The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-12-03

TeIegraphic Correspondence he
tween the Secretary and Conn
manding General Show That
There Was an Effort at Interfer-
ence in the Porto Rican CAM
paign.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The annual
report Of Secretary AIger is practically
complete official history Of the Span
ishAmerican war.
The report proper begins with what
may be described as a chronologicaI
history Of the war, consisting Of a
number Of short paragraphs, begin
ming with the declaration of war on
April 21, and setting forth the date
upon which any event of Importance
occurred, but making no comment
whatever upon the facts. The only ex-
Ception to this rule is in a reference
to the casualties at Santiago. Some
criticism having been made that there
was a lack Of surgeons present, the
report states that there were 140 sur
geons in attendance, and that of 1,431
wounded only thirteen died of their
wounds. Touching the surrender at
Santiago, the report shows that Shaf-
ter demanded the surrender on the Sd
and renewed this demand on the 4th.
On the morning Of the 18th another
demand was made. On the evening Of
that day Gen. Miles arrived, and on
the 18th and 18th of July he, with Gen.
Shafter, met the Spanish commander
under flag of truce to discuss the
surrender. On the afternoon of the 18th
Gen. Miles left Gen. Shafter's head
quarters, and soon thereafter went
aboard ship, preparatory to sailing for
Porto Rico. July II Toral surrendered
$4,000 men upon our terms, and the
American flag was hoisted by order Of
Gen. Shafter. The report says:
THE deaths in the army from May
to Oct. l, including killed, died of
wounds and of disease, were 2,01O, the
smallest death rate recorded OF any
army in history, remarkable fact
when it is considered that over 80, 600
of our troops, born and reared in the
temperate zone, were campaigning in
tropical climates, subject to rain and
heat almost unprecedented"
The secretary says of the volunteers
that to furlough them In winter would
be hardship, so he recommends that,
in lieu Of the furlough, the officers and
men be given two months pay at the
time of the discharge, thus admitting
Of their prompt discharge In their pres
ent camps in the South.
ARMY INCREASE RECOMMENDED
Under the head Of increase In the
permanent establishment, the secre-
tary says:
I'm view Of the needs Of a military
force in the islands occupied by the
United States, it is earnestly recon-
mended that the regular army be per-
manently increased to 100000 men and
the requisite officers; that a portion Of
this army be recruited from the inhab-
itants of those islands to be mustered
into the service of the United States,
commanded by officers Of our army,
discretion, however, to be given to the
president to make appointments Of Of
fcers from the force so recruited
These men are acclimated, under
stand the language and habits of their
! countrymen and their enlistment will
not only give them employment, but
also have the tendency to enable the
| government to get into closer touch
with their people than it would other
| wise be able to do. This would also
| relieve our own people from serving
in those climates to a large extent and
would, moreover, enable the volunteers
to be mustered out of the service and
return to the avocations of civil life
Secretary Alger thinks that the gov
ernment will be greatly taxed to sup
ply food to the destitute, especially
in Cuba. The effort should be made,
he thinks to give the people work, in
stead Of allowing them to dwell in
idleness, living upon charity. He says:
Would it not be wise economy for
the government Of the United States to
construct a substantial railroad, prac-
tically the whole length of the island
Of Cuba, with branch roads to the lead
ing cities Of the coast? Such a road
would, Of course, cost a large sum,
perhaps $20,000,000; but 1t would give
| employment to the people of Cuba,
teach them habits of industry and be
an inducement for them to cultivate
their farms, and thus furnish supplies
for the laborers and for market when
the road is constructed.'
FORMIDABLE FIGURES.
The statement OF expenditures and
estimates presents some formidable
figures. The expenditures for the fiscal
year ended June 80 last, were $62, ,5S4,-
7S4, and the estimates for the next
fiscal year, beginning July 1, 1899 are
| $195, 250,3 ,377. OF this great estimate the
sum of $55, ,4SO, 500 is charged to pay Of
the army. The estimate Of extra
ordinary appropriations required for
the six months ending July 80, 1S9J
are $60.177 ,539, and the estimates for
| that period, combined with those for
the next fiscal year, reach a total Of
| $255, 427, ,917.
At this point the secretary includes
| in his report the reports Of Gen. Miles
| and all the other generals who par
ticipated in active operations. He then
| takes up the telegraphio and other
correspondence relating to the war,
and that matter occupies more than
fourth Of the secretary's whole re-
port.
The first duty for which Gen. Shafter
was selected, viz, to make a reconnoiter