Griggs courier., 1898-12-08
Secretary Aleer Reviews the Events
Of the Recent Important Vic
tories Of Our Army.
GIVES DUE CREDIT TO ALL CONCERNED.
Death rate AMONG Troop. from May
History That the
Regular Force Be. Increased to
100000; Men-Other Suggestions.


war. The secretary has given to the public
not only all the official dispatches that
passed directly between his own Office and
| commanding officers in the field and camp.
| but has supplemented these with short ex-
planatory notes setting forth the reasons
for various movements. and then. to COM
plete 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 depart
ment. Nowhere is there shown DISPOSE
ton 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 congratuiation
In the results obtained.
A 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 00000 volunteers. says: THUS
an army Of about 250,000 volunteers and
recruits for the regulars was called into
existence flom civil life. and, including the
men. 1t was organized. armed. and
equipped (no supplies being on hand other
than those for the regulars. save Spring.
field muskets), and $4,000 men Of this force
! were transported by land and sea to bat
tlefields in the tropics 10000 miles apart.
where they won their victories without a
single defeat, and all within the period Of
lib days from the declaration Of war to the
| signing OF the protocol.
Credit for the Victory.
'This great achievement can be credited
to no Individual; 1t belongs ~ the nation.
It was accomplished through the .ntelli-
gence and patriotism ol all who served.
from the commander in chief to the priv ate
In the ranks It also speaks volumes for
the prompt. patriotic and intelligent assist
ance Of the people who furnished, in so
short 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
presence. ready at an hours notice for any
proved to him that further resistance
would be in vain.
Death Rate of the Army.
1.-THE deaths in the army from May ! to
October /, including killed, died of wounds
and Of disease. were 2.910. the smallest
death rate recorded of any army in history,
q remarkable fact when It is considered
reared in the temperate zone. were cam
paigning in tropical climates, subject to
rain and heat almost unprecedented
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
100000 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
cretion. however, to be given to the pres
tdent TO make appointments of officers
from the force SO recruited.
Estimates.
The statement Of expenditures and esti-
mates presents some formidable figures.
The expenditures for the fiscal year ended
mates for the next fiscal year, beginning
July /. 1889, are 95.250.3n. OF .his
great estimate the sum Of SIS. 800 Is
| charged to pay of the army. The estimate
for the six months ending June 80, 1899. are
$eO.177.5so. and the estimate for that period,
combined with those for the next fiscal
year. seach total o: s255. .427.s17.
| Recommendations.
Next follow a number Of reports of va
rious officers and officials to the secre-
tary Of war some Of which are indorsed by
for instance. he indorses the recommenda-
.tion for an increase Of the number Of ca
dets by 20 annually. to be appointed by
the president. and one by each senator to
supply the officers needed for the army Of
the future.
The secretary says the Red Cross and
other relief associations contributed in a
very large degree to the care and COM
forts Of our sick soldiers and should re-
ceive the grateful thanks Of the nation.
The secretary calls attention to Surgeon
General Sternberg'E circular of instructions
to the army, issued April rs. and says had
1t been strictly followed less sickness would
have resulted.
Our Dead in Cuba.
The graves OF the soldiers at Santiago,
in Porto Rico and the Philippines have
been marked, and their remains will be
brought home as soon as the plans are
completed.
The entire report of the secretary of
war forms one Of the most vouminous
documents of the kind ever issued from the
war department.
The Vote in Colorado.
Denver, Col, Dec. 5.-Complete Of
fcial returns from all the counties IN
Colorado received by the secretary of
state show that the majority o. Charles