Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-06
WAR DEPARTMENT REPORT
Secretary Alger Gives Most Compre-
hensive Review of the War
with Spain.
II Is GIVEN WITHOUT ANY CRITICISM.
Report. OF Generals and Official Dis
patches Given-successes of Cam
paign Due to No One Individual
Death Rate of Army Marvelously
smaIl-Asks for Army of 100000.

Washington Dec. 8. = The annual
report of Secretary Alger is practic-
ally complete history of the Spanish
American war The secretary has
given to the public not only the official
dispatches that passed directly between
bis own office and the commanding
officers in the field and camp, but has
supplemented these with short explain
atory notes setting forth the reasons
complete the record of events, he has
included in the body of his report the
report Of Gen. Miles, of all the generals
who participated in the campaign in
Cuba, Porto Rico or the Philippines,
and finally the reports of all Of the
bureau officers of the war department.
Nowhere is there shown disposition
to criticise, the official dispatches be-
Ing allowed to tell their own story, and
generally the secretary finds much to
praise and cause for sincere congratula-
Non in the results obtained
Had "A Big Force of Surgeons.
The report proper begins with what may
be described as chronological history of
paragraphs, beginning with the declaration
Of war on April 81, and setting forth the
date upon which any event of Importance
occurred, but making no comment what
ever upon the facts. The only exception to
this rule is in reference to the casualtioI
at Santiago. Some criticism having been
made that there was lack of surgeons
present, the report states that there we're
Rl0 surgeons in attendance, and that of
LII wounded only 10 died of their wounds.
Surrender of Santiago.
Touching the surrender at Santiago the
surrender on the Sd, and renewed this de-
mand on the 4th. On the morning of the
Nth, another demand was made. On the
evening of that day Gen. Miles arrived, and
On the 18th and l4th of July. he. with Gen.
fhafter met the Spanish commander I'M
Ger rag of truce to discuss the surren-
ger. On the afternoon of the 14th, Gen.
Miles left Gen. Skaters headquarters
ana soon thereafter went aboard ship pre-
paratory to sailing for Porto Rico. July II,
IToral surrendered $4,000 men upon our
terms and the American flag was hoistsd
by order CT Gen. Shafter.
Great Achievement.
The secretary, coming down in his his
tory to the middle of August. when an or
der was issued and Is now in execution to
muster out 100000 volunteers, says: Thus
an army of about 100000 volunteers and
rscruits for the regulars was called into
Sxistenoe from civil life, and, including the
regular army, the total force was eN.717
men. It was organized armed and
equipped Ono supplies being on hand other
THAN those for the regulars. save Spring
field rnuskets), and $4,000 men Of this force
were transported by land and sea to bat
tlehelds in the tropics 10000 miles apart,
where they won their victories without
single defeat, and all within the period of
va days from The declaration of war to the
signing OF the protocol.
Credit for the victory.
'-This great achievement can be credited
60 no Individual; 1t belongs - the nation.
It was accomplished through the .ntelli-
gence and patriotism oil all who served,
from the commander in chief to the priv tie
IN the ranks. 1t also speaks volumes for
the prompt. patriotic and intelligent assist
ence OF the people who furnished In SO
short q period, the supplies necessary to
prepare this great army for the field. To
the heroic men who served in distant lands
the country will ever offer a true need of
praise, but the mighty army in camp,
ready and eager to take the field, should
also be given equal credit. 1t was their
emergency, that overawed the enemy and
proved to him that further resistance
would be in vain.
Death Rate of the Army.
'"The deaths in the army from May to
October ], including killed, died of wounds
and OF disease. were 2,91O the smallest
death rate recorded of any army in history,
Q remarkable fact when 1t Is considered
that over $4,000 of our troops, born and
reared in the temperate zone, were cam
psigning in tropical climates, subject to
rain and heat almost unprecedented
The secretary says OF the volunteers that
to furlough them in winter would be a
hardship, sc he recommends that in lieu
Of the furlough the officers and men be
given two months pay at the time of their
discharge, thus admitting of their prompt
discharge In their present camps in the
south.
Wants Army of 100000 Men.
Under the head of increase in the perma-
nent establishment the secretary says: I'm
view Of the needs of military force in the
Islands occupied by the United States, II
Is earnestly recommended that the regu-
lar army be permanently increased to
900 men and the requisite officers: that
Q portion Of this army be recruited from
the Inhabitants of those Islands, to be mus
tered into the service of the United States,
commanded by officers of our army. dis
erection. however. to be given to the pres
ident 10 make appointments of officers
from the force SO recruited.
These men are acclimated. understand
the lang uage and habits Of their country
men, 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 1t
also relieve our own people from serv-
ing In those climates TO large extent and
would, moreover, enable the volunteers
to be mustered out of the service and re-
turn to the avocations of civil life"
Another suggestion is that there should
be employed in the United States service
const2bulary force for the cities of Cuba.
Porto Eico and the Philippines who have
had the experience and can speak the Ian
guage of the islands.
Relief for. Cubans.
Secretary Alger thinks that the govern
ment will be greatly taxed to supply food
TO the destitute. especially in Cuba. The
effort should be made, he thinks, 10 give
the people work instead of allowing them |
70 dwell IN idleness. living upon charity.
He says; Would 1t not be wise econcmv
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 leading |
cities on the coast? Such a road would o}
course, cost large sum, perhaps ,2o. 600
o00; but 1t would give employment to the |
people OF Cuba, teach them habits of in |
dustry, be an inducement for them TO culti- |
vate their farms, and thus furnish supplies |
for the laborers and for market when the |
road Is constructed. This, in my judgment.
y absolutely essential to the pacifcation
and development of that great island. 1t |
VII bring Its minerals. lumber and agri-
cultural products to market and open up
communication with all parts of the island |
with the least possible delay. The road
would be good property. and when 1t has
served Its purpose for the government
could be sold for Its cost. If such an i'm |
pr0Vement Is not made. the government |
WIN no doubt expend fully that amount ii |
charity"
Inc secretary says that even if this road |
- 70 Dc Quit there is necessity for large