The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-23
FACTS ABOUT WAR.
Adlutant General COrbin Appears Before
the Investigating Committee.
DEPARTMENT WAS NOT READY
Until War Had Been Declared No Prem.
eratiOnS Had Been Made.
MILES COMMANDER ONLY IN NAME,
Suggestions He Made as to the Plan Of
Campaign We're DiSapproved.
NILES HAD INTENDED TO CLEAN OUT CUBA
This Recommendation shcivcd and
So Was Suggestion az to santiago.
Complaints Accounted For.
MILES COMMANDER ONLY IN NAME.
Suggestions He Made as to the Plan Of
Campaign We're DiSapproved.
NILES HAD INTENDED TO CLEAN OUT CUBA
This Recommendation shcivca and
So Was Suggestion as to santiago.
Complaints Accounted For.

Washington, December -. Adiutart
General Corbn was the first witness he
lore The war investigation commission TO-
day and was Idgidly questioned regarding
the selection OF Camp Ager, Va, lie tes-
tilted that the selection OF Camp Alger was
dictated by the secretary oil war himself
and that its origina! establishment was
recommended by Captain SebuTn OF Gcn-
oral Mics staff lie General Corb!n) had
said at the time thai it, could net b.
good camp ground because there was not
sufficient range for rifle practice. He had
understood from the secretary OF war that
General Miles had something TO do With its
selection. He was not certain of Cap
tain Seburns exact status, but he had un-
derstood Captain Seburn had been sent by
General Mites to make the inspection ot
the camp site.
Did General Miles protest against or do
anything againsl iue selection of the
camp he was asked
Not TO my knowledge, WIS the an
swer General Corbin ADDED that he did
not know the reasons Tor discoulinuance Of
the camp.
Questioned AZ 10 Camp Wikoff, General
Cofbin said that the troops and horses thaL
arrived there about August We're those
left behind in the South iom the expo
Lattcus ~ s-il,.a-a sHu lo4 30 .Nico, ANA thet
the transportation OF these so far as ha
knew. LED 10 railroad congestion or inter
fered wAth the garbage OF supplies for tho
troops subsequently, arriving He dcned
that the contract with the Long Island
( railway gave IL exclusive control, ana sad
the only restriction made in that arrange
!uent was the desirable one of prohlbi9hS
infectious steamers landing at the camp.
He said one reason for ITS selection MAS tue
excellent facilities for water transportation.
He said the camp at Tampa Wds never
designsd for anything but point OF en-
barkation, ana said the first complaint
he had heard from Camp Thomas, Cnirka-
manga, was in the press.
/ Asked when he first seriously appreAedd-
ed there would be hostilties, General Cor
I bin said he might say he did not seriously
| contemplate war until II was fact for ne
! had hoped to the last moment that II would
| be avoided On April 10 the army, for one
of it's size, WAS we'll equipped and thor
! oughly supplied. There never was al
army, he said better equipped, better
| clothed better fed or with a better morals
than our regular army at that time lie
said prior to the war there had been no
complaints of refrigerated or cahheu ueel
i and that they We're used by the armies OF
/
| new experiment
seriously speaking" said General Coz
! hin. II do not think the war department
contemplated war until II was declared by
congress and appropriations were aVaiia-
bic, OF course, the possibilities were
thought Of but there were no general prep
arations except so far as the department
I was able to meet this possibilities that con-
fronted It,
| animation, here suggested to General Cor
bin that he observed the latter was eau
tious and reticent and explained; II Is
not our object 10 criticise strategy; that is
not our business. The strategy OF the war
may have been right and may have been
wrong. But our object is TO determine
whe mr. the war department acted ef-
He said that when General Skaters
expedlton STATED 1t took all the troops
IL was possible to obtain The Supply was
mot enual TO the demand, II had been
TANNED TO carry about $500 tro92s al
th.t time ms cad of the 1900 taken. nc
ma received a letter from General Miles
| dated June "a. laying out the plan o
cnnpalen OF the war and said it was no'
do yol know anything about General
Miles dispatch of June "a, th'n%' &c
Ter TO the secretary of WEI, u MA'en
proposed 10 have the army MAN
through cuba ami take 5000 prifs1ine. :,
and work them and treat Them kndly
General Corbin WAS asked.
Yes, sir" was the answer thlt ie't
was received ind did not receive tne aP'
proyal OF the secrs AIRY 81 war
'You say the proposition maze py 'ep,
e-sl Niles to carry on the camp'go
the manner which he indica'es IN 'n'' ~
ter was disapproyed?' -, c.,o,.,,
at was not approved repiied 'e"o'
Corbin. ,ton q,