The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-23
CoRBIN coNTRADICTS MILES.
OF MILES STAFF RECON-
MENDED CAMP ALGER.

Acjutant General Did Not Seriously
ADprehend War Until 1t Was De-
cInred-The Regular Army, He
said. Was Well Clothed and Fed.
Miles wanted to March Clean
Through Cuba-He Knew of No Dis
honest Contracts.
washington. Dec. 22.-Adjt. Gen. Cor
hin was the first witness before the war
investigating commission to-day and was
rigidly questioned regarding the selection
of Camp Alger, Va.
He testified that the removal of Camp
Alger was dictated by the Secretary of
War himself, and that it's original estab-
lishment was recommended by Capt Sea-
born of Gen. Miles staff. He, Gen. Cor
bin. had said at the time it could not be
a good camp ground, because there was
no sufficient range for rifle practice. He
had understood from the Secretary of War
that Gen. Miles had some thing to do with
its selection.
"Did Gen. Miles protest against or do
anything against the selection of the
camp?" he was asked.
mot to my knowledge" was the answer.
Gen Corbin added that he did not know
the reasons for discontinuance of the
camp.
Asked when he first seriously appre-
hended there would be hostilities, Gen. Cor
bin said he might say he did not seriously
contemplate war until it was a fact, for
he had hoped to the last moment that it
would be averted. On April TO- the army,
for one of its size, was well equipped and
thoroughly supplied There never was an
army, he said, better equipped better
clothed, better fed, or with better morale
than our regular army at that time. He
said prior to the war there had been no
complaints of refrigerated or canned beef,
and that they were used by the armies
of the world and in commerce. 1t was no
new experiment
Seriously speaking" said he, Il do not
think the war department contemplated
war until ii was declared by Congress
and appropriations were available. OF
course the possibilities were thought Of
but there was no general preparations eX-
cept, so far as the department was able
20 meet the possibilities that confronted
it,"
Wanted to Work the Prisoners.
DO you know anything about Gen.
Miles dispatch of June 24y-4- think let
ter to the Secretary of War, in which he
proposed 10 have the army march clean
through Cuba and take $4,000 prisoners
and work them and treat them kindly?"
Gen. Corbin was asked
Yes sir" was the answer. That letter
n
proval of the Secretary of War"
II would ask you whether the plan of
campaign against Santiago, as adopted,
was recommended by Gen. Miles?'
mo sir, do not think the recommenda-
tons made in that letter of May q were
approved" was Gen. Corbins reply.
Gen Corbin said the matter of medical
supplies and medical officers was left TO
The surgeon general, and that the Presi-
dent in every case would not listen to ap-
pointing a medical officer until recon-
mended by the surgeon general on the
ground of fitness.
No Dishonest Contracts.
Gen. Corbin was asked how it happened
if there was anything wrong at Chick
amauga and Camp Alger, that the inspec-
tor general did not report il. He replied
that he did not see any of the inspectors
reports from Chickamauga. He said he
knew of no contracts during the war that
were influenced by anything that was not
entirely honest and fair TO the govern
ment, and that there was no instance of
favoritism in making appointments.
How do you account" asked Gen.
Dodge "for all these complaints against
the various departments? ?"
''ro a want of realization of the severi-
ties of the war;
The commission then adjourned until to-
morrow.