The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-02-16
and we're not forwarded to the war Dc.
" llL tIil. sls
Was Not Prepared for war.

ixede 1t appears that within q few weeks
and eaninnie TO provide for clothing iG
men. So soon as funds were available so
S soon as war was inevitable, SO soon as law
ment undert the tS,s depart.
Tue ene quartermaster general threw the en-
eergy OF his department into his work when
his officers labored faithfully in their ef-
I0rts to aid him, Is pain to those who have
carefully studied their work. + -
Some Of the Complaints. i
IN spite Of every effort there were occa-
age or lack Of tentage and absence of straw
Tor bedding. where clothing was scarce
ano troops suffered discomfort for lack of
At Santiago the deficiency at the front ap-
pears to have been caused rather from lack
or transportation from the coast than from
w 1aSk or clothing and tentage, supply of
Wn!cn was on the transports. Great COM
plant was made of lack of transportation
faculties at the camp at Montauk Point,
eren =; Many complaints; were made in ref +.
promptness on the part Of the quartermas-
ter's department in moving regiments and
In the care of the sick and convalescents
returning home either with their regiments
or alone. Great complaint was made ofthe
railroad congestion At Tampa and the abb
solute lack Of ability to bring order out of
chaos at that place during the early part
Of the period Of its occupancy by troops.
The major general commanding has stated
that supplies for % oo9 men for 90 days were
! railroad when he reached Tampa was very
great, 1000 cars being sidetracked, some Of
| them as far back as Columbia. S. c..
Lack OF Executive Ability.
1T IS stated that in the hurry and rush
the contents OF cars were unknown at
Tampa; that bills of lading were not for
Warded. and that it seemed impossible for a
! time to determine where absolutely neces-
articles r6 Of he
quartermaster's department., testifies that
this was corrected later on. when the con-
them and bills Of Iadins promptly forward
ed. The condition of the railroad conges-
ton to d. during the early portion of the time
paraileled. showing an almost inexcusable
| lack of executive ability on the part Of
those charged with the loading, unloading
Gen. Humphrey testify that there were
very poor facilities for transferring troops
| and supplies arriving at Tampa via the
Florida Central railroad to the Plant sys-
tenn, leading direct to Port Tampa. Order
was finally brought out of chaos, the cars
unloaded. the congestion overcome and a
vast amount Of supplies of every character
delivered at this immense encampment.
Water Transportation.
With reference to the vessels used to
transport troops to Cuba, the report says
ut was shown by evidence that their ca
pacity had been largely overrated and it
out great discomfort and danger, more
than 5000. instead of $4,000. men, with their
equipments, artillery. ammunition, sub
sistence. medical supplies and 1895 animals
for a voyage of 1000 miles.
THE quartermaster's department ought
to have been able to more thoroughly
equip these vessels, and surely it should
have been more certain of their carrying
capacity A sufficient number of vessels
for transporting $1,000 men, with the re-
should have been promptly furnished, even
had such action rendered necessary the
seizure of every steamer on the Atlantic
! flag.
Land Transportation.
owing to the lack of necessary trans
ports the means of land transportation dur
ing the Santiago campaign was painfully
! deficient. The testimany shows that the
transports arrived off the south coast of
Cuba near Santiago on June Il; that the
the first wagons were landed on June Is,
and that the landing of the latter was con-
tinued more. rapidly than they could be
of those that were landed were never set
up at all. Gen. Chaffee testifies that on
July l, at the battle Of Ell Caney, ten days
no ambulances or wagons available and
that the roads were so horrible that they
could not reach the front.
1T is plainly evident that this army of
1900 men disembarked in the face of an
enemy in a hostile country, and rapidly
force. was painfully deficient in land trans
portation, but in spite of the absence of this
almost absolutely necessary portion of the
drove the enemy before it, captured I their II
outposts, pushed them behind their main
defenses, drove their fleet from Santiago
navy Of our country, and finally, after most
gallant fighting under a tropical sun
amidst most adverse conditions, captured
strongly fortified city ~ and an received as
9niSh
diers.
OF the department under charge of Gen.
Eagan as commissary general the report
says: 1.-The commission has carefully in
vestigated the subject Of the condition.
quality and quantity of the fosa supplied
has been shown by the testimony taken
| that wherever the troops were ordered,
! whether to the various camps in the United
States or in Porto Rico, Cuba and Manila,
! the rations prescribed by law were on the
transports and at the camps with the SOL
! diers. So far as we have been able to as
certain there was but one occasion, that of
| a day. in front of Santiago when the troops
| were seriously short of rations; these had
! been supplied. but thrown aside when the
men went into action: the condition of
! roads and lack of transportation prevent
ed prompt reissue. At times the vegeta bic
and spee 5hf
| by board of survey, such vegetables were
| DESTROYED and an equivalent part of the
| ration issued. some trouble occurred be-
cause such vegetables and other DANA ged
| food were disposed Of by the company
without the warrant of board of survey
This was done through ignorance, their
officers not knowing what was necessary
| to be done.
Refrigerated Beef.
This commission was organized the
Path day of September last: Up to the 21st
| testimony in II different towns and cities
and nine camps 1t had also received many
! hundred letters, communications and
in ali parts Of the Country. Examin lions
of numerous officers and enlisted men had
been made as to the quality and condition
| testimony, with some exceptions, showed
that the refrigerated beef issued was pure
| sound and wholesome.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, upon the written re-
quest Of the president Of this commission
appeared before It, He refused to be
cept one, who affirmed, stating that he
| would make his statements without being
! sworn and was responsible for what he
said; He proceeded. and fer the first time
| in the history of this Investigation the al
legation was made that refrigerated beef
| issued to the troops had been chemically
treated.
Gen. Miles Charge.
I'm the statement, revised by himself
Gen. Miles said: There was. sent to Porto
refrigerated beef, which you might cali en-
| balmed beef, He proceeded to read a com
| munication from DR.: w. HI: Daily, major
and chief surgeon United States volun-
teers. on his staff, bearing date of Sep
! TENDER q, 1895, wherein DR.. Daily stated
that: In the several inspections made in
the various camps and troopships at Tam
| Rico 1 found the fresh beef to be appar-
emily preserved with secret chemicals
which destroy it's natural flavor, and which
| I also believe to be detrimental to the
health of the troops
although DR.. Daily swears that he in
formed Gen. Miles about the LIST of August