The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-08
They viii Be Placed in Comfortable
Camps Until Needed.
OFFICERS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
They Must Enforce Sanitary Rcgulas
tions-If Incompetent They Must
Make Way for Better Men.
The Regiments Designated
Will Be Mustered Ont
without Appeal

WASHINGTON, Sept 7.-Secretary
Alger IS putting his affairs in shape 10
admit Of his absence from Washington on
a tour OF inspection OF the army camps
throughout the country. lie will leave
tomorrow evening going FIRST 10 Camp
Meade, Pennsylvania, and thence to De-
trolt. Now that the active war opera
tions have closed, the Ss1,e~,y leels
free to express certain views en.eit2ined
by the President and himself respecting
the plans for the rea-n nslt cf .te fol-
diers. and touching the per5o1s Lpon
whom responsibilities should h. places
for some Of the matters Of uIls.nt-
In this connection he says:
COMFORTABLE CAMPS.
'The regiments that have been ordered
mustered out will DO mustered out. Tho
regiments that have been designated u
remain in the service will have to remain.
As soon as we have mustered out 100000.
more or less, we shall reorganize tho
army-every brigade. division and corps
and put them into s)mf0rtable camps
until such Of them as are need d are with
drawn for service In Cuba. Porto Rico
and the Philippines. IN these camps,
with the experience OF the past to guide
us. sanitary conditions will bs strictly
enforced. The men composing the army
will be treated as soldiers. they viii be
shown every possible consideration and
their health will be preserved The oih-
GERS commanding regiments and COM
panies viii be held strictly acountabs
for the sanitary conditions Of the camps"
INCOMPETENT ONES TO Go.
a.. a.
responsible. During the war many or
these officers dlsreearded the specific ia.
structions that had been given looking
10 the proper care OF their men. Now
it f. time for them 20 take up this work
I'm themselves and with tho knowledge
that they are 70 remain In service they
will be expected TO devote their best en-.
ergies 10 the work. Where men are IN
conn., setent to discharge these duties they
must give way TO competent men, for
again ] wish to make Il clear that these
company and reglmentsl officers arc 20
be held to account for the welfare or
their men.
NOW, word as 20 the feeding of these
troops. The army ration Is an that IS
necessary for a soldier. / hope that there
will be less food given 10 the men from
the outside sources. The dainues please
the taste OF the men, but they arc OF no
real help, and only help TO breed dis
satisfaction.
ARMY RATION SUFFICIENT.
"The army ration to-day as IL has been
and as It will be in the future. Is sound
health diet. The principal difficulty We
have had 10 contend with is the reck-
lessness Of youth. In the vigor OF sound
health the young men who went 10 make
up our army could not be induced 10 take
proper care Of thmeslves.
when a regiment IS designated 10 be
mustered out no further appeals should
be allowed 10 influence tho department.
to change its programme. That order
IS going TO be strictly observed until the
President decides that he can make no
further reduction In the army. When
such reduction IS made there viii be no
discrimination I'm releasing the troops
II Is not possible 20 maintain the exact
ratio. because 20 DO 90 would be 20 divide
regiments. but the purpose VIII be 70
treat an states fairly and as near alike
as possible.
THE YELLOW JOURNALS.
"The great complaint or the soldlers
is hOme-sickness ana 4 great deal OF thiS
has been caused by the incOnslderat" PuD-
llcatiOns In the sensational newspapers.
that the men entered the army win ths
expectation that their services NOula ps
verv short Every experienced officer
knows that n great many men dieo el
home sickness.
''FolloWlng the depression that ensues
uDon home-sickness come other maladies
% which the hOme-sick soldier rams an
easy victim and II Is impossible % check
their course. Now, 20 my mino tne
American people should Try 10 Diace up
these men. 70 encourage them ana cause
them to remember that they are soldiers
and are expected 20 meet solder 3 op-
ties. The people Of this country should
NOT be given the impression they have
sent into the army lot of BOYS u9nt
fo yVffhstard the uuayold ldable vicissitudea
~ camp life Some Of the Complaints
that have been published are ealcuiated
TO make the American army appear ~ =
go Gohf no the eyes Of the American
people and also 70 those Of the nations
OF the world -
The Secretary gave earnest assurances
og ne purpose 20 carry out strictly ne
decision ne had announced 10 hoid neld
Officers responsible for the conoltioh OF
their men.