Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-12-07
ALGER'S WAR REPORT
SECRETARY REVIEWS MILITARY
OPERATIONS.
Without Criticism He Traces the Move.
ment of Army aud Navy - Makes
Recommendation aud Gives Cost
of Operations.

The annual report of Secretary of War
Alger, reviewing the work of the year,
and especially the operations in the Phil
ippines, Cuba and Porto Rico, has been
made public. 1t gives a general summary
of the military operations during the war.
Soon after the declaration of war;" 1t
says, "a movement was contemplated
looking to the investment of Havana, and
orders to that effect were issued, and also
for reconnaissance In force along the
south coast of Cuba, but the movement of
the enemy's feet changed these plans and
eliminated in the campaign OF Santiago"
OF Gen. Miles share in the Santiago
campaign the Secretary says:
Mai. Gen. Miles arrived off Santiago July
II, and that evening communicated with
Gen. Shafter by telephone and on the 18th
arrived at Gen. Skaters headquarters.
July IL and II he, with Gen. Shafter, met
the Spanish commander under a flag of truce
between the lines to discuss the surrender
OF the Spanish forces On the afternoon of
July IA Gen. Miles left Gen. Skaters head
quarters and soon thereafter wentson board
ship, preparatory to sailing for Porto Rico.
July II the Spanish commander Gen Toral
surrendered the city, including the troops In
Santiago and the surrendered district, over
23oO0 men, upon cur TERMS and at noon
of that date the American flag was, by order
OF Gen. Shafter, hoisted over the Governors
palace.
After briefly outlining the operations in
Porto Rico and the Philippines the report
continues:
Aug. Is an order was Issueo :" muster out
loU,OO0 volunteers, which Is being carried
out Thus an army of about 100000 volun-
teers and recruits for the regulars was
called into existence from civil life, which,
with the regular army, made total of 274,-
III men. 1t was organized, armed and
equipped (no supplies being on hand other
tnan those OF the regulars save the Spring
Held musketsl, and $4,000 men of this force
were transported by land and sea to battle
| fields In the tropics 10000 miles apart, where
thes won their victories without single de-
feat, and all within the period of I13 days
from the declaration of war to the signing
or the protocol. This great achievement can
De credited to no individual; 1t belongs to
the nation. 1t was accomplished through
the Intelligence and patriotism Of all who
served, from the commanders n-chief to the
private In the ranks 1t also speaks vol
umes for the prompt patriotic and intelli-
gent assistance of the people who furnished
In so short period the supplies necessary to
prepare is great army for the field To
the heroic men who serve In distant fields
the country VIII ever offer a true need OF
praise, but the mighty army in camp, ready
and eager to take the field, should also be
given equal credit. 1t was their presence,
ready at an hours notice for any emer-
gency, that overa wed the enemy and proved
to him that further resistance would be In
vain.
Smallest Death Rate In History.
The deaths In the army from May l to
Oct. l, including killed, died OF wounds and
OF disease, were 2,910, the smallest death
rate recorded of any army In history, a most
gratifying fact when 1t Is considered that
IA hnr a,,d "A
In the temperate zone, were campaigning In
tropical climates, subject to rain and heat
almost unprecedented.
The volunteers must cred out were granted
one and two months furlough before dis
charge and final payment. In the summer
months this was an indulgence To do so In
winter months would, In many of the States,
be hardship. In order that all may be
dealt with alike, 1t Is recommended that the
officers and men of the volunteer troops yet
to be mustered out be given two months pay
at the time of discharge. This would admit
OF their prompt discharge In their present
camps In the South.
In view of the needs of a military force In
the Islands occupied by the United States il
Is earnestly recommended that the regular
army be permanently increased to 100, 0O0
men and the requisite officers; that a por-
tion of this army be recruited from the In
habitants of those islands, to be mustered
into the service of the United States and
~.
ton. however, to be giveL 70 the President
to make appointment of officers from tne
force so recruited
These men are acclimated, understand the
language and habits of their countrymen,
and their enlistment will not only give them
employment, but also have tendency to
enable the Government to get into closer
touch with their people than it would other.
wise be able to do. This would also relieve
our people from serving In those climates ia
q large extent and wOnld hle
the volunteers to be mustered out of the ser.
vice and return to their vacations of civil
life. The distinction between the regular
and the volunteer is very sharply drawn.
The regular enters the service because he
prefers the life Of soldier. Not so the vol
unteer. He enlists for an active campaign
when that Is over and the enemy has laid
down it's arms he at once desires to return
to civil life.
In the cities OF Cuba, Porto Rico, and the
Philippines there should also be employed
and sworn Into the service of the United
States constabulary force for police duty
men who have had experience and can speak
the language Of those islands, thus relieving
our soldiers from that work
To supply food for the destitute, especial
ly In Cuba, Is question that must tax this
Government greatly, for a time at least.
The effort stould be made to aid those peo-
pie by giving them work, so that they may
feel that they are earning their own bread
instead OF living upon charity. Would it not
be wise economy for the Government of the
United States to construct a substantial
railroad, practically the whole length Of the
island of Cuba, with branch roads to the
leading cities on the coast? Such road
would, of course, cost a large sum, perhaps
$20,0OOOOO, but 1t would give employment
to the people of Cuba, teach them habits OF
Industry, be an inducement for them to cul.
tivate their farms and thus furnish supplies
for the laborers and for market when the
road Is constructed.
This, In my judgment, is absolutely essen
tiai to the pacif1cation and development OF
that great island. 1t will bring Its minerals,
lumber and agricultural products to market
and open up communication with all parts
of the island with the least possible delay.
The road would be good property, and
when 1t had served Its purpose for the Gov.
eminent could be sold for It's cost. If such
an improvement is not made the Govern
ment WILL no doubt expend fully that
amount In charity. Even If this road be
built, there Is immediate necessity for a
large appropriation to relieve the destitute
The report says the supply of powder
was most troublesome question at TIE
outbreak of the war. There are only Two
establishments in this country which man
ufacture smokeless powder, and they own
patents upon the process. These, how
ever, like all other companies called to aid
the Government, responded with alacrity
ran the works day and night, and produc-
ed in a short time an ample supply.
The report continues:
The Krag -Jorgensen, or a similar thirty
caliber magazine gun, should be manufac-
tured until we have at an early date at least
100000 stands of those arms in our arsenals,
and an ample supply Of ammunition for the
same. The sea-coast defenses should also be
brought to completion without delay. so that
hereafter no emergency will find us UMPIRE
pared to meet 1t. In this connection atten.
ton is called to the difference In the callber
of the heavy guns and small arms. In my
Judgment they should be alike In both
branches Of the service (army and navy, to
enable either arm to supply the other with
ammunition. The reasons for this are too
patent to need elaboration.
The expenditures from ordinary appro-
priations for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1898, aggregated S62, 534. 7S4, and the
ordinary appropriations for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1899, aggregate $55, 652,
035. The estimates of all amounts re-
quired for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1900, aggregate S195, 250.377. The extra
ordinary war appropriations made ayaila-
BILE until Jan. /, 1899, amounted to 1921,
sos, 112, of which $50, 564, IA had been
expended prior to July 1, 1898. The esti-
mates of extraordinary appropriations re-
qured for the six months ending June 30,
1899, aggregate $50, III, $50. There was
allotted TO the War Department from the
$50, 900, 900 national defense fund the sum
of SIS, 1884, 1927.
TeIegraphic Brevities.
A new counterfeit S. legal tender note
is in circulation.