Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-27
ALGER PRAISES LEE HIGHLY.
Camp Cuba Libre the Best In the
Country.

Secretary Alger and party, consisting OF
General Sternberg. surgeon-general; Gene.
raj Ludington, quartermaster. and oth,rs,
spent Sunday in Jacksonville visiting the
camp Of the Seventh Corps. The party
wasa met at the station by General Lee
and a committee OF citizens General Al
ger proceeded into the camp OF tho
Seventh Division and during the day IN.
spected the three division hospitals. go
ing through every ward He shook hands
and spoke encouraging words to the sick
men. In one instance a discharge was
asked for by a sick man. His name was
taken. and the Secretary said that u
would be attended 10. The regiments OF
the three divisions were reviewed, tnat
of the Third Division after dark. AT tbs
conclusion OF his labors Secretary Alger
said. In response TO a question:
II am highly delighted with all 7 rave
seen, and am very agreeably surprised 90
the conditions that i find existing in Camp
Cuba Libre."
AS Jacksonville has been considered TO
have the best and healthiest camp IN the
country his statement means much.
luncheon was rendered TO the Secretary
and party at noon. and in response 10 a
toast drunk standing. he said:
81 have visited Jacksonville once or
twice before. but never with tho same In
terest as to-day. / have listened with
pleasure but with no surprise, 20 The
resolutions that have been read as % how
the citizens OF Jacksonville have got along
with General Lee. Any one can get along
with him that will let him have his own
way. / know him pretty well, and you
have been sagacious in letting him run
things here.
II am glad the soldiers have been
orderly, and OF course that has been due
10 General Lee. Uaughterl The health
OF this camp has been better than that
OF any other In the country. twenty-five
per cent. of that has been due 10 tho
city OF Jacksonville and 70 per cent has
been due 10 General Lee. for, OF course
the subordinate officers don't count
applause and continued laughter) Sick
ness is largely the fault OF commanders
division, regimental, and company COM
manders. General Lee is not looking
very well, and | have granted him
short leave OF absence.
1.-The organizing and equippng OF An
army of two hundred and fifty thousand
men, carrying on a war In two CONT
nents in the space Of three months, has
been a tremendous undertaking IN,
Secretary OF War has been ably assisted
in this undertaking by the Surgeon-Gene-
raj and the Quartermaster's Depart
ment. They have been criticised, p4I
not TO the extent the Secretary OF W.T.
has been, yet know the work they nave
accomplished has been little short OK
miraculous"
when this war began the clothing
that the men have worn was on the backs
- awf.. n M a.
no transportation; there was nothing be-
yond the War Department but great
rich nation, burning with patriotism
Almost in a night an army was organ
lied and equipped that paralyzed the ma
ton with which we had 10 deal, ana mas
awakened the admiration Of the Wofd.
l have no apology TO make for what ma
been done. i am willing 10 let the record
OF the campaign stand and speak iVE
itself.
United States Senator Morgan said %
me before he left for the Hawaiian is
lands: The world has never seen, nor
will IL see again. the mobilization Of tuen
an army and the accomplishing Win u
OF what has been done with TINS one i'
such short period
1t matters not what may become OF
me. may be buried in oblivion. or IN ii,
grave, but the unbiased historian WI.
give the world the impartial record or
what has been accomplished, ana 20.
record will stand forever as monumeu1
10 the greatness Of this nation and OF ll'
b0undless resources. We are great "a
ton. We don't have 20 depend on any
other on earth. and our resources "i'
such that we can be Independent 81 ai''
We should have standing army enous.
for our needs. We should have gre.
navy. that we may take our place amohs
the leading nations OF the world.
when this war began ] issued an oi'''
that the North and South should De Dr.
gaded together. They have been uhiieN,
and IL is proved that the sectional hn's
OF the North and the South 70 longer
exist. and l thank God that have I've.
to see the day when We have q uni'en
country.
81 thank you. gentlemen, for the
come and the hospitality Of to-day enl :
hope for the continued prosperity OF ih'S
city and this nation"