Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-08-22

ness of onicers and Men.
NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-Hon. Chauncey
M. Depew has received a letter from
Secretary of War Alger and has con-
sented TO its publication. The letter
which was written in reply to a request
for information on the subjects referred
to said i'll part:
''As you know. when war was de-
clared, there was no equipment what
ever for the volunteers in store. That
this was successfully accomplished,
with very few accidents, is matter of
record. Subsequent calls, including the
regular army (which numbered about
$4,000 men when war was declared),
made a total of $685. men. To ac-
complish all in SO short time has been
great work. OF course gathering this
vast number of men together, in large
measure under unframed regimental
and company COMMANDERS mean i'll
actual field duty-the lack of knowl-
edge as to sanitary conditions to be
observed, the carelessness in not OBJ
serving instructions which We're fur
nished as to proper care of the men,
has added greatly to the work of the
medical department.
He said further:
'"There IS nothing young men in ro-
bust health are so prodigal of as their
health until it is gone. Men go into
camp feeling that they can stand any
thing and everything, and cannot be
made to believe Go the contrary until
stricken with disease Every effort has
been made from the beginning to fur
nish every camp with all appliances
asked for, but of course the command
ing officers in the field are the ones who
have the direct charge of these men.
For instance, one army corps comman-
der has given orders and enforces them,
respecting sanitary affairs, and he has
today but a fraction over per cent ON
the sick list. Others have been less sue
cessfui, and the consequence is typhoid
and other fevers have been bred and
spread to a considerable extent.
Concerning the Santiago campaign,
when the ships left Tampa they had on
board three months provisions and an
abundance of hospital supplies. They
had lighters to unload with at point of
debarkation. These lighters were lost
in severe storms on the way. AS soon
as we were notified of the fact two tows
of lighters were sent from Mobile and
New Orleans, which were also over
taken by storm and lost. The navy sup
piled us with lighters and one of these
was wrecked. The army disembarked,
getting Off portion of it's supplies and
medical stores, and Immediately
marched to the front to fight the Span
iards. The great difficulty of landing
supplies subsequently was the wind
sprang up every morning at 10 and
made high surf. rendering almost inn
possible the use of small boats with one
lighter, which was all they had left for
this purpose
''Of the packers who were employed,
60 per cent soon fell sick, and heavy
rains falling every day, the roads Ut
they could be called such) became i'm
passable for vehicles. Pack animals had
to be employed to carry food to the
army which being extended to the
right around Santiago increased the
distance from the coast every day, and
made the task more difficult. However,
the result and the subsequent sickness
that has broken out in the army showed
the great wisdom of General Shafter in
moving forward to make the attack
while his men were in vigor. 1t was Il
movement bordering on audacity. but
it succeeded and the persistence of the
attack, | have no doubt, greatly dis
hear tened the Spaniards. The result was
one of the greatest victories for the men
engaged of modern warfare. The
number Of prisoners taken exceeded the
attacking force by nearly two to one.
When yellow fever broke out and
the fever increased into the thousand,
it was for time supposed that it was
principally yellow fever. The bringing
troops north at once after the surrender,
under such conditions, would have
been certain death to vast number,
but. upon inquiry. it was ascertained
that very few of these cases compare
lively were yellow fever, when it was
at once decided to bring the army home
as speedily as possible. Everything
that human ingenuity could devise has
been done to succOr that army-not the
ingenuity of the secretary of war, but
the result Of the combined counsel of
those who have had lifelong expert
ence in the field. That some men have
been neglected ON transports coming
home there is no doubt-all against
positive orders-due, perhaps, to care
lessness and negligence. but largely on
account of not having the medical force
to spare (many of whom were sick)
from the camp at Santiago. Many
medical officers sent with transports
were taken i'll on the way home.