The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-29
GEN. ALGER REPORTS
/; / CAMP INSPECTION
PERFECTLY SATISFIED WITH
SURROUNDING CONDITIONS.
THE Main Trouble Experienced Is to
Induce Men to Take Care of Them
selves-Report.o of a Scene at Gener-
ol DreclSinridge's Headquarters is
Absolutely without Foundation.

Washington, Sept. 2S.--Secretary AL
ger today made a verbal report to the
president on the inspection of the new
camps which he has just concluded.
He lost no time in reaching the White
House, and for two hours and half.
lasting well after / O'clock he was
occupied in communicating his obser-
vations to the president. Secretary
Alger was looking well and hearty and
walked with a step more brisk than
usual. During the Interview Secretary
Long came over from the navy depart
ment with friend and Joined the
party in the cabinet room On leav-
Ing the White House, Secretary Alser
said he was much gratified with the
conditions of the camps generally. He
refrained from specifically charging
eXaggeration of conditions of camp life.
but said the results of the trip of in
spettion was quite satisfactory. lie
had visited he said, every one of the
camps the hospitals and the sick He
WaS gratified especially to find the men
In the hospitals steadily improving and
mat there Were s. many convalesccnts
where the odds against them from
their maladies had been great. Most
OF the men in the hospitals he said,
ANerc in good spirits cheerful and
ppy and brightly looking forward
the time when they would be we'll
lin. In a general way the camps
re kept satisfactorily but there were,
conceded, numerous points which
ht be improved upon, citing espec-
Tally the unsatisfactory condition of
the sinks at some points. At Jack
sonville, he said the reports seemed to
show fairly large proportion of sick.
/. but he said the per Ccntage of sickness
Nwas accounted for by the fact that
Ne sick of all the regiments depart
w and mustered out were kept in the
mp. THE main trouble" said Sec
eIary Alger. (which / found was per-
laps the matter of troops taking care
bf themselves This was one of the
vgreat difficulties encountered At some
points the eating tents outside the
camps conducted by private enterprise
proved too tempting for soldiers and
the results of improper and iniudicious
taking of food soon manifested them
selves in the general condition of the
men. These are things which some
times cannot be helped. and where
there was a most rigid discipline along
these lines the improved state of af-
fairs was very evident"
The secretary said the reforms or
changes which might result from his
inspection would be discussed later
but drove off to his home without max
ing more detailed observations regard
ing his trip.
REPORT WITHOUT FOUNDATION.
Secretary Alger says the report of a
scene in General Breckinridges head
quarters at Lexington, when he was
inspecting that camp is absolutely
without foundation. There was no
ale, no high words. and no excited
language. The secretary says the story
WAS made out of whole cloth. Secrc-
ary Alger and Generals Ludington
nd Sternberg each have letters from
General Wiley, who was reported as
aving made accusations against them.
Xpressing his regret that any such
port was circulated. That to Secre-
iry Alger follows:
eadquarters First Brigade. Third Divis-
on, First Army Corps, Camp Hamilton,
Ky, Sept. %.
My Dear GeI eral Alger: | hear that
1me of the northern papers are making