The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-12-28
or GORBIN
Differs Materially From That Given
by General Niles
ABOUT RgFRIGRRATED BEBF.
rs. 4a,p.apt General stated ne MD
NOT Relieve the War Departments
ssonsempsated HostiIIties TIlI
Congress Declared Wax.


washington. Dec. 22-Adiutant Gem
eral corbin was the first witness before
She war investigating commission. and
was rigsdIy questioned. regarding the
selections of Camp Alger. Va.
He testified that the removal OF.
Camp Alger was dictated by the seere-
tary of war himself. and that its orig
fnal establishment was recommended
by Captain Seaburn of General Miles
stan. General Corbin had said at the
time it could not be good camp
ground, because there was not sufh-,
Client range for rifie practice
he had understood from the secre-
tary of war that General Miles had
something TO do with its selection- He
was not certain of Captain Seaburn's
exact status, but he had understood
Captain Seaburn had been sent by Cen
eral Miles to make the inspection of
the camp site.
Did General Miles protest against
pr do anything against the selection
of the campo he was asked.
mot to my knowledge. : was the an
swer. General Corbin added that he
did not know the reasons for discon-
tinuance of the camp. Questioned as
to Camp wIkoff, General Corbin said
that the troops and horses that arrived
there about Aug. were those left be
hind in the south from the expeditions
to Santiago and Porto Rico. and that
the transportation of these. had not, so
far as he knew, led to railroad con-
gestion or fnterfered in any way with
the carriage of supplies for the troops
subsequently arriving.
He denied that the contract with the
Long Island railroad gave It exclusive
control. and said the only restriction
made in that arrangement was the de-
sirable one of prohibiting excursion
steamers landing at tie camp. He
said one reason for it's selection was
the excellent facilities for water trans
portation.
He said the camp at Tampa was
never designed for anything but a
point of enlbarkation and said the first
complaints he bad heard from Camp
Thomas was in Sne press.
Asked when he first seriously appre
hended there would be hostilities. Cen
eral Corbin said he might say he did
not seriously contemplate war until it
was fact. for he had hoped to the
last moment that it would be averted.
On April 10 the army. for one of its
size, was well equipped and thoroughly
supplied. There never was an army,
he said. better equipped, better clothed,
better fed, OF with better morals. than
our regular army at that time.
He said prior to the war there had
been no complaints of refrigerated or
canned beef ard that ley were used
by the armies of the world and in com
merce. 1t was no new experiment.
seriously speaking said General Cor
bin, Il do not think the war depart
ment contemplated war until it was de-
cIared by congress and appropriations
were available. OF course the posi-
bi1ities were thought of, but there were
no general preparations. except so far
as the department was able to meet the
possibilities that confronted it,
Plan of Miles Not Approved.
Colonel DENLY, who conducted the
examination, here suggested to Cen
eral Corbin that he observed the latter
was cautious and reticent and explain
ed: 1T is not our object to criticise
strategy That is not our business.
The strategy of the war may have been
right and it may have been wrong. But
our object is to determine whether
the war department acted efficiently.
He said when General Skaters ex-
petition started 1t took all the trans
ports it was possible to obtain. The
supply was not equal TO the demand.
1t had been planned to carry about
$4,000 troops at that time, instead of
the 1900 taken. He referred to the
letter of General Miles. dated June "a,
laying out the plan of campaign of
the war, and said 1t was not approved.
DO you know anything about SEN
eral Miles message OF June "a. In
which he proposed to have the army
march clear through Cuba, and take
$4,000 prisoners and work them and
treat them kindly2H General Corbin
was asked.
Yes. sir was the answer. that
letter was received and did not receive
the approval of the secretary of war;
You say the proposition made by
General Miles to carry on the cam
paign in the manner which he indi-
Gates in that letter was disapproved2''
1T was not approved. replied Gem
erai corbin.
Uncle sam Protests.
Picking. Dec. 22-The United States
minister here. Edwin H, Conger, has
entered a protest against the proposed