The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-31
WHAT ALeER SAYS.
VIII order No NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
on His Record.


this statement tonight concerning the
| criticisms of his office:
| Il do not intend to order an investiga-
ton Of the wholesale charges of mlsman-
| agement Of the war. but propose to stand
on my record. Ii the President of Con-
| gress desires these charges Investigated
| l would be delighted to have the adminis-
tration of the war department made the
subject Of the most searching inquiry.
If any one can be found who can per-
| form the duties better than 1 have I am
| willing to give way TO him, but not until
| the unjust, brutal and untrue criticisms
nave ceased. l will not retire under FIRE.
| War found the country totally unpre-
| pared with an army of only 26O00 men. In
| four months an army of 275,0c0 men was
| called in the field, equipped, fought a
| campaign on two continents which was
a succession of victories, and brought
| about peace. 1t was a stupendous under
| taking, and 1 do not believe any other
country on the face of the globe could
have successfully managed such a hercu-
| lean task.
I'VE had nothing to start with but arms,
| there was no clothing, canteens,
| haVersacks, cartridge belts shoes under
wear clothing of any kind, or ammuni-
ton All the executive work for this gil
| gantic project passed over my desk, and
IL l have not done my duty as well as any
| one else could have done it l am very
| sorry that 1 filled the Office of Secretary
| oS War.
1T is at least ungracious for the press of
the country to attack me when | have
| given all my time and what ability l pos
sess to bring the war to successful con-
| ciusion. Orders have been promptly sent
| to correct all abuses and l can no more
be held responsible for the failure to ex-
ecute these orders than a commanding
| officer can be for the ren!ssness of his
| subordinates.
Complaints of all sorts from private in
dlViduals have been made, which were in
Vestigated and proven to be uufounded.
Inere have been charges made against the
surgeon general, commissarY and quarter
master generals departments, which are
| equally untrue
Three harder worked or more compe-
tent officers cannot be found in the SER
vice than these men. They have worked
| long and faithfully and have done their
duty, and are not responsible for any neg
lect which may have occurred. Five hun
| d1ed tons of quartermaster's stores and
| four hundred tons of commssary stores
are being transported each day.
IF any one is to blame for not supply
| Ing the soldiers with ratlons and taking
| proper sanitary precautions it is the COM
| handing officers in the field. Supplies were
| always on hand, and if they were not dis
| tributed the fefuft does not lie with the
| bureau chiefs. Regular army officers were
| in charge of all the camps except in the
| cases of Gen. Lee, and he is a graduate of
West Point, and the first notice the de-
partmcnt had of the lack of food and poor
sanitary conditions came through the
press.
only one complaint has come direct TO
the department, and this was received in
a naAfn f,a- ~,
| ed that his brother was a private and
was starving to death. I Immediately or
dered the case Investigated, and three Of
6cers were appointed for the purpose.
Upon investigation the soldier in ques-
ton asserted that he was comfortable and
| had proper food. He was Immediately dis
| charged.
Sinks at the camps are responsible for
much of the sickness among the troops,
but when it was found that any of these
| camps were unhealthy they were ordered
changed The camps at Miami, Tampa,
Camp Alger and ChIckamauga were found
to be unhealthy and orders were immedi-
ately given to remove the troops to better
and more healthy camps.
Gen. Lees camp at Jacksonville has
proved to be the heaEthiest one, and this
is because half barrels were used for re-
fuse instead of sinks, thus keeping the
place clean. Only two per cent. of the men
of this command are III. Commanding Of
icers, who We're of the regular army, gave
orders for proper sanitary precautions to
the men under them, which, in some cases,
were not carried out.
Soldiers disregarded the advice of medl-
cal officers, both as to diet and medicine
which, of course, caused some illness. 1
visited Camp Alger myself, and found suf-
ficlent good water for drinking purposes,
but not enough for bathing.
HWhpn tVnhOid fever bacarne endemic
there the camp was abolished. have never
heard of the story that the troops on their
march from Camp Alger to Thoroughfare
Gap went twenty-four hours without any
thing TO eat, and do not believe there is
any truth In it. I did hear something of a
forced march when these troops left there,
but upon investigation found the story
without foundation.
II deeply regret the Concha and Seneca
affairs and great sufferings was endured
by the men on these transports. There
was a lack of medicine and surgeons and
some overcrowding, but this was partly
caused by the anxiety of the men to get
away from Cuba.
Gen. Shafter is not responsible for
conditions which existed on these two
transports, because he ordered an inspec-
ton to be made, and they were undoubt-
eddy reported to be suitable for the pur-
pose for which they were to be used.
plenty of good water and fine rolling
ground. 1t is surrounded on two sides by
good water, and the troops improve very
fast after reaching there. The hospitals
are somewhat crowded. In some instances
tents intended to accommodate Ave pa
tents had an extra man in them.
Eight transports arrived in one day and
some crowding necessarily followed, but
this was being rectihed as speedily as pos
sible.
I'm such a gigantic undertaking some
delay must occur, and 1 learn the men at
Santiago fought on short rations. This
was frequently done during the civil war,
and cheerfully borne by the men. as they
knew all that could be done for them was
being done"
Lee Highly Commended.
From the Journals Washington Cores
pondent.
Secretary Alger was seen al his home on