The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-12-08
ALGER'S WAR REPORT
SECRETARY REVIEWS MILITARY
OPERATIONS.
without Criticism He Traces the Move
ment of Army AMI Navy Makes
Recomn1cn aud Gives Cost
of Operations.


| Alger, reviewing the work of the year,
and especially the operations in the Phil
| ippines, Cuba and Porto Rico, has been
made public. 1t gives a general summary
| of the military operations during the war.
Soon after the declaration of war; it
says, "a movement was contemplated
looking to the investment of Havana. and
| orders to that effect were issued, and also
for reconnaissance in force along the
| south coast of Cuba. but the movement Of
the enemy's feet changed these plans and
eliminated in the campaign of Santiago
OF Gen. Miles share in the Santiago
campaign the Secretary says:
Maj. Gen. Miles arrived off Santiago July
II. and that evening communicated with
Gen. Shafter by telephone, and on the lZtn
arrived at Gen. Skaters headquarters.
July 13 and IA he, with Gen. Shafter, met
the Spanish commander under flag OF truce
between the lines to discuss the surrender
OF the Spanish forces. On the afternoon or
July IA Gen. Miles left Gen. Skaters head
quarters and soon thereafter went on board
ship, preparatory to sailing for Porto Rico.
July IL the Spanish commander, Gen. Torai,
surrendered the city, including the troops In
Santiago and the surrendered district, over
23,OU0 men. upon cur terms. and at noon
of that date the American flag was. by order
of Gen. Shafter, holsted over the Governors
palace.
After briefly outlining the operations in
Porto Rico and the Philippines the report
continues:
Aug. IS an order was Issued to muster ont
100000 volunteers. which is being carried
out. Thus an army of about 100000 volun-
teers and recruits for the regulars was
called Into existence from civil life, which,
with the regular army. made n total Of 274,-
III men. 1t was organized. armed and
equipped (no supplies being Oh hand other
than those of the regulars, save the Spring
field muskets), and 10000 men Of this force
were transported by land and sea to battle
fields In the tropics 12.G00 miles apart, where
they won their victories without single de-
feat, and all within the period of 113 days
from the declaration Of war to the signing
OF the protocol. This great achievement can
be credited to no individual 1t belongs to
the nation. 1t was accomplished through
the intelligence and patriotism Of all who
served, frcm the commander-in-chief to the
private In the ranks. 1t also speaks vol
umeS for the prompt. patriotic and intelli-
gent assistance Of the people who furnished
In so short period the supplies necessary to
prepare this great army for the field. To
the heroic men who serve in distant fields
the country will ever offer true need Of
praise, but the mighty army in camp. ready
and eager to take the field, should also be
given equal credit. 1t was their presence,
ready at an hours notice for any emer-
gency, that Overawed the enemy and proved
to him that further resistance would be In
vain.
Smallest Death Rate In History.
The deaths In the army from May to
Oct. i. including killed, died OF wounds and
OF disease. were 2.91O the smallest death
rate recorded of any army in history, a most
gratifying fact when 1t Is considered that
over 10000 Of our troops, born and reared
In the temperate zone, were campaigning In
tropical climates, subject to rain and heat
almost unprecedented.
The volunteers mustered out were granted
one and two months furlough before dis
charge and hnal payment. In the summer
months this was an Indulgence. To do 50 in
winter months would, in many Of the States,
be hardship. In order that all may be
dealt with alike. Ii Is recommended that the
officers and men Of the volunteer troops yet
to be mustered out be given two months pay
at the time Of discharge. This would admit
OF their prompt discharge in their present
camps In the South.
In view of the needs OF a military force In
the Islands occupied by the United States 1t
Is earnestly recommended that the regular
army be permanently Increased to 100000
men and the requisite officers; that a por-
tion Of this army be recruited from the In
habitants Of those islands. to be mustered
Into the service OF the United States and
commanded by officers of our army. discre-
tion, however, to be given to the President
to make appointment of officers from the
force so recruited
Language and habits of their countrymen,
and their enlistment will NOT only give them
employment. but also have a tendency to
enable the Government TO get into closer
touch with their people than il would other
wise be able to do, This would also relieve
our people from serving In those climates to
large extent, and would. moreover, enable
the volunteers TO be mustered out Of the ser
vice and return TO their vocati0ns Of civil
life. The distinction between the regular
and the volunteer Is very sharply drawn.
The regular enters the service because he
prefers the life OF soldier. Not SO the vol
unteer. He enlists for an active campaign;
when that Is over and the enemy has laid
down Its arms he at once desires to return
to civil life.
In the cities OF Cuba. Porto Rico, and the
philippines there should also be employed
and sworn Into the service of the United
States constabulary force for police duty
men who have had experience and car speak
the language Of those Islands, thus relieving
our soldiers from that work
To supply food for the destitute especial
ly in Cuba. is q question that must tax this
Government greatly, for time at least.
The effort should be made to aid those peo-
pie by giving them work, SO that they may
feel that they are earning their own bread
instead OF living upon charity. Would It not
be wise economy for the Government Of the
United States to construct substantial
railroad, practically the whole length OF the
island Of Cuba, with branch roads to the
u
would, of course. cost 4 large sum. perhaps
20,000,OOO, but it would give employment
to the people of Cuba, teach them habits of
industry, be an inducement for them to cul-
tivate their farms and thus furnish supplies
for the laborers and for market when the
road is constructed.
This. In my judgmeE-. Is absolutely essen
tial to the pacificaton and development of
that great island. 1t will bring its minerals
lumber and agricultural products to market
and open up communication with all parts
Of the island with the least possible delay
The road would be n good property. and
when Ii had served its purpose for the Gov
ernment could be sold for its cost II such
an improvement Is rot made the Govern
ment Will. no doubt. expend fully that
amount In charity. Even il this road be
built. there is Immediate necessity for q
large appropriation 20 relieve the destitute.
The report says the supply of powder
was most troublesome question at the
outbreak of the war. There are only two
establishments in this country which man.
ufacture smokeless powder, and they own
patents upon the process. These. how
ever. like all other companies called to aid
the Government, responded with alacrity,
ran the works day and night. and produc-
ed in short time an ample supply.
The report continues:
The Krag- -Jorgensen. or a similar thirty
caNDer magazine gun, should be manufac-
tured until we have at an early date at least
100000 stands of those arms in cur arsenals,
and an ample supply Of ammunition for the
same. The sea-ccast defenses should also be
brought to completion without delay. so that
hereafter no emergency will find US unpre-
pared to meet Ii. In this connection atten-
tiOn Is called to the difference in the caiiber
of the heavy guns end small arms. In my
judgment they should be alike in both
branches of the service (army and navy, to
enable either arm to supply the other with
ammunition The reasons for this are too
patent to need elaboration.
The expenditures from ordinary appro-
priations for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1898. aggregated So. 2.534. .IS4. and the
ordinary appropriations for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1899. aggregate $50, ,652,-
035. The estimates of all amounts re-
quired for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1900. aggregate S195,2J0.31I. The extra
ordinary war appropriations made availa-
BILE until Jan. l, 1899 amounted to S221,-
Nlsy ..D.D