Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-27
WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS DE.
SIRE AN INVESTIGATION.
SAY 1T WOULD VINDIcATE Them
no COMPLAINTS RECEIVED, EXCEPT
FROM CIVILIANS.
1t Is Admitted That Field Officers and
Surgeons May Not Have Done
Their Full Duty-Hnrdship
In War, However, Is
Unavoidable.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25-General Corbin,
adjutant general of the army, says no COM
plant has reached the war department from
major general, brigadier general, colonel
or men of the army regarding want or
desttution, or lack of supplies for the care
of the troops. No demand has been made
for supplies, other than the regular req
uistions for troops which come in the ord
mary routine way. General Corbin declines
to be interviewed on the subject of the
many stories afioat regarding destitution
and mismanagement of the war, saying
that the facts will come out in due time
and the people will see for themselves what
was done.
The whole department is greatly stirred
over the many newspaper accounts of want
that has been going on, and by the crit
icism of the war department, but apparent
ly each head of bureau believes that an
investigation of the subject will vindicate
him and his department. The officers in
Washington say that the accounts of suffer.
ing have been exaggerated. but If there has
been suffering further than the incidents of
war naturally would bring about. the fault
has not been with the officers in the depart
ment.
Each officer processes to be ready and
willing that there should be an investiga-
ton. Some officers say they will welcome
complete congressional inquiry which will
bring out all the facts. No official state
ment is expected in the absence of Secre-
tary Alger. who will return tomorrow.
One of the complaints which had been
made was in regard to the Eighth New
York at Chickamauga. 1t is stated at the
war department that General Boynton, in
command at Chickamauga, has been or
dered to make thorough and complete
ieat ipp of ha
to ascertain how the men have Jared, and
report all the facts to the department. If
there has been any shortcomings, he is
instructed to ascertain who is responsible,
and include the names Of those found
faulty in his report.
There seems to have been neglect in car
rying out the order of the department, No.
116. which allowed 50 cents a day to all
soldiers in hospitals, the amount to be
general fund from which could be drawn
money to purchase delicacies and neces-
saries for the sick soldiers. This order is
dated August TO- According to the records
OF the surgeon general the order was re-
ceived there on the 18th. and sent out to
the various officers on the 18th.
1. should have reached these officers on
the 18th, especially those along the At
lantic seaboard. 1t seems, however that
If IL did reach them it was disregarded by
many surgeons. The surgeon generals Of
flee complains that other orders sent out
have not received the attention which
should have been given them. This order
No. 116. it is said, was not only sent out
through the surgeon generals Office, but
was sent direct from the adjutant gen.
erals office to the commanding officers in
the various camps. II 1t has not been car
ried out, 1t Is declared the fault has been
with the officers in command and the sur
seons in charge of hospitals. 1t is PROB
able an investigation will be made at
once to see whether the order has been dis
regarded. and why.
Officers at the war department deprecata
the manner in which complaints have been
made, on the ground that the whole mat
have bad effect on discipline. The SOL
diers. they say. will he made to believe
that they have been badly treated, that
they are being imposed upon, and at some
Gination- They fear that the troops, in
case OF some order which seems especially
hard. will take matters into their own
X is claimed that. IL the stories are all
true. it will indicate that the American
army is of very little account and cannot
bear hardship.
War is a tragedy from one end to the
other" said a prominent officer of the de-
partment to-day. There were some people
who thought 1t was a picnic. and that the
Cuba. No man who considered the mat
ter or knew anything about the climate.
the difficulties and the trials which would
have to be undergone. felt that way. They
expected haTdships. expected that the
troops would enter the heart of danger
and death. would have to face bullets and
fever. 1t is only wonderful that We have
got off SO easily. Our losses are less than
expected when the war began