The San Francisco call., 1898-12-23

regarding the selection of Camp Alger.
 Va. He testified that the removal of
 Camp Alger was dictated by the Secre-
 tary of War himself, and that its origi-
 nal establishment was recommended
 by Captain Seaburn, of General Miles
 staff. He General Corbin) had said at
 the time it could not be a good
 camp ground because there was not
 sufficient range for rifle practice. He
 had understood from the Secretary of War that General Miles had something
 to do with it's selection. He was not certain of Captain Seasburn's exact status, but he had understood Captain
 Seaburn had been sent by General Miles to make the inspection of the camp site.
 Did General Miles protest or do any thing against the selection of the camp?"
 Not to my knowledge" was the an- swer
 General Corbin added that he did not know the reason for the discontinuance of the camp. Questioned as to Camp Wikoff General Corbin said that the troops and horses that arrived there about August were those left be- hind in the South from the expeditions to Santiago and Porto Rico, and that the transportation of these had not. as far as he knew, led to railroad con- gestion or interfered in any way with l the carriage of supplies for the troops | subsequently arriving. He denied that | the contract with the Long Island Rail | road gave it exclusive control aLd said | the only restriction made in that ar ! engagement was the sensible one of pro- | hlbiting excursion steamers landing at ! the camp. lie said one reason for its | selection was the excellent facilities for water transportation. He said the | camp at Tampa was never designed for anything but a point of embarkation and stated that the first complaints he had heard from Camp Thomas, Chicka- mauga, were in the press.
 General Dodge asked if daily reports were received as to equipments and | supplies by telegraph from the various commands.
 General Corbin-Yes, sir; and as fast | as they were received by me a copy of | each was sent the same day to the | heads of the department concerned. Often the Secretary himself indorsed them with the order to hurry along the things needed Very frequently the discuss with him the best way of at tending to the matter. l want to say that all deficiencies reported were due to the lack of the existence of those articles. From these daily reports we not only knew what had been received, but also the number of uniforms, wagons, etc, issued, and to whom, every day.
 General Corbin then volunteered to supply the commission with any rec ords in his office. At any time he would be pleased to furnish everything de- sired.
 Colonel Denby-What are the duties of the inspector general?
 General Corbin-It should be, in time of war as well as in peace, to inspect the camps of soldiers and report their condition.
 Colonel Denby-Are the duties of his the same?
 General Corbin-YeS, sir. Their re- ports are forwarded to the adjutant general who transmits them to the Secretary of War for his information.
 Colonel Denby-How does it happen, then, that the conditions at Chicka- mauga were not reported by the in- spector general?
 General Corbin-I have not seen any report of inspectors at Chickamauga. They were sent to the commanding general there. It was his duty to rem edy the defects pointed out.
 Colonel Denby-We are in a very difficult position, General Corbin.
 General Corbin-I'Ve occupied one myself for some time. It is not a new thing for me.
 Colonel Denby-There has been talk that the efficiency of the inspector gen. erals office was not kept up. What do you think about that?
 General Corbin II think that is largely an error. There was no inter- ference.
 Asked when he first seriously appre- hended that there would be hostilities, General Corbin said he might say he did not seriously contemplate war until 1t was a fact, for he had hoped to the last moment that 1t would be averted. On April 10 the army, for one of It's size, was well equipped and thoroughly sup piled. He said that, prior to the war, there had been no complaints of refrig- erated or canned beef, and that they were used by the armies of the world and in commerce. It was no new ex- r pertinent.
 Seriously speaking" said General Corbin, T do not think the War De- partment contemplated war until it was declared by Congress and appropria- tions were available. Of course, the pos abilities were thought of, but there were no general preparations, except so far as the department was able to meet the possibilities that confronted it."
 Colonel Denby, who conducted the ex- here suggested to General Corbin that he observed the latter was cautious and reticent and added:
 Tt is not our object to criticize strat- egy. That is not our business. The of war may have been right and may have been wrong. But our ob- ject is to determine whether the War acted efficiently"
 General Corbin said that when Gen. eral Shafter's expedition started it took all the transports it was possible to ob- tain. The supply was not equal to the demand. It had been planned to carry about 25,000 troops at that time, instead of the 17,000 taken. He referred to the letter of General Lilies, dated June 24. laying out the plan of campaign of the war, and said it was not approved
 Do you know anything about Gen. eral Miles dispatch of June 24, I think, letter to the Secretary of War. in which he purposes to have the army march clean through Cuba and take 50000 prisoners and work them and treat them kindly?" General Corbin was asked.
 Yes, sir" was the answer; that let ter was received and did not receive the approval of the Secretary of War"
 You say the proposition made by General lilies to carry on the campaign