The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-31
War Department Scandal.

The condition of things just now pre-
vailing in the war department is dis
creditable all around. 1t is understood
the president has decided to order an
investigation into the conduct of the
war from that source. 1t is to be hoped
that it will be OF kind which will not
fail to locate the responsibility, and
that justice will be administered with
out stint to those who have been so
slack in the discharge of their duties.
Every report from Camp Wikoff, at
Montauk, Long Island, gives the lie
direct to Ayers easy going statements
to the effect that the situation has been
greatly exaggerated.
1t has been apparen. from the ear
lest weeks of the war that something,
attribute it to red tape or ineff1ciency
or what not, was wrong in the manage
naent of the department. The delay in
forwarding the army to Santiago was
so prolonged and accompanied by so
many announcements of embarkation,
each followed by a cancellation of or
ders to move, that the apparent vacil-
lating course of the administration
seemed calculated to render the entire
performance a burlesque. We are not
certain that the country does not owe
Admiral Cervera a considerable debt
Of gratitude for finally precipitating the
activity which resulted in the quick
victory by the army at Santiago.
1t is becoming evident, as time adj
vances and facts are revealed, that
Gen. Miles was unjustly criticised in
iya.Ct Co ,loo+
to have been the faults of the control
ling mind of the executive head of the
department. 1t was a startling condi-
ton of things that was revealed when,
after the first fighting at Santiago the
announcement came through the press
dispatches that there was an INSULT
cheney of surgeons to care for the
wounded. The correctness of the charge
was verified by the act of Secretary
Alger himself who hurriedly sent
detachment of these professional gen.
tlemen on a transport from away up at
Hampton Roads. To send an army to
dc battle without an adequate surgical
fierce to care for those who might be
wounded in the engagement was moth
ing short of criminal neglect
AS an illustration of the "red tape"
evil, as practiced in the army, it is re-
lated by Gen. Wheeler that he issued
for the sick and convalescent at Camp
Wikoff a reQuisition, including, among
other things, 5000 pounds of ham,
10000 pounds of evaporated apples, an
equal supply Of peaches, 200 cases of
chicken soup, so boxes of lemons, 100
boxes of oranges and $50 pounds of tea.
The supplies were assembled and, in
fact, on their way to camp, when, it IS
alleged, Commissary General Eagan
stopped them on the ground that the
requisition was irregular. Gen. Wheeler
made the further statement that the
rerishable material thus withheld was
actually permitted afterwards to spoil.
And all this because a common sense
soldier, recognizing the needs of his
sick men, had ordered something lit
tie cut of the line Of regular supplies!
The incident resembles very closely
the discipline which must have pre-
vailed in that school in which one day
the teacher tainted. The children were
thrown into confusion at the sight of
the unconscious woman lying on the
floor in their midst. But one boy,
more heroic than the others, but re-
Numbering the discipline in which he
had been drilled, climbed upon a bench,
raised his hand and cried out: please,
teacher, can run home and tell father
to come? He makes coffins!
Had it not been for the publicity
given to the matter, no one can tell
how long the soldiers at Santiago and
at Camp Wikoff and elsewhere would
have gone on suffering, for, according
to a recent dispatch, only one COM
plant has been received direct from the
army by the war department. Of
course, no complaints could be received
at the department from the privates.
1t would be a breach Of discipline!
The president cannot move too rap
idly in securing a commission which
will locate the blame where it belongs
and recommend the punishment that is
due. No mere war department board
will answer. That would mean only
embarrassing application, and the
country will have no patience with
that sort of thing