Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-22

out, and the fever list increased into
the thousands, it was for a time feared
that it was principally yellow fever.
The bringing troops north at once, az
ter the surrender under such condl-
lions would have been certain death to
vast number, but, upon inquiry 1t
was ascertained that very few of these
cases, comparatively, were yellow fever,
when it was at once decided to bring
the army home as speedily as possible.
Everything that human ingenuity could
devise has been done to succor that
army-not the ingenuity of the Secre-
tary of War, but the result of the COM
bined counsel of those who have had a
lifelong experience in the field. That
some men
HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED
on transports coming home there is no
doubt-an against positive orders, due
perhaps to careiessness and negligence,
but largely on account of not having
the medical force to spare (many OF
whom were sick) from the camp at
Santiago. Many medical officers sent
with transports were taken i'll on the
way home.
ITO give you little idea of the work
L
lowing:
"The work of the Adjutant Generals
department has been to muster and
order to their stations, to be precise,
PIC, AGO volunteers, and 24,900 for the
regular army This with a reduced
force, as many staff officers from all
Of the departments had been promoted
and ordered to the field.
s.Tho chiof opOiraor raporfa
penditure of $5,S30,OO0 for harbor de-
lenses, building emplacements of heavy
guns. mortar batteries and mines.
The Surgeon General has had the
work of fitting up hospitals, organic
ing the medical corps, employing male
and female nurses, contract surgeons,
being surgeons who are employed from
civil life besides those commissioned
as corps, division and brigade sur
geons, furnishing medical supplies and
answering demands from all over the
country and from camps at Santiago,
Porto Rico and Manila. The work
, done in this line is
ALMOST BEYOND COMPREHEN-
SION.
THE Commissary General has pur-
chased and distributed, up to August
| J., 110,9C7, 235 pounds of rations, which
have been transported and distributed
| to all armies in the field here and at
Santiago, Porto Rico and Manila, be-
sides the large quantity distributed
| among the destitute Cubans.
/ The Quartermaster Generals report
| is too long to even give an approx
mate idea of his work. In the way of
transporting to Honolulu, Manila, San
| tiago and Porto Rico and return home
/ there have been sent 2,63S men, with
artillery equipment and supplies. By
! rail in this country there have been
transported 300 officers, 1885, enlist
ed men, also 40582 animals, besides
! thousands of wagons, artillery and
| other quartermaster, commissary, ord
nance medical essentials and stores.
The total number of articles of cloth
ing and camp equipage distributed to
the army by the quartermaster's de-
partment has been 6,274,4S3, of which
| can only mention a few articles as
follows: Blankets, 2SS,739; blouses
2S3, 1872; trousers, 406,4 23; hats. 334,-
100; canvas field uniforms, $4,000;
, shoes, 511,37S pairs; undershirts, 1885,
965; tents, 1912, etc, etr.
"The total weight of food and forage
distributed daily to the army is ap-
proximately 900 tons. Added to this is
the large fleet of transports, chartered
and purchased, the management of the
same in conveying troops, supplies and
ammunition.
THE paymaster has promptly paid
| the army, and is deserving of very
great credit for his work.
1.-The signal corps has provided more
efficient service, furnishing cable, tele-
| graph, telephone and signal service to
| the different commands in the field.
/ IF you had a day or two to spare.
| would like to sandwich in little work
| for you l would like to send you
| these statements in detail, which l
think would bewilder you, if anything
| can.
Sincerely yours,
"R. A. ALGER.
| "Hon Chauncey NJ. Depew, New
|