The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-22
ALGER MAKES
EXPLANATION


concluded from Page IL
sickness that has broken out in the
army showed the great wisdom of
General Shafter in moving forward to
make the attack while his men were
in vigor. 1t was movement bordering
or audacity, but it succeeded and the
persistence of the attack. l have no
doubt, greatly disheartened the Span
iards. The result was one of the great
est victories. for the men engaged, in
modern warfare. The number of pris-
oners taken exceeded the attacking
force by enarly two to one When yell
low fever broke out and the fever list
increased into the thousands it was
for time supposed that it was prin-
cipally yellow fever. The bringing of
the troops north at once after the sur
render, under such conditions, would
have been certain death to a vast num-
Der, but upon inquiry it was ascer-
tanned that very few of these cases
comparatively were yellow fever, when
it was at once decided to bring the ar
my home as speedily as possible.
Everything that human ingenuity
could devise has been done to succor
that army--not the ingenuity ofthe sec
retary of war; but the result of the
combined council of those who have
had a life long experience in the field.
That some men have been neglected
on transports coming home there is
no doubt-all against positive orders,
due perhaps to carelessness and negli-
gence, but largely on account of not
having the medical force to spare
many of whom were sick) from the
camp at Santiago. Many medical Off
GERS sent with transports were taken
i'll on the way home.
WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
"To give a little idea of the work
that has been done, l append the fol-
lowing:
"The work of the adjutant generals
department has been to muster and
order to their station, to be precise,
216,400 volunteers, and 24,90O for the
regular army. This with a reduced
force. as many staff officers from all
the departments had been promoted
and ordered to the field.
THE chief of engineers reports an
expenditure of $5,S30000 for harbor de-
fenses, building emplacements of heavy
guns, mortar batteries and mines.
THE surgeon general has had the
enormous work of fitting up hospitals,
organizing the medical corps, employ
ing male and female nurses, contract
surgeons, being surgeons who are en-
ployed from civil life. besides those
commissioned as corps. division and
brigade surgeons, furnishing medical
supplies and answering the demands
from all over the country and from
camps at Santiago, Porto Rico and
Manila. The work done in this line is
almost beyond comprehension.
The cOmmissary general had pur-
chased and distributed up to Aug. l.
110,901 237 pounds of ratiOns. which
have been transported and distributed
t. all armies in the field here at San
tiago, Porto Rico and Manila, besides
the large quantity distributed among
the destitute Cubans.
THE quartermaster generals report
is too long to even give an approx
mate idea of his work. In the work of
transportation to Honolulu, Manila
Santiago and Porto Rico. and return
home, there have been sent 50 ,63S men,
with artillery and equipment and sup
plies. BY rail i'm this country there
have been transported 300 officers,
233,962 enlisted men, also A, ,5S2 animals
besides thousands of wagons, artillery
and other quartermaster, commissary,
ordnance. medical and signal service
stores. The total number of articles of
clothing and camp equippage distribut-
ed to the army by the quartermaster's
department has been 6,274, ,4S3, of which
| can only mention a few articles as
follows: Blankets, 2SS, ,739; blouses, 2SS, =
1862; trousers, 4O6,423; hats, S341O6: cam
vas field uniforms, $4,000; shoes, pairs,
5ll,37S; undershirts, 1896; tents, 49,
142; etc. etc.
THE total weight of food and forage
distributed daily to the army is an
proXimately 800 tons.
added to this is the large fleet Of
transports chartered and purchased
the management of the same in con-
voyage of troops, supplies and ammu-
milton.
THE paymaster has promptly paid
the army, and is deserving of yery
great credit for his work.
The signal corps has provided most
ei1cient service for furnishing cable.
telegraph, telephone and signal SER
vices to the different commands in the
field.
IF you had day or two to spare,
would like to sandwich in a little
work for you, / would like to send you
these statements in detail which 1
think would bewilder you If anything
can. sincerely vours
'R. A. Alger.
Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew, New
York"