The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-10
ALGER AND SHAFTER CONFER.
THEY WITNESS REVIEW OF
TROOPS AT CAMP MEADE.

CIOseted Together In the Secrctary's
Private Car-They Were old Conn
rades In the Civil Warden. Shaf-
ter Denies That Any Friction Ex-
lists Betwecn Gen. Miles and Him
self, and Does Not Understand the
Meaning of All the Talk About 1t.
Gen. AIger Proceeds to His Home
at DetrOit-Gen. Shafter to Meet
Gen. Miles In Washington.
Camp Meade, Middletown, Pa, Sept. O.
Secretary of War Alger and Gen. Shafter
were at Camp Meade to-day. They wit
messed a review of the troops and made
hurried tour of the camp.
Gen. Alger resumed his journey at noon
to Detroit and Gen. Shafter went to
Washington They were closeted togeth-
er an hour this morning in the secretary's
private car, which was run onto siding
at Camp Meade station.
While Gen. Graham was arranging for
the review, Secretary Alger and Gen.
Shafter had another conference, lasting
thirty minutes. What passed between
them neither would say, except that Ii
was a private affair.
Gen. Shafter said the secretary was a
very dear friend and that they had been
in the civil war together as colonels. He
is at work on his report of the Santiago
campaign and expects to complete 1t to-
morrow.
Speaking of the controversy with Gen.
Miles. he said: "It is all poppy-cock. There
is no friction between Gen. Miles and my
self, at least there was not when he left
Santiago. Our relations have always been
pleasant and 1 do not understand the
meaning of all this talk. The general may
have been talking, but believe that much
of it is due to antagonistic newspapers
whose motives are certainly not patriotic"
Gems. Alger and shafter were driven to
Gen. Grahams headquarters in a open
carriage. After being received by Gen.
Graham and his staff the secretary was
asked if he would like a review. He said
he would and the entire corps of 10000
troops was massed in two great fields and
marched before Gen. Graham and staff
and his distinguished guests. 1t was an in
spring sight and Secretary Alger and
Gen. Shafter were very much pleased.
Both said they were delighted with the
camp and the superb arrangements. Secre-
tary Alger complimented Chief Surgeon
Girard on the sanitary condition of the
camp and gave directions to extend the
water system to the general and .Fegimental
hospitals. He said II was too early to de-
termine whether this would be made a
permanent barracks.
Gen. Alger will spend week at his home
in Detroit, after which he will make
tour of all the camps, beginning at Gin
cinnati and going to Lexington, Knoxville,
Chattanooga, and as far South as Jack
sonvllle He will also visit the hospitals to
see If the sick and injured are properly
cared for.
When asked what he had to say about
the criticisms of the war department,
the secretary replied that the people have
no idea of the great task of equlpping
and sending an army across the water.
THE war department" he added, ASKS
no favors all it wants and expects is fair
treatment"
Gen. Shafter expects to meet Gen. Miles
tomorrow In Washington. He said the
Santiago campaign was one of the most
successful in history. His army was in
position where he could not retreat and it
was necessary to force the fighting. Many
chances were taken which would not have
been taken in the face of any other army
than that of Spain.