The herald., 1898-08-01
TAKING NO CHANCES
Continued from Page One.)

troops undir his old command alone, but
with particular reference to an equitable
representation in the Porto Rican cam
pagn of all of the states of the union.
Alger on Selection Of Troops
Secretary Alger feels that his department
has been subjected to some unjust criticism
upon the selection of troops for active SER
vice, and pronounces as without founda-
ton the allegation that politics have dc
tated these assignments. In the case of
the Fifth Illinois volunteer regiment, which
was Withdrawn from the Porto Rican expe-
dition in favor of the Indiana regiment Just
as the troops were about to board the cars,
it has been already explained, by authori-
ty, that the change was made In recogni-
ton of the justice of the complaint that
Illinois already had two regiments in active
service at the front, while Indiana had
none. Even in that case, however, Secre-
tary Alger did not make the selection of the
regiment to be held back. He simply in
structed the general commanding the ex-
pedtion to select one Illinois regiment for
detention, without designating 1t.
Santiago Army's Rest
Secretary Ager is fastening the prep
of the Fifth army corps, now at Santiago.
Surgeon General Sternberg has Just dis
patched Col. Forwood, of his bureau, to the
site of the camp, with instructions to erect
at once hospital capable of accommodate
ing no less than 500 soldiers. General
Shafter has been authorized by cable
gram from Secretary Alger to notify his
soldiers of the good fortune in store for
them, in or'1er that the man may be cheered
up TO wait with patience for their removal.
This cannot be effected Immediately, owing
to the condition of the men themselves.
The present plan Is to begin as soon as pos,
sble the transportation to Montauk Point
of such of the soldiers as have recovered
from the fever and those who have not yet
contracted It. The sick must wait for the
physicians say that the climatic change IN
volved In bringing them north would prove
fatal in many cases. But the delay is not
likely to be extended. Surgeon General
Sternberg says that convalescence in fever
of a. type as mild as that at Santiago does
n OF usually occupy more than ten days,
although as the season runs on and the
virulence increases, this period il greatly
extended. AS soon as that period Is
passed, the men will be embarked for home
The matter of transports for this work Is
already under consideration, and Is likely
to be adjusted very satisfactory.
Transports Turned Over
The navy department has concluded that
1t can dispense with the four big American
line steamers, formerly known as New
York, st. Louis, st. Paul and Paris, and
the war department has begun negotiations
for chartering them. Mr.. Grscom, the
president of the line, will meet Col Hecker
in charge of the transportation tomorrow by
appointment at the war department to
make the necessary Arrangements by
which the soldiers of the Fifth corps can
make flying trips on these vessels from
Cuba to the north. The war department
has corrected a statement made yesterday
as to the rema rkab BILE casualties among the
officers of the Twenty-fourth infantry in
connection with the death of Capt. Dodge
What was meant to have been stated was
that every captain of the regiment had
been either killed or incapactated by
wounds or disease since the taking Of the
field in the present campaign.