The Red Cloud chief., 1898-12-09
SECRETARY ALGER'S REPORT
It Is Practically a Complete History
Of the Spanish-American War.
NO CRITICISMS ARE MADE.
II IL Largely Made Up OF Onio,si Dis
patchcs-Generai Miles Selected Shat.
ter for Duty In Embellishments an
Army Of 100000.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The annual
report Of Secretary Algcr is n practi-
cally complete history Of the Spanish
American war. The secretary has
given TO the public not only all the
official dispatches that passed directly
between his own Office and command
ing officers in the field and camp, but
has supplemented these with short
planatory notes, setting forth the
reasons for various movements, and
then, to complete the record Of events,
he has included in the body OF his re-
port the report of General Miles, o. all
the generals who participated in the
campaigns in Cuba, Porto Rico or tho
Philippines, and, finally, tho reports
Of the bureau officers Of the war de-
partment. Nowhere Is there shown a
disposition TO criticise, the official dis
patches being allowed to tell their
own story, and, generally, the secre-
tary finds much to praise and cause for
sincere congratulation in the results
obtained.
The report proper begins with what
may DO described as a chronological
history of the war, consisting OF u
number of short paragraphs beginning
with tho declaration Of war on April
81, and setting forth the dato upon
which any event OF Importance 90
CURED, but making no comment what
ever upon tho facts. The only excep.
ton to this rule is In a reference to the
casualties at Santiago. Some criticism
having been made that there was n
lack OF surgeons present, The report
states that there were 140 surgeons in
attendance, and that OF i,43i wound
ed. only thirteen died OF their wounds.
Touching the surrender at Santiago,
the report shows that Shafter de-
manded tho surrender on tho Sd and
renewed this demand on the 4th. On
the morning of the nth another de-
mand was made. On the evening oil
that day General Miles arrived, and
on the 18th and 14th OF July, he, with
General Shaftcr, met the Spanish com
mander under a flag OF truce, to dis
cuss the surrender. On tho afternoon
of the 18th, General Miles left Gen
oral Skaters headquarters and soon
thereafter went aboard ship prepare
tory to sailing for Porto Rico. July II
Toral surrendered $4,000 men upon oul
: terms and tho American flag wa
hoisted by order Of General Shaftor.
The secretary. coming down in hi.
! history to the middle of August, wher
! IN order was issued that is o in ex
, ecution to muster out 100, 900 volun
3 tcers, says:
!. ''Thus an army Of about ESQ, DOC vol
3 unteers and recruits for the REGULAR
/. was called into existence from civil
life, and, including the regular army
the total force was 27i, tit men. /
was organized, armed and equlppe'
: mo supplies being on hand other thar
those for the regulars, save Spring
field muskcts) and so. 900 men OF thi
forco were transported by land an
. sea to ~battlefelds in the tropics, 1000
a miles apart, where they won thei
! all within the period OF ll3 days froi
. the declaration Of war TO tho signin.
Q Of tho protocol.
y rnke for tho Isntire Army.
. "This great achievement can be cred
!. tied to no individual; IL belongs To tn
" nation. Il was accomplished thr0ug
= the intelligence and patriotism of a
who served, from the commander-ir
u chief to the private in the ranks ]
. also speaks volumes for the prompt
9 patriotic and intelligent assistance
% the people who furnished, In SO shO,
!. O period, the supplies necessary to pr'
" pare this great army for the field. I
y the heroic men who served In distar
lands, the country will evo offor
true need Of praise; but tho might
army In camp, ready and eagor to TAX
the field, should also DO given cqu'
70 credit ID was their presence, read
Z. at an hours notice for any energenc,
70 that overawed the enemy and prove
ID to them that further resistance woul
10 be in vain.
60 1.-THE deaths In the army from May
70 to October 1. including killed, died
ID wounds and Of disease, were 1910, I'll
cs smallest death rate recorded OF an
s. army In history, q remarkable fa'
4. when IL il considered that over 500
q Of our troops. born and reared in IL
temperate zone, were campaigning
tropical climates. subject to rain an
heat almost unprecedented"
nN The secretary says Of tho voluntee
9, that 70 furlough them In winter won
Dc be o hardship. so he recommends tina
a In lieu Of the furlough. tho office
IN and men be given two mOnths' pay
~ the time OF their discharge, thus u
Y: hitting Of their prompt discharg,
~ their present camps in the South
81 Under the head OF increase in Il
permanent establishment, the seer
tary says:
Army Of 100000 Recommended.
~ '.In view Of the needs OF n militia
VI force in the islands occupied by {
~ United states, II Is earnestly rccol
IN mended that the regular army DO pc
manently increased to 100000 M
=. and the requisite officers; that a pc
DO ton Of this army BIO recruited fro
tho inhabitants OF those islan-s, to
~ mustered into the service OF the Unit