The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-03
ALCER MAKES
LONG REPORT
Complete and Official History
Of the War.
FOUND MUCH TO PRAISE
Showed No Disposition to Criti-
else Any of His Subordinates.
NUMEROUS REC0MkiE NDATl0NS
&
Standing Army ShotSv' e Increased to
1OO,0E : zen.
SIS
SUPPLYING = 2 D TO DESTITUTE
az
.
Railway Ac. ~ Cuba Would Greatly
Facilitate Forwarding of Food
Includes All the Official Dis
patches of Generals.
Standing Army shot7Ss E Increased to
1OO,0e- : zen.


port of Secretary Alger is a practically
complete official history of the Spanish
American war. The secretary has given to
the public not only all the official dis
patches that passed directly between his
own Office and commanding officers in the
field and camp, but has supplemented these
with short explanatory notes, setting forth
the reasons for various movements; and
then, to complete the record of events, he
has included in the body of his report the
report of General Miles, of all the generals
who participated in the campaign in Cuba,
Porto Rico the Philippines, and, finally,
the reports of all the bureau officers of the
war department Nowhere is there shown
disposition 10 criticise, the official dis
patches being allowed to tell their own
story, and generally the secretary finds
much to praise and cause for sincere con-
graduation in the results obtained.
Chronological History.
The report proper begins with wfa114 -.sr esr
be described as a chronological history OF
the war; consisting of a number OF short
paragraphs, beginning with the declaration
of war on April 21, and setting forth the
date upon which any event of Importance
occurred, but making comment what
ever upon the facts. The only exception
to this rule is in reference to the CASUAL
ties at Santiago Some criticisms having
been made that there was a lack of sur
geons present. the report states that there
were 140 surgeons in attendance, and that
of 131 wounded only 13 died of their wounds.
Touching the surrender at Santiago, the
report shows that Shafter demanded the
surrender the 3rd and renewed his de-
mand on the 4th. On the morning of the
1lth another demand was made On the
evening of that day General Miles arrived,
and on the 18th and 14th of July he, with
General Shafter, met the Spanish COM
mander under flag of truce to discuss the
surrender On the afternoon of the 1ith
General Miles left General Skaters head
quarters and soon thereafter went aboard
ship preparatory to sailing for Porto Rico.
July 18th Toral surrendered % 900 men upon
our terms and the American flag was
hoisted by order of General Shafter.
The Mastering Out.
The secretary, coming down In his his
tory to the middle of August, when an or
der was issued and is in execution to
muster out 100000 volunteers, says:
''Thus an army of about 25O,0OO voun-
teers and recruits for the regulars was
called into existence from civil life, and,
including the regular army, the total force
was 274,77 men. 1t was organized, armed
and equipped (no supplies being ON hand
other than those for the regulars, save
Springfield muskets) and SO, 900 men of this
force were transplanted by land and sea to
battle-felds in the tropics, 10000 miles
apart, where they won their victories with
out single defeat, and all within the pc
rfo6 of nro hr.nd
from the declaration of war to the signing
of the protocol.
"This great achievement can be credited
to no individual; 1t belongs to the nation.
1t was accomplished through the inteli-
gence and patriotism of all who served,
from the commander-n-chief to the private
In the ranks. 1t also speaks volumes for
the prompt, patriotic and intelligent assis-
tance of the people who furnished in so
short period, the supplies necessary to
prepare this great army for the field. To
the heroic men who served in distant
lands the country will ever offer 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 emergency. that overawed the enc
my, and proved to him that further resis-
tance would be in vain.
Deaths In the Army.
THE deaths in the army from May / to
October l, including killed, died Of wounds
and of disease, were 2010, the smallest
death rate recorded of any army in history,
a remarkable fact when 1t is considered
that over $1,000 of our troops. born and
rearerd in the temperate zone. were cam
paignng in tropical climates, subject to
rain and heat almost unprecedented"
The secretary says of the volunteers that
to furlough them in winter would be q
hi; rashIp so ne recommends that In lieu
Continued on Third Pae0.