The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-09-26

Jacksonville Fla, September %. -Secre-
tary Alser and party, consisting Of G nera
Sternberg surgeon general General Lud'
ington, quartermaster general, and others
spant the day in Jacksonville visiting tn,
camp OF the Sey nth army corps. The dis
tngu shed party was met at the station by
General Lee and a committee of citizens.
General Alger proceeded at once to the
camp of the First division and during the
day inspected the three division hospitals
going through every ward.
a luncheon was rendered the secretary
and party at noon ana in response to a
tcest Mr., Alger made a speech. He said
the health of this camp has been better
than that of any other in the country.
Twenty-Five per cent of that has been due
10 the city OF Jacksonville and rs per cent
has been due to General Lee. for OF course
the subordinate officers do not count. ZAP
pause and loud laughter) Sickness is
largely the fault Of commanders. division
regimental and company COMMANDERS.
General Lee is not looking very well
and | have granted him short leave OF
absence.
The organizing and equlpping of an
army of $50 600, carrying on a war on tive
continents In the space of three months
mas been a tremendous undertaking. The
secretary of war has been ably asst ted in
ti'ls Undertaking by the surgeon general
and the quart rmaster's department They
nave been criticised. but not to the extent
the secretary Of war has been yet | know
the work they have accomplished has beer
little snort OF miraculous When this wal
began the clothing that the men have worn
Was on the backs of animals. There was nc
ammunition, there was nothing beyond the
war department but a great, rich nation
burning with patriotism. Almost in a
night an army was organized and equipped
that paraly2ed the nation withwhich we had
TO deal and has awakened tine admiration
or the world. | have no apology to make
ior what has been done. am willing To
lei tho record OF the campaign stand and
speak for itself
United States Senator Morgan said to
mo before helsft for the Hawaiian islands
me world has never seem ror will it see
again, the mobilization OF such an army
ana the accomplishing with it of what ha
been done with this one in such short
period
1t matters not what may become of me.
| may be buried In oblivion. or in ehe grave.
but the unbiased historian will give the
world the impartial record OF what has
be9n accomplished, and the record VIII
stand forever as a monument to the great
ness OF this Nation and Of its boundless
resources.
When this war began issued an order
that North and South should BE- brgad d
together. They have been united and It is
proven that the sectional lines OF the
North ami Sou1h no longer exist and I
thank God that | have lived to see the day
whon we have a united country.
Il thank you, General Lee. for the wei,
come and thu hospitality OF today and I
hope for the continued prosperity OF this
city and this Nation Great aud con-
tinued applausel
Surgeon General sernberg, Pa an Inter-
view said THAT h did not think he should
be held responsible for the mistakes o.;
all the officers under him and yet he hal
been criticised for all that had happened.
His department had been ready to inset
every demand and If the supplies wanted
had not been asked for 1t was not his
fault.