The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-03
The Successful Termination Of the
War Belongs to the Nation.
A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.
His Rcport is a Practically Complete
History of the War-Somc Interest.
ing Statistics Given and Some
Pertinent Recommendations

IN the held ana camp, nut mas Suppit-
mentcd these with short explanatory
notes. setting forth the reasons for va
rious movements. and then, to complete
the record Of events. he has included
ia the body OF the report, the report OF
General Miles. OF all the generals who
participated In the campaign of Cuba,
Porto Rico or the Philippines, and finally
the reports OF all the bureau officers Of
the War Department. Nowhere Is there
shown a disposition to criticise. the Off
cial dispatches being allowed 10 tell their
own story. Generally. the Secretary finds
much to praise and cause for sincere
congratulation in the results obtained
The report proper begins with what
may be described as a chronological his
tory Of the war. consisting Of a number
Of short paragraphs. beginning with the
declaration OF war in April DIST and set
ting forth the date upon which-any event
OF importance occurred but making no
comment whatever upon the facts.
OND EXCEPTION.
The only exception to this rule is In
reference 10 the casualties at Santiago
Some criticism having been made that
there was lack Of surgeons present, the
report states that there were 40 sur
geons I'm attendance, and that OF l,3l
wounded only 10 died Of their wounds
The Secretary. coming down i'm his his
tory to the middle of August. when an
order was issued, and Is now I'm eXecu-
ton TO muster out 100000 volunteers. says
Thus an army OF about 10000 voun-
tores and recruits for the regulars was
called into existence from civil life, and,
including the regular army, the total
Nnrce was 2147l7 men, II was organized
armed and equipped mo supplies being
on hand other than those for the regu-
- nd
men Of this force were transported 10y
land and sea 10 battlefelds in the tropics
1000 miles apart. where they won their
victories without a single defeat, ana an
within the period OF one hundred ana
thirteen DAYS from the declaration or war
TO the signing OF the protocol
This great achievement can be credited
10 no individual; it belongs 10 the nation
II was accomplished through the intelll-
cence and patriotism of all who served
from the commandments to the pri-
yate in the ranks.
SMALL DEATH RATE.
The deaths i'm the army from May LIST
10 October LIST. including killed. died of
wounds and disease. were 29lO-the small
est death rate recorded of any army ~
history. a remarkable fact when u Is
considered that over $4,000 Of our troops.
born and reared in the temperate zone
we're campaigning in tropical climates.
subject 10 rain and heat almost unprece-
dented.
Tho Secretary says Of tho volunteers
that to furlough them in winter would
be a arlship so he recommends That IN
lien Of the furlough the officers and men
be given two months pay at the time
OF their discharges. thus admitting OF
their prompt discharge i'm their present
camps in the South.
Under the head of increase in the per
manent establishment, the Secretary
says:
"In view Of the needs Of a military
force in the Islands occupied by the
United States. it Is earnestly recon-
mendeI that the regular army be perma-
nentlv increased 10 10000 men ana the
requisite officers; that a portion OF TINS
army be recruited from the inhabitants
az those islands. TO be mustered into the
service Of the United States and com
manded by officers Of our army
The statement Of expenditures and estl-
mates presents some formidable hgures.
The expenditures for the fiscal year endea
June Goth last were S62.5i,Ni ana the
estimates for the fiscal year beginning
LIST of July. 1899. are sl95. 250.3T. OF this
great estimate the sum of SO, wy Is
charged TO pay Off the army. The estl-
mates of extraordinary appropriations
raouired for the six months ending June
En- 1905 are $50 III. $50, and the estimates
for that period. combined with those ior
the next fiscal year. reach total OF
| s2jj, 421 9l7.
OFFrCIA LREPORTs.
At This point the Secretary includes IN
his report the reports OF General Mics
and all the other generals VINO par,'cl-
pated in active operations. lie theh
| takes up the Geographic and otner cores
nondence relating 10 the war. AMI that
matter occGples more than three iour'hS
| of the seretary's whole report
That norton devoted 10 the telegrapnic
corresnondence of the war closes WIN
| "a few despatches indicating the hnlsh OF
| the Santiago campaign.
Next follow a number OF reports OF va
rious officers and officials 10 the seer
| farv of War. some Of which are endorsed
hv the Secretly or the Military Acade-
nv he. for instance, endorses the recon-
mendation for an increase or the num-
| Der Of cadets by twenty annually 10 De
| onnointed by the President. and one
each by senator to supply the oIi0eiS
| needed for the army Of the future
M the Adiutant Generals recommen-
| dation the Secretary says they are lu-
| dicious and merit the favorable consid-
eration of Congress. Instead OF increase
| NJ nav for officers serving In the west
| Indies and Philippines 10 the next mSner
| grade as recommended by the AdJutah'
| General. the Secretary thinks mat tne
| nav of those officers, as well as those IN
| Alaska. should be increased nifty per cent
| while so serving, because Of the addition
al expense they are put 10. lie says the
| question OF payment for damages 10
| farms and other property by movement
OF troops will be made the subject OF
speciaI communication 10 Congress. lie
| recommends that $50 instead or $40 shoulo
| be allowed for the apprehension oil ue-
| serter. -
| SOME STATISTICS.
| Treating OF the Quartermaster General
! renort the Secretary picks out an inter
| esting fact. He shows that the govern
ment purchased s. 500 horses and mules
| 51-9 wagons. $50 ambulances, and s3,0H
tons OF coal, and chartered a Vessels
| and purchased 10 steamships. The use oil
the Missouri was generously donated "a
| the United States with the services oil
| her captain and her crew by her owner
| r. n Baker Of Baltimore, and is val
| liable hospital ship. The cost OF trans
| porting the Spanish prisoners to Spain
| was S1513,S60. The graves OF the soldiers
| AT Santiago, in Porto Rico and the Phll-
| ippines have been marked and these re-
| mains will be brought mere as soon a.
| the MANS are completed. In the Subsis'
reno. Denartment the Secretary finds an
| urgent need for regiment commissary
| and also for a commissary sergeant foi
each regiment.
| WAS UNAVOIDABLE.
| Discussing the Surgeon-Generars re
| mort he SAYS II was mis-