraud
and colusion,, no evidence has been pro-
duced before the commission TO substan-
tate these charges, although the parties
making them have been invited to appear.
As to Medical Supplies.
at Is somewhat difficult to follow IN the
transportation of medical supplies. The
delay in some Instances in receiving medi-
cal supplies at Santiago seems to have
been partially due to the cerelessness. in
loading them on the transports This is
shown in the case of the steamship La
Grande Duchesse, which left Charleston.
S. c.. Julys20 Upon unloading the vessel
at Ponce. on July 2S. a large supply of
medical stores was found upon her des-