Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-12-03

/ w achlAdION5 lICC- Os-l ut duuGdl
report Of Secretary Alger contains what
may be described as a chronological his
tory of the war, consisting of a num-
Der OF short paragraphs. beginning
with the declaration of war on April 81
| and setting forth the date upon which
any event of importance occurred. but
makes no comment whatever upon the
facts. The only exception to this rule
is II he reference to the casualties at
Santiago. some criticism having been
made that there was lack of surgeons
present, the report states that there
were i40 SUI eons ii attendance, and
that of ~ ,ounded only 10 died of
then .9ounas. Touching tne surrender
at oaatIa@o, the report shows that
Shatter demanded the surrender Oh the
3D., and renewed this demand on the
4th. On the morning of the 18th an
9th er demand was made. On the even
ing of that day General Miles arrived
and on the 18th and 14th of July, he,
with General Shafter, met the Spanish
commander under flag of truce to dis
cuss the surrender. On the afternoon
of the l4th, General Miles left General
Skaters headquarters and soon there.
after went aboard ship preparatory to
sailing for Porto Rico. July II fora
surrendered $4,000 men upon eur terms
and the American flag was hoisted by
order of General Shafter.
The secretary coming down ia his
history to the middle OF August, when
an order was issued, and is now IN ex.
ecutlon to muster out 100000 volun
teers, says:
Thus IN army of about 250,O1O volunteer
and recruits for the regulars was called intt
existence from civil life, and, including tbs
regular army. the total force was PA, III men
1t was organized, armed and equipped mo sup
plies being on hand other than those Tor tht
regulars, save Springfield muskets), aud 50,0dt
men of this force were transported by lane
and sea to battlefelds in the tropics I0O0l
miles apart, where they won their victorie.
without single defeat and all within thu
period of ll3 days from the declaration OF wal
to the signing of the protocol.
This great achievement can be credited tt
no individual; it belongs to the nation 1t wa.
accomplished through the intelligence and pa
triotism of all who served, from the comman
der-in-chief to the private in the ranks. Il
also speaks volumes for the prompt, patriotic
and intelligent assistance of the people who
furnished, in SO short period, the supple.
necessary TO prepare this great army for thu
lands the couAtgy viii ever offer a true niece
OF praise bat The mighty army in camp. ready
and eager ~ take the field, should also bt
given equal credit. 1t was their presence
ready at an hours notice for any emergency
that overawed the enemy and proved to hin
that further resistance would be in vain.
The deaths in the army from May to Oct.
including killed, died of wounds and of dis
ease were 1910, the smallest death rate re
corded of any army in history, a remarkable
fact when it is considered that over $4,000 OF
our troops, born and reared III the temperate
zone, were campaigning in the tropical eli
mates subject to rain and heat most unprece
dented.
The secretary says OF the volunteers
that to furlOugh them in winter would
be hardship, so he recommends, thai
in lieu of the furlough the officers anc
men be given two months pay at tbs
time of their discharge, thus admitting
of their prompt discharge in their pres.
ent Games III the south.
Under the head of increase in the
II emit establishment, the secretary
says:
-. view OF tie leeds of "a military force il
TIC Islands occupied by the United States, it j,
earnestly recommended that the regular army
be permanently increased to I00,00O men anc
the requisite officers; that portion of thi.
those islands to be mustered into the service
of the United States, and commanded by off
GERS of our army, discretion however to be
given to the president to make appointment:
of officers from the force so recruited
These men acclimated understand the
language and habits of their conntrymen a,e
their enlistment will not only give them EN-
ployment but also have the tendency to enable
the government to get into closer touch will
their people than it would otherwise be able
to do. This would also relieve our own people
from serving in those climates to a large ex
tent, and would moreover enable the yol1n
teers to be mustered out of the service and re.
turn to the avocatons of civil life.
Another suggestion Is that there
should be employed in the United States
service constabulary force for the
cities of Cuba Porto Rico and the Phil
.fppines, who have had experience ana
can speak the language of the islands.
Secretary Alger thinks the govern.
ment will be greatly taxed to supply
food to the destitute, especially in Cuba.
The effort should be made, he thinks.
to give the people work instead of al
lowing them to dwell i'll idleness, liv.
ing upon charity.
He says:
Would it not be wise economy for the GOV.
eminent OF the United States to construct q
substantial riSlroad: practically the whole
/ length Of the island of Cuba, with branch
roads To tn Ie ding cities on the coast Such
4 a road would, of course, cost large sum, per.
haps $-0,00J0J,. but it would give employment
to the people OF Cuba, teach them habits OF
industry be ar inducement for them to cult
! vate their farms. and thus furnish supplies
for the laborers and for market when the road
is constructed. This, in my Judgment, is alb
solutely essential to the pacifcation and de
! velopment of that great island. 1t will bring