Morris tribune., 1898-12-24
CORBIN'S TALK
Adjutant General Of the Army
Tells His Story to the
Committee.
He Was So NOticeably Cautious
That 1t Was Commented
Upon.
Hoped the War Would Be Avert
ed Until 1t Had Been
Declared.
Selection and Abandonment of
CampS---General Skaters
Expedition.

| WASHINGTON, Lee. 20. - ADJ uGanC
| General Corbin was the first witness be-
fore the war investigating committee
and was rigidly questioned regarding
the selection Of Camp Alger, Va. He
testified that the removal of Camp AL
ger was dictated by the secretary of
war himself, and that its original es-
Enlistment was recommended by Cap
tain Seaburn of General Miles staff.
He, General Corbin, had said at the
time it could not be good camp ground,
| because there was not sufficient range
for rife practice. He had understood
from the secretary of war that General
Miles had something to do with it's Sc
lection. He was not certain of Captain
Seaburn's exact status, but he had UNI
derstood Captain Seaburn had been sent
by General Miles to make the inspec-
ton of the camp site.
Ibid General Miles protest against or
do anything against the selection of the
camp?" he was asked.
mot to my knowledge" was the an
gWer.
Didn't Know the Reason.
General Corbin added that he did not
know the reasons for the discontnuance
of the camp. Questioned as to Camp
Wikoff, General Corbin said that the
troops and horses that arrived there
about Aug. z were those left behind in
the South from the expeditions to San
Hago and Porto Rico, and that the trans
portation of these had not, as he knew,
led to railroad congestion or interfered
in any way with the carriage Of supplies
for the troops subsequently, arriving.
He denied that the contract with the
Long Island railroad gave exclusive con-
troll, and said that the only restriction
made in that arrangement was the de-
sirable one of prohibiting excursion
steamers landing at the camp. He said
one reason for its selection was the ex-
cellent facilities for water transportation.
He said the camp at Tampa was never
designed for anything but point of
embarkation and said the first COM
plants he heard from Camp Thomas,
Chickamauga, were in the press.
Hoped War Would Be Averted.
Asked when he first seriously appre-
hended there would be hostilities, Gen
eral Corbin said he might say he did not
seriously contemplate war until it was
fact, for he had hoped to the last mo-
ment that it would be averted. On
April 10, the army, for one Of its size,
was well equidped and thoroughly sup
piled. There never was an army, he
said, better equipped, better clothed,
better fed, or with a better morale than
our regular army at that time. He said
prior to the war there had been no com
plants of refrigerated Or canned beef,
and that they were used by the armies
of the world, and in commerce. 1t was
no new experiment.
Seriously speaking" said General
Corbin, II do not think the war depart
ment contemplated war until it was de-
clared by congress, and appropriations
were thought Of but there were no gem
eral appropriations except so far as the
department. was able to meet the posi-
bilities that confronted it.
Noticed Corbin Was Cautious.
Colonel DENLY, who conducted the
examination, here suggested to General
Corbin that he observed the latter was
cautious and reticent, and explained,
1T is not our object to criticize STRAIT
egy That is not our business. The
strategy of the war may have been right
and may have been wrong. But our OBJ
ject is to determine whetheI the war
department acted efficiently.
He said when General Skaters expe-
ditioh started it took all the transports
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 1900
taken. He referred to the letter Of Gen
erai Miles, dated June "a laying out the
plan Of campain of the war. and said it
was not approved.