The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-01

has been subjected to some unjust criti-
cism on the selection Of troops for active
service anG pronounces as without founda-
ton the allegation that politics have die
tated the assignments. In the case of the
Fifth Illinois Volunteer Regiment which
was withdrawn from the Porto Rican ex-
pedition in favor of the Indiana Regiment,
just as the troops were about to board the
cars, it has been already explained by au-
thority that the change was made in recog-
milton of the business of the complaint that
Illinois already had two regiments in active
service at the front. while Indiana had not
one. Even in that case, however, Secretary
Alger did not make the selection of the
regiment TO be held back: he simply in
structed the general commanding the expe-
dition to select one Illinois regiment for de-
tention without designating it.
Secretary Alger is Fastening the prepara-
tions at Montauk Point for the reception
of the Fifth Army Corps now at Santiago
Surgeon General Sternberg has just dis
patched Colonel Forwood, of his bureau, to
the site of the camp with instructions to
erect at once hospital capable of accom-
modating no less than five hundred soldiers
General Shafter has been authorized by
cablegram from Secretary Alger to notify
his soldiers of the good fortune in store
for them in order that the men may be
cheered up to wait with patience for their
removal. This cannot be effected immediate
ly owing to the condition of the men them
selves. The present plan is to begin as soon
as possible the transportation to Montauk
Point of such of the soldiers as have recov-
| cred from the fever and those who have
not yet contracted it. The sick must wait,
because the physicians say that the climatic
| change involved in bringing them north
would prove fatal in many cases.
But the delay is not likely to be extended.
Surgeon General Sternberg says that con-
valescence in fever of type as mild as
that at Santiago does not usually occupy
more than ten days, although as the season
runs on and the virulence increases this
period is greatly extended. As soon as that
period is passed the men will be embarked
for home. The matter of transports for this
work is already under consideration and is
likely to be adjusted very satisfactorily.
The Navy Department has concluded that
| it can dispense with the four big American
| line steamers, formerly known as New
| York, st. Louis, st. Paul and Paris and
| the War Department has begun negotiat-
| tions for chartering them. Mr. Grscom, the
| president of the line, will meet Colonel
| Hecker, in charge of transportation, to-
| morrow by appointment at the War De-
partment. to make the necessary arrange
ments by which the soldiers of the Fifth
Corps can make flying trip on the vessels
from Cuba to the North.
The War Department has corrected
statement made yesterday as to the re-
| markable casualties among the officers of
the Twenty-fourth Infantry, in connection
with the death of Captain Dodge. What
was meant to have been stated was that
every captain of the regiment had been
either killed or incapacitated by wounds or
disease since taking the field in the present
campaign, and not that every captain had
been killed or had died.