Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-09-29
AT CAMP CUBA LIBRE
Secretary Alger Visits the Seventh
Army Corps Under Gen. Lee.
CAMPS CONDITION is SATISFACTORY.
The Secretary OF War speAkA of the Labors
OF His Department-surgoOn General
stsrnborg Interviewed oA the
Medical Department

Medical Department.
Jacksonville, Fla, Sept 26-Secre-
-tary Alger and party, consisting OF
Gen. Sternberg, surgeon general; Gen.
Ludington, quartermasterg general, and
Others, spent yesteday in Jacksonville
visiting the camp of the Seventh army
corps. The distinguished party was
met at the station by Gen. Lee and
"a committee of citizens. Gen. Alger
proceeded at once to the camp of the
First division and during the day in
sspected the three division hospitals,
going through every ward. He shook
hands and spoke encouraging words
to the sick men and in one in
stance discharge was asked for
by sick man. His name was taken
and the secretary said that 1t
would be attended to. The regiments
of the three divisions were reviewed,
that of the Third division being after
dark with the light of the moon hid
behind hazy sky. At the conclusion
of his labors Secretary Alger said in
response to a question: II am highly
delighted with all / have seen and am
very agreeably surprised at the condi-
lions that find existing in Camp Cuba
Libre," AS Jacksonville has been con-
sidered to have the best and healthiest
camp in the country, his statement
means much.
A luncheon was rendered to the Sec
Rotary and party at noon, and in re-
Spouse to a toast drank standing, he
said:
have visited Jacksonville once or twice be-
fore, but never with the same interest as to-
day l have listened with pleasure, but
with no surprise, to the resolutions that have
been read rs to how the citizens of Jackson
vile have got along with Gen Lee Anyone
can get along with him that will lot him have
his own way. know him pretty well and you
have been sagacious In letting him run things
here / am glad the soldiers have been orderly
and OF course that has been due to Gen Lee
The health OF this camp has been bet
ter than that Of any other in the coun-
try. Twenty five per cent Of that has been
due to the city Of Jacksonville and rs per cent
has been due to Gen. Lee, for Of course, the
subordinate officers don't count Sickness Is
largely the fault OF commanders, division reg
mental and company commanders, Gen Lee Is
not looking very well and have granted him II
short leave Of absence. The organizing and
equipping OF an army Of 900 men carrying
on war in two continents in the space OF
three months has been q tremendous under
taking The secretary OF war has been as
sisted in this undertaking by the surgeon
general and the quartermaster's depart
ment They have been criticised, but not
to the extent the secretary of war has been, yet
know the work they have accomplished has
been little short OF miraculous. When this
war began the clothing that the men have worn
was on the backs OF animals There was no
ammunition, no transportation; there was
nothing beyond the war department but
great rich nation, burning with patriotism
Almost In night an army was organized and
equipped that paralyzed the nation with which
we had to deal, and has awakened the admira-
ton Of the world i have no apology to mako
for what has been DONE am willing to let
the record Of the campaign stand and speak for
itself.
United STATES Senator Morgan said to me be-
fore he left for the Hawaiian islands: "The
world has never seen, nor will it see again, the
mobilization OF such an army and the accom-
plishing with it Of what has been done with
this one in such a short period" 1t matters
not what may become Of me- may be buried |
in oblivion, or in the grave, but the unbiased
historian will give the world the impartial
record Of what has been accomplished and the |
record will stand forever as q monument to the |
greatness Of this nation and of its boundess |
resources We are great nation. We don't |
have to depend on any other on earth, and our |
resources are such that we can be independent |
of ALL We should have a standing army enough |
for our needs. We should have great navy. |
that we may take our place among the leading |
nations Of the world
When this war began issued an order that |
the north and south should be brgaded togeth- |
ser. They have been united and 1t Is proven |
that the sectional lines of the north and the |
south no longer exist and thank God that |
have lived to see the day when we have united |
country thank you Gen. Lee, for the well
come and hospitality Of to-day and hope for |
the continued prosperity of this city and this |
nation.
Surgeon General Sternberg, in an
interview, said that he did not think |
he should be held responsible for the
mistakes of all the officers under him
and yet he had been criticised for all |
that had happened He said that
every requisition that had come to his
Office for supplies had been promptly
filed and that he did not know of but
one item that had been cut from a
requisition and that was for chewing
gum. His department had been ready |
to meetevery demand, and if the sup
plies wanted had not been asked for,
it was not his fault. Regarding female
nurses, he said that his position had
been misunderstood. He had been in
favor of them from the start and did
not know how it would be possible to
get along without them. As to the
hospitals here he was highly pleased
and found the sick being we'll cared
for. In contrast to the other camps,
the purity of the water supply was un.
questionable. lie had made INQUIRIES
at random and had not heard single
complaint during the entire day.