The Mena star., 1898-08-24
TELLS OF HIS WORK.
Alger Reviews the Work Accom-
plished by War Department.
Entire Equipment Had to Re Provided fer
the Men-BIames Many Commanding
Officers for Failure to Enforce sani-
tary Regulations Among Troops.

ter from the ecretary of war and has
consented to its publication. 1t was
written in reply to a request for in
formation:
My Dear Mr. Depew: The great pressure OF
business has up to prevented me from
sending to you the statement you we're kind
enough to ask for. as to what had been accom-
plished In the way OF QUILTING the army for
the field, the conduct OF campaign, etc. Also,
the chiefs of divisions have been too much
driven with work to compile the data required
One not In the midst OF the work can hardly
realize what an undertaking it is to call 1875 900
men into the field at one time, coming from all
the states, and to have them mustered and
gathered in camps on so short notice, and this,
too when we had scarcely any camp outfit for
their accommodation all having to be provided
for by the war department
As you know, when the war was declared
there was no equipment whatever for the vol
unteers in store This was successfully ac-
complished, with very few accidents, as mat
ter OF record Subsequent calls, including the
regular army (Which numbered about 27 900
men when war was declared), made a total of
26S, 800 men. To accomplish all in so short
time has been a great work.
Thus, from the homes OF 2l6 900 volunteers has
been constant and great anxiety as to what
might happen to their soldiers and hundreds
OF inquiries, made by letters and kilograms
have been received every day concerning in
dividual soldiers The feeling on the part OF
these individuals that the war department is
responsible for the care of their men individu-
ally has naturally aroused sympathy in case of
sickness and death, and has created much sor-
row.
Every effort has been made from the begin
ming to furnish every camp with all appliances
asked for, but of course the commanding Off
GERS in the field are the ones who have direct
charge of these men. For instance one army
corps commander has division orders and en-
forces them, respecting sanitary affairs and
he has to-day but a fraction over two per cent
on the sick list Others have not been success
full and the consequence is that typhoid and
other fevers have been bred and spread to
considerable extent One regiment in the
Chickamauga camp has colonel who enforces
sanitary rules in his regiment. obliging the
men to boil all the water they drink keeping
the camp clean, and the result is that there are
less than Is sick, and the camp too, is in as
unfayorable place as any in the command
Others more favorably situated have ten times
that number on the sick list One of the regi-
ments OF the last CALL not yet moved from its
state sends bitter complaints Of typhoid fever
Concerning the Santiago campaign, when the
ships left Tampa they had on board three
months provisions and an abundance of hos
pital supplies. They had lighters to unload
with at point of debarlxation. These lighters
were lost in severe storms the way. AS
soon were notified of the fact two lows
OF lighters were sent from Mobile and New Or
leans, which were also overtaken by storms
and lost The navy supplied us with lighters
and one Of those was wrecked The army dis
embarked, getting off portion of its supplies
and medical stores and Immediately marched
TO the front to fight the Spanards. The great
difficulty Of landing supplies subsequently was
because of the wind, which sprang up every
morning at ten and made high surf, render
ing almost impossible the use of small boats
with one lighter, which was all they had left
for this purpose.
or the packers who were employed 80 per
cent soon fell sick, and heavy rains falling
every day, the roads Gf they could be called
SUCH became impossible for vehicles. Pack
animals had to be employed to carry food to
the army, being extended to the right around
Santiago, Increased the distance from the coast
every day and made the task more difficult
When yellow fever uroke out and the fever
list increased into the thousands, it was for a
time supposed that it principally yellow
fever The bringing of troops north at once
after the surrender, under such conditions
would have been certain death to vast num-
Der but upon inquiry. it was asceriained that
very few OF these cases. comparatively. were
yellow fever, when it was at once decided to
bring the army home as speedily as pos~ib G.
To give you little idea OF the WORK that has
been done l append the following
The work of the adiutant generals depart
ment has been to muster and order to their
stations to be precise. PIG 400 volunteers and
"a g0l for the regular arny-this with re-
duced force. as many staff officers from all OF
the departments had been promoted and
ordered to the field
The chief of engineers reports an expenditure
OF $4,000 for harbor defenses. building en-
placements of heavy guns, mortar batteries
and mines
gae surgeon general has had the enormous
worst of fitting up hospitals organizing the
me- mo ms nd 10
nurses. contract surgeons, being surgeons who
are employed from civil life, besides those
commissioned as corps, divisions and brigade
surgeons, furnishing medical supplies and an
swering the demands from all over the country
and from camps at Santiago. Porto Rico and
Manila The work done in this line Is almost
beyond comprehension.
The commissary general had purchased and
distributed up TO August no 907, 235 pounds OF
rations which have been transported and dis
tributed to all armies in the field here and, at
Santiago Porto Rico and Manila, besides the
large quantity distributed among the destitute
Cubans.
Tne quartermaster generals report is too
long TO give an approximate idea of his work
In the way of transportation to Honolulu Ma
Mia, Santiago and Porto Rico and return home,
there have been sent 81, 038 men. with artillery
equipment and supplies BY rail in this coun-
trv there hay been transported g. 100 officers,
90 enlisted mem also 80, 5s2 animal, besides
thousands OF wagons artillery and other quar-
termaster commissary. ordnance, medical and
signal service stores The total num-
Der Of articles Of clothing and camp equipage
distributed to the army by the quartermasters
department has been 9, 274 4s3, OF which I can
only mention few articles follows:
Blankets. ls3.7S9; blouses 1885, 762: trousers,
406 423 hats. 334 1906; canvas field uniforms, 49,
20l shoes, pairs, 5l.37ss undershirts, 1865;
tents l79 1872, etc. etc