Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-02-16
army Of more than quarter Of q mil.

lion men.
so soon as funds were available, s,
soon as war was inevitable, so soon IA
law permitted, the quartermaster'
department undertook this enormous
work. That the quatterthaster gen
eral threw the energy Of his depart
ment into this work, when funds wer,
available, was evident, and that his OF
ficers labored faithfully in their eff
forts to aid him, is plain to those who
have carefully studied their work.
I'm spite of every effort there were
occasions where troops suffered from
poor tentage, or lack of tentage, an6
had only straw for bedding, where
clothing was scarce and troops suf
fered discomfort for lack of shoes
shirts and other articles of apparel.
Many complaints were made in ref
erence to unnecessary delays and lack
OF promptness on the part OF the
quartermaster' department in moving
regiments and in the care of sick and
convalescents returning home either
With their regiments or alone.
THE testimony shows that the first
call upon the quartermaster's depart
ment wns for ships to transport 5000
men to Cuba and that soon after the
call was increased and demand made
for steamers to transport $4,000.
Upon loading these vessels, concen"
trated at Port Tampa, it was found
that their capacity had been largely
overrated, and it was impossible to
carry upon them, without great dis
comfort and danger, more than 10000
men with their equipments, artillery,
ammunition, subsistence, medical sup.
plies and 1886 animals for a voyage Of
1000 miles. Even with this reduction
ed.
Contracts covering millions of dol
lars were made by the quartermas.
ter's department during the period
between April and October i, and
although Indifferent charges have
from time to time been made of fraud
and collision, no evidence has been
produced before the commission to
substnntiate these charges, although
the parties MAILING them have been
invited to appear.
"As to the transportation OF medical
supplies, 1t is difficult to fol-
low up the transportation owing
to large quantities being purchased
by surgeons in charge OF the medical
depots. These supplies were careful
ly boxed and frequently sent by ct
press, insuring prompt delivery.
"The delay in some instances in Sc,
curing medical supplies at Santiago
seems to have been partially due TO
carelessness in loading them on the
transports.
sowing to the lack OF necessary
transports the means Of land trans
portation, during the Santiago cam
paign, was painfully difficult"
After quoting from the testimony
given by Generals Shafter, Humphrey
and Chaffee as to lack Of ambulances
and wagons at the landing near San
tiago and I'll Caney, the report says:
at is plainly evident that this army
of $4,000 men disembarked in the face
of an enemy in hostile country and
was Immediately thrown forward
against we'll armed force, was pain
fully deficient in land transportation,
but in spite of the absence of this al
most absolutely necessary portion OF
the equipment Of we'll trained com
mand, it drove the enemy before it,
captured their outposts, pushed them
behind their main defenses, drove
their fleet from Santiago bay to abso-
lutte destruction as it faced the navy
of our country, and finally, after most
gallantly fighting under tropical
sun, amidst most adverse conditions,
captured strongly fortified city and
received as prisoners Of war over 3d.
600 Spanish soldiers"