The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-09-23
ALGER AT CHICKAMAUGA.
He Makes Thorough Inspection Of
the Military Camp.

CI1AI IANoOGA (Ienn), Sept. 81
Secretary of War Alger, Surgeon Cen
eral Sternberg and party have made
a thorough inspection of Chickamauga
to-day. The party left the city in their
special car at SIS o'clock this morn
ing, and since have been engaged going
from place to place over the battle
field. The first place visited was Letter
Hospital, where about an hour was
spent.
From Letter Hospital the party went
to Sternberg Hospital, where another
hour was spent. In both hospitals
General Alger and Surgeon Sternberg
spoke cheering words to every one OF
the many patients, and shook hands
with every nurse. One remark the
Secretary repeated was: Il honor you.
brave boys, as much as l do any of
the war heroes
AT IL O'Clock the visitors got to Lyt-
tie. They We're met by the entire Sixth
Regiment, Z. S. V. The General re-
viewed the regiment on dress parade,
and highly complimented them A
salute of fifteen guns was fired in his
honor by military squad At noon
the General returned to his car, where
he spent some time looking after ac-
cumulated correspondence and receiv-
ing callers. The party returned to the
city at $50 o'clock
After a banquet at the Reed House
tonight the visitors left at 10 o'clock
for Huntsville.
During the day General Alger would
not express himself on the conditions
which have prevailed at the army
fllr, or0cs
did say, however, without being asked.
that the present condition of the hos
pitfalls is far better than he expected,
and practically all that he could de-
sire.
Before leaving Chattanooga. General
Alger said to a reporter: THE press
has been disposed to exaggerate the
condition of some of the camps. and
things have been charged against the
War Department which We're untrue
and unwarranted. 1 want the facts,
and all the facts, to come out, and
have nothing to withhold from the
public.
The great trouble has been that the
people have not appreciated the i'm
mense problem of forming an army Of
2oO,OO0 volunteers without arms and
without necessary equipment. The
Spanish war came on us almost like a
bolt from clear sky, and it found
every branch of the War Department
unprepared for the task of equipping
and handling such a vast number of
unframed men,
For a time there was difficulty in
furnishing supplies and equipment for
the troops. but that was TO he ex
pected. The department had only a
limited supply of tents, and it had
practically no wagons nor ambulances
20 start with. There were a thousand
and more details to look after and a
fairly disposed public will understand
the disadvantages with which the War
Department worked for many weeks.
AS fast as possible supplies and equip
mentS were sent to the several camps.
and If there has been any lack of medi-
cines and necessaries of life the fault
is with commanding officers of the
camps.
There may have been some incom-
petent officers, Generals and Colonies.
in charge of some of the camps. and
if such is found to be the case they
will be held strictly to account for
their misdeeds. If there are any COM
mandlng officers who are now incom-
petent, or who fail to put their camps
in first-class condition and keep them
that way, I propose that they shall be
replaced by men who are competent
and who will see that perfect sanitary
conditions are established and main
tanned