The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-03
STORY OF
THEFIGHT
Such Really Is the Annual
Report Of Secretary
Of War AIgef.
ALL DETAILS ARE GIVEN
Record OF Events Is Complete,
ana Supplemented With
Explanations.
AN ABSENCE OF CRITICISM
Secretary Has Avoided UnkInd Refer
enes to Officers. but Lets Dis
patches Tel the Story.
AN ABSENCE OF CRITICISM

WASHINGTON Dec 2--The annual re-
port Of Secretary Alger h a practically
complete official history Of the Spanish.
American war.
Tho secretary has given 70 the public
not only ali the official dispatches that
passed directly between his own Office
and commanding officers In the field and
camps. but has supplemented these with
short explanatory notes. setting forth
the reasons FOR various movements. and
then. TO complete the record OF events.
he has included in the body Of his re.
port tho report OF General Miles. Of all
the generals who participated IN the
campaign In Cuba. Porto Rico and the
Philippines, and. finally. the reports OF
all tho bureau officers OF the war de-
partment
/ Nowhere Is there shown a disposition to
criticlae, tho official dispatches being al
lowed TO tell their own story. and gem
orally. the secretary finds much to praise
and cause for sincere eongratulatlon in
the results obtained.
The report proper begins with what
may be- described as a chronological his
tory OF the war consisting OF a number o.
short paragraphs beginning with the
declaration OF war on April q. and set
ting forth the date upon which any event
OF Importance occurred. but making no
comment whatever upon the facts. The
only exception to this rule Is In the refer
ence to the casualties around Santiago.
Some criticism having been made that
there was a lack OF surgeons present,
the report states that there were llO sur
geons In attendance. and that OF H. lsl
wounded only u died OF their wounds.
! The secretary. coming down In his his
tory TO tho middle Of August. when an
order was issued. which Is now in execu-
ton. to muster out 10000 volunteers,
says;
Thus an army Of about 200 volunteers
and recruits FOR the regulars was called
Into existence from civil life, and includ-
Ing the regular army. the total force was
FAM men. II was organized. armed
and equipped mo supplies being on hant
other than those for the regulars save
Springfield muskets), and $1,000 men OF
this force were transported by land and
sea to batiledelds in the tropics. lO.OOt
miles apart where they won their vic
tories without single defeat. and n
within tho period OF one hundred and
thirteen days from the declaration OF
war 70 the signing OF tho protocol
This great achievement can be credited
to no individual; It belongs to the ma.
tlon. It was accomplished through the
Intelligence and patriotism OF all whC
served. from the commander In chief tC
tho private In the ranks. II also speak:
volumes for the prompt patriotic and in
telllgent assistance OF the people whC
furnished, IN so short n period. the sup
piles necessary 10 prepare this great
army for tho field.
To the heroic men who served in dis,
tant lands, the country will ever offer {
true need OF praise. but the mighty arm,
in camp, ready and eager to take the field
should also be given equal credit. II wa,
their presence. ready at an hours notlc,
for any emergency, that overawed tn,
enemy and proved to him that further re
slstance would be in vain
The deaths In the 1my from May
to October /. incldhRg killed, died o.
wounds and of disease. were 2OlO tn,
smallest death rate recorded In any arm,
In history, a remarkable fact when 1
Is considered that over $1,000 OF ou
troops, born and reared In the temper
ate zone, were campaigning in troplca
; climates subject to rain and heat al
most unprecedented.
The secretary says OF the volunteer
that to turlough them In winter wonV
be hardship. so he recommends that 4
lieu OF the furlough the officers and me,
be given two months pay at the tim
OF their discharge thus admitting o
their prompt discharge In the presen
camps In the south.
Under the head Of increase in the per
manent establishment, the secretar
says;
In view Of the needs Of q military fore
In tho Islands occupied by the Unite
| States, It Is earnestly recommended tina
the regular army be permanently In
creased to 100000 men and the requlsit
officers; that a portion of this army b
recruited from the inhabitants of thos
Islands, to be mustered into the serviC
Of the United States, commanded by of
GERS of our army, discretion, however, |
be given to the president to make al
pointments OF officers from the force S
recruited.
Another suggestion is that there shou'
be employed In the United States servi
"a constabulary force for the cities
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippine
who have had experience and can spes
the language OF the islands.
Secretary Alger thinks that the Cover,
ment win be greatly taxed to supply fo'
for the destitute. especially In Cuba, II
| effort should be made. he thinks. to 81