The San Francisco call., 1898-11-21

been taken In regard to this report. Whel seen yesterday concerning the repor General Merriam discussed 1t and its con tents freely with the representative O. The Call, and made some very pertinen remarks concerning it. He said:
 'tI have the report on my desk, but have not yet read it, although l know what is in it. You can say that 1t con tains nothing sensational and that there will be no court-martial. AS commander of this department I am responsible for its conduct and discipline, and when as an officer I think that there has been a breach of either my punishment will be swift and without mercy.
 Prior to this investigation report was made by a board of officers on the camp at Fort Baker. It was found to be a model camp, the sanitary arrangements excellent and the discipline firm. This argues in favor of the officers there. l know that some of the enlisted men are in the habit of going to the newspapers and giving tales of woe. but these same men, when put on the stand and very very different statements. The. re- been the facts as given by the enlisted men. but these same men have told very different accounts under oath, and there is no evidence to support the charges that they have given to the newspapers.
 I. his life to the military profession, l claim to know what I am talking about. These same men who are kicking have never known the same comforts that they nave in the army. It is because they are be- ing cared for and disciplined as they should be that they kick. It is contemp.. tible for them to go behind tnelr oIlcers backs and thus seek to attack them. Much of the trouble that has been pub lished in the papers regarding the treat ment of the volunteer troops IS the result of the officers not knowing how to take care of their men. Soldiers in the regular army under the stricteSt discipline do not grunble because they have the principles of the soldier ground into them, but the volunteers have raised howls under iden- tically the same treatment:
 "Regarding the reports that Lieutenant Huie is short in his accounts al fort that such is not the case. His accounts are correct and perfectly satisfactory to the department and here the matter enos. The public will be disappointed 1T It ex- nects any sensational developments or court martial. I shall do what my 1udg- ment dictates to me Is the right thing to be done but there IS notnlng III Ine fspors por to warrant the punishment oi tue oi1|oA9
 "Take for instance, the grumBling that was done when the army was nrst t,,n en, camped here because the men sometimes did not have supplies It was because their officers did not know now 10 make out the requisitions Tor them. me res u, .
 
 night remained up to teach and show them how to do so. The Government, you know, requires that every button snail De accounted for, and that in the proper way and with the proper acquisitions and vouchers; and for quartermaster to have sent these supplies out without a him to jeopardize his pay for all time to come. I cite this to show that there are ar many things in the army of whicn the civilian knows nothing To be a soldier re- ouires a special education: Men give their lives to it, and when they die much Is left unlearned. You cannot be a sol months.
 "In the army and under the. established laws and regulations made for It's gov, ernment an officer knows how to proceed in all matters, and what the public may think of him has not a feathers weight of influence; and l, as the commander oi this department, know how to act prop erly in this matter, and intend to do SC without fear or favor,"