Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-27

her sive fOrethought and the unfailing
competency to meet every exisency
which have distinguished their delibera-
tions and action. May it not be said that
not one error has been made? Proper
control by the department has been ex-
ercised over all movements in the field,
and yet at the same time commanding
officers have been duly left to exercise
discretion. and have never been ham,
pered in their work. 1 do not know how
your work, as members Of that import
ant board, could have been better done,
or where In the arena of the war you
could have rendered better service or
deserved more honor.
Washington, Aug. 25-If the COM
manding general of the army really said
what he was alleged to have said by the
Porto Rican correspondent of the Kan
sas City Star 1t is impossible to prevent
an investigation of the war department,
and 1t Is difficult to see how a court
martial can be avoided.
BY implication General Miles charges
the secretary of war with being privy to
a conspiracy to injure him. His at
tack on General Corbn Is not 50 vague.
that officer. Secretary Alger was out
of town yesterday. and therefore no
statement could be obtained from him,
but General Corbin, when asked for an
expression of opinion, said: II have
seen what purports to be an interview
with General Miles. do not believe he
used the terms accredited to him. He Is
too old and too discreet an officer and
too good a man to indulge in such criti-
cism."
Washington, Aug. 25-Within the next
week all the men called from various
states to man ships of the auxiliary navy
will be on their way home, with the pos
sible exception of those on the four
monitors around Boston. The depart
ment Is deluged with inquiries as to how
soon these naval mlitiamen can return
home. The letters come not only from
relatives. but from business firms, which
say that as the war Is over they want
their clerks to return to duty. These
influences have been aided by pressure
from senators and congressman, and the
department feels some satisfaction in
stating that all the men will be released
by Sept. l except those on the monitors.
who are mainly from Maine and Massa-
chusetts. delay in their cases being due
to the necessity of sending tugs to con-
voy the monitors to the League island
navy yard. Philadelphia, where the
crews will be let go.
South birmingham, Aug. 25.-A vote
WAS taken in the camp of the Fifth
regiment yesterday on the question Of
remaining in service after discharge.
About 70 percent voted to join the reg
ular army. The result of the vote Is
to be sent to Washington, and it is
understood that influence will be
brought to bear to have the men 60 into
active service.
The vote was polled in quite a novel
fashion in order that 1t would repre-
sent the actual opinion Of the men. Col
onel Whitney and Sergeant Major
Buechner instructed each company in
the form of ballot. Slips Of paper were
distributed to each man. who wrote yes
or no on one. depositing 1t In a box.
Finally the boxes We're collected and the
vote canvassed. The result OF Is per-
cent IL little under the estimate of the
favorable vote anticipated. 1t was
placed at 80 percent. The officers are
yet to vote. but 80 percent are expected
to favor garrison duty.
General Wilson will shortly permit the
reopening of the Ponce. Porto Rico, sa-
looms and cafes, but will prohibit the
sale of liquor by the drink until a license
system shall have been established.