The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-08-26
TO BE INVESTIGATED.
The Conduct of the War by Secretary
AIRer's Department-MIIes'I inter
view Caused a Sensation.


ington and an investigation of the
conduct of the war by Secretary Al
gers department will be made.
Somebody has grossly blundered,
and Gen. Miles does not hesitate to
say so. He lays the blame on the
war department.
In commenting upon Gen. Miles
interview and the conduct of the
war the New York Herald says:
The American people heard with
sympathy for the sufferers the sto-
ries Of the privations of our fighting
men in Cuba. and before the soldiers
of the Santiago campaign-wan,
feeble and emaciated-began to ar
rive at Montauk Point, they were
asking:
"Who has blunderedf"
This question must be answered.
If the American people take brave
pride In their slain, different chord
iH swept when the story comes of
men stricken az a result of the neg
lect of those who sent them to war.
An investigation will be made.
The problem of swelling an army
of 25, 900 men into an army of 2SO, 900
had been discounted in the minds of
the people. 1t was recognized as a
colossal problem that would be &C.
companied by wearing friction. Dis
Ouiotiuo mf0riau Fr0vro tho mfaka oornnu
were brushed aside with the feeling
that the best had been done under
the circumstances.
But how about the man at Santi-
ago?
Why was not his hunger and sick
ness met with bread and care? Why
were his comrades without artillery,
needlessly slaughtered in the open
plain before men and Msussrs be-
hind strong defenses?
The questions affect the secretary
of war and the heads of his depart
ments, and possibly Gen. Shafter
himself.
There will be 20 immediate press
ure for an answer as to the state
camps or ag to the Porto RicAn cam
paign, which seems to have gone
well. 1t will be sufficient for the
present If Secretary Alger and Gen.
Shafter will tell the people why there
was such bitter and cruel failure in
the handling even of the army oi
0-lv On mn Of Sanfian0
There is an opinion that the great
problem of assembling an army Of
2s0, 900 men throws no mantle ovel
neglect in handling and caring fol
! the 20, 900 men at Santiago, and they
/ are now suffering at Montauk Point
The United States government haC
weeks to get only 900 men into tn,
field, and it kept them ther,
after the battle was over, thougl
they begged to come home. Tn
government was frightened into &C
= ton by an angry cry of pity from tn
people, while the war department
was busy sending 10000 additions
men to Porto Rico, and, though ther
. have been weeks for preparation
there are tinkers and mechanics sti
hammering away at Montauk, wit
chests of medicines and other store
! in disorder and confusion.
% The ball of blame has been ,tosse
5 from one governmental ofncial TO 81
other. Shsfter has cabled defenH'
: of himself, and Secretary Alger hi
20 arraigned the generals and colope
because they cried out for the mel
= When the press would ask. "Wh
n of our 20, 900 men at S4ntiago7" t
administration would ansEer, BE
with us n while longer; we are d
yeloping an army Of 100000 men
home"
General Eagan protests that II Z
men have not been fed 1t has n
been beesuse the. food has not be
available. He sights figures, and. &
question of placing the blame
therefore, still open.
ta But If there was no trouble wi
the food supplies either at Manila
Porto Rico, why, it may be aske
90 should there be deatitution amo
III the troops ut Santiago, as 10 alleg
N; there has been? II there was 70
to In plenty at these places, the m
IN management seems logically to I
at Santiago, and this viii be invei
= gated.
AtTampa troops were merciles
crowded in vessels for days. 7
was partly due to lack of railrC
facilities, there being only two III
lines that had before been us
nm mostly by tourist. The troops
- as..a ~ GartiaOo In \ Weakened q