The leader., 1898-12-07
TELLS OF THE WAR.
Secretary Alger Reports on the
Work of His Department
History of the Campaign Related
wtthous Criticism-Credit Of Nfc'
tory Belongs 10 No One Man
wants Army of 100000 Men.

Washington, Dec. 3-The annual report
nj Secretary AIger Is practically complete
,fficIaI history of the Spanish-American
war. The secretary has given to the pubic
not only all the official dispatches that
nassed directly between his own office and
commanding officers In the field and camp
out has supplemented these with snort e&-
,Ianatory notes setting forth the reasons
for various movements. and then, to COM
nIe,e 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
~ the bureau officers Of the war depart
ment Nowhere is there shown q DISPOSE
ton to criticise, the official dispatches De-
ing allowed TO tell their own story, ana
generally the secretary finds much TO
praise and cause for sincere consratuistoh
n the results obtained
Had q Big Force of Surgeons.
The report proper begins with what may
be described as q chronological history OF
the war, consisting of a number OF snort
paragraphs, beginning with the declaration
of war on April q, and setting forth the
date upon which any event OF importance
occurred. but making no comment what
ever upon the facts. The only exception TO
this rule is In a reference to the casu1ltit
al Santiago. Some criticism having teen
made that there was q lack OF surgeons
present, the report states that there ere
40 surgeons in attendance. and that OF
t.4sl wounded only 10 died Of their wounds.
Surrender of Santiago.
Touching the surrender at Santiago the
report shows that Shafter demanded the
surrender on the Sd, and renewed this de-
mand on the 4th On the morning OF the
18th, another demand was made. on the
n o. M
on the 18th and l4th Of July. he. with Gen.
Shafter met the Spanish commander I'M
der a rag of truce to discuss the surren-
der On the afternoon OF the 18th. Gen.
Miles left Gen Skaters headquarters
and soon thereafter went aboard snip pre-
paratory 10 sailing for Porto Rico, Jul! H.,
Toral surrendered 23,cso men upon our
terms ano the American nag was heis'ea
by order of Gen. Shafter.
Great Achievement.
The secretary, coming down in his his
tory to the middle of August. when an or
Ter was issued and is now In execution to
muster out 100000 volunteers. says: Thus
an army Of about 250,O00 volunteers ana
recruits for the regulars was called into
existence from civil life. and including the
regular army, the total force was H4,Hi
men 1t was organized. armed, ana
equipped (no supplies being on hand other
field muskets) and $1,000 men of this force
were transported by land and sea to bat
tlefields in the tropics l0,0eo miles apart.
where they won their victories without q
single defeat. and all within the period OF
ll3 DAVIS from the decla ration of war to the
signing of the protocol.
Credit Belongs to No One Man.
This great achievement can be credited
to no individual II belongs to the nation.
II was accomplished through the tntelli-
gence and patriotism of all who served.
from the commander in chief to the private
in the ranks. 1t also speaks volumes for
the prompt, patriotic and intelligent assist
ance of the people who furnished in SO
short a period, the supplies necessary TO
prepare this great army for the held 10
the heroic men who served in distant lands
the country will ever offer true need OF
praise, but the mighty army in camp,
ready and eager 10 take the field. should
also be given equal credit. 1t was their
presence, ready al an hours notice for any
emergency, that overawed the enemy and
proved to him that further resistance
would be In vain.
Death Rate of the Army.
THE deaths in the army from May to
October /, including killed, died of wounds
and of disease, were 1870 the smallest
death rate recorded OF an army in history.
remarkable fact when it Is considered
that over $4,000 OF our troops. born and
-eared in the temperate zone, were cam
paisning 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, 1t
| is earnestly recommended that the regu-
| lar army be permanently increased 10
| lG0,0t0 men and the requisite officers: thai
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
| erection. however, to be given to the pres
| ident to make appointments of officers
from the force so recruited.
| Another suggestion is that there should
| he employed in the United States service
| a const. bulary force for the cities OF Cuba,
| Porto ldco and the Philippines who have
had the experience and can speak the Ian
| suage OF the islands.
Estimates.
The statement OF expenditures and esti.
| mates presents some formidable figures
| The expenditures for the fiscal var ended
June 80 last were Sc, 534, 7S4. and the esti.
mates for the next fiscal year, beginning
| July. l, 1889. are sl95,250,S7. OF this grea,
| estimate the sum of $55. 430, 900 is charged to
pay of the army. The estimate of extraor-
| binary appropriations required for the 81,
months ending June 80, 1899. is $50, III, $50
| and the estimate for that period. combined
| with those for the next fiscal year, reache:
| total of s255.427, 9l7
! AT this point the secretary includes ir
| his report the reports of Gen. Miles and al
| the other generals who participates in &C.
| tive operations.
| Our Dead in Cuba.
The graves of the soldiers at Santiago
| in Porto Rico and the Philippines have
| been marked, and their remains will bt
brought home as soon as the plans arr
| completed.
| The entire report of the secretary o.
| war forms one of the most voluminou,
| documents of the kind ever issued from thu
| war department.
Spanish Troops Leaving Cuba.