The Portland daily press., 1898-09-23
ALGeR AT CHlCKAMAUGA.
He and sternberg Inspect Camp and
Hospital.

Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept. 22.-Secre-
tary of War Alger, Surgeon General
Sternberg and party, made thorough
inspection of Chickamauga today. The
first place visited was Letter hospital
where about an hour was spent. From
Letter the party went to Sternberg
hospital where another hour was spent.
In both hospitals General Alger and
General Sternberg spoke cheering words
to each of the many patients. One re-
marx he repeated was: II honor you
brave boys as much as I do any of the
wars heroes"
At II o'clock the visitors got to Lytle.
There they were met by the entire sixth
regiment U. S. Volunteers. General
Alger reviewed the regiment on dress
parade and highly complimented the
| men. A salute of II guns was fred In
his honor. At noon the General return
ed to his car, where he spent some time
looking after accumulated correspond
ence and receiving callers. General
Alger said that the present conditions in
the hospitals here are far better than he
expected and practically all he could
desire.
Secretary Alger and party were enter
tanned at dinner this evening, given by
prominent citizens of Chattanooga. Gen
eral Alger stated that he was firmly con-
vinced Of the original healthfulness of
Chickamauga Park, but that it was rem
dered temporarily unhealthy by the long
occupation of the army. He intimated
that the soldiers now in camp will be
moved further south on the approach Of
colder weather.
Col. Lee replied to and denied the
charges made by Generals Wiley, Sanger
Col. Leonard and others against the
quartermaster's department.
Surgeon General Sternberg declares
that NATURALLY Chickamauga park was
absolutely healthy and the water pure
and that the sickness at Camp Thomas
was traceahle to the failure OF commands
ing and regimsntal officers to observe the
sanitary regulations issued by the medi-
cal bureau.
Bsfore leaving Chattanooga, Secretary
Alger said:
'sThe press has been disposed to exag-
gerate the condition of some of the camps
and things have been charged against the
war department. which was untrue and
unwarranted. I want all the facts to
come out.
"The great trouble has been that the
people have not appreciated the immense
problem of forming an army of $50, 900
volunteers without notice and without
the necessary equipment
"There were thousand and one details
to look after and fairly disposed public
will understand the disadvantages under
which the war department worked for
many weeks. AS fast as possible equip
ments and supplies were sent to the
several camps and If there has been lack
of medicines and necessaries OF life, the
fault lies with the commanding officers of
the camps. T,
There may have been some incompe-
tent officers, generals and colonies in
| charge of some Of the camps, and if such
| is found to be the case, they will be held
strictly to account for their misdeeds.
'tIf there are any commanding Off GERS
who are now incompetent or who fail to
put their camps in first class condition,
and keep them that way, I propose they
shall be replaced by men who are compe-
tent and who will see that perfect sani-
tary conditions are established and main
tained.''