The Portland daily press., 1898-12-23
NILES WAS RESPONSIBLE.
Adjutant Cerbin Says He Selected
Camp AIger.
4LGERs RIGHT HAND MAN BE
FORE INVESTIGATION BOARD.

To Blame For selecuoh "a reVer
tamps--Generaps Plans Were Gem
orally Not Approved.
Washington, December 22.-Adlutant
General Corbin was the first witness
before the war investigating commission
today and was rigidly questioned ragard-
ing the selection of Camp Alger, Va.
he testified that the removal of Camp
Alger was dictated by the Secretary of
war himself and that its original estab-
lishment was recommended by Capt.
Seaburn of Gen. Miles's staff,
He. Gen. -Corbin had said that at the
time it could not be a good camp
ground because there was not sufficient
range for rifle practice. He had under
stood from the secretary of war that Gen.
Miles had something to do with its seleo-'
ton. He was not certain of Capt. Sea-
burns exact status, but he had under
stood Capt. Seaburn had been sent by
Gen Miles to make the inspection of the
camp site.
anything against the selection OF the
camp?' he was asked. Not to my
know LEDGE was the answer.
He added that he did not know tne
reason for the disoontinuapce OF the camp.
Questioned as to Camp WikoH, Gen.
Corbin denied that the contract with the
Long Island railroad gave it exclusive
control and said the only reserlcel s
made in that arrangement was the de-
sirable one of prohibiting excursion
steamers landing at the camp He SAID
the camp at Tampa was never designed
for ANYTHING but point OF embarkatlon,
and said the frat complaint he had heard
from Camp Thomas Chickamauga, was
in the press
c)ntemplated war - said Gen. Corb1n,
ssuntil 1T was declared by Congress and
appropr aliens were available. OF course,
tn possibilities were thought OF, but there
were no general preparations, except so
far as the department was able to meet
the possibilities that confronted it.
Col. DENLY, who conducted the examl-
nation, here suggested to Gen. Corbin
that he observed the latter was cautious
and rsticent and explained:
:. :. sit is not our object to criticize
stra5egy. That is not business. The
strategy of the war may have been
vrong, but our object is to determine
whether the war department was carried
on efficiently.
Ot1. OOEDlH SCblQ 0ftOH ~ Ct4s Ohts1toA .
ezpedition started it took all the trans
ports it was possible to obtain. The
supply was not equal to the demand. 1t
had been planned to carry about %, QUO
troops at the time, instead of the 1900
taken.
He referred to the letter of Gen. Miles,
dated June "A, laying out the plan OF
the campaign OF the war ana sald IL was
not approved.
"Do you know anything about Gen.
Miles despatch of June "a, I think let
ter TO the Secretary of War, in which he
proposed to have the army march clean
through Cuba and take $1,000 prisoners
and work them and treat them k1ndly?"
Gen. 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 Gen.
Miles to carry on the campaign in the
manner he indicated in tina letter was
disapproved?'
"It was not approved, replied Gen.
Corbin.
81 would ask you whether the plan of
campaign against Santiago as adopted,
was recommended by Gen. Miles?"
mo, sir, I do not think the recon-
mendations made in that letter CT May
27th were approved, was Gen. Corbin's
reply.
Gen. Corbin said there had been a
shortage of uniforms, canvas and tent
aee, The factories had not made the ad ;.
vance preparation that had been expected.
There had never been any trouble con :
corning provisions, he said. He said the
matter of medical supplies and medical
officers was left to the surgeon general
and that the President in every case
would not listen TO appointing a medical
officer until recommended ny the surgeon
erQppra1 thQ Of fitnpsc Hn had
no suggestion to make based on the ex
perienc5 of this war, but said he would
be afraid to see another war for fear it
would not result SO we'll or with SO little
loss of life, Adverting to Gen. Miles's
complaint that paymasteTs were not
sent to Porto Rico as requested by him,
Gen. Corbin said they were ordered i'm :
Inediately, but they went by way of San
tiago. where one fell i'll with yellow
fever. The health officers quarantlned
the vessel carrying them, and Sen. Miles,
he said, had thought it best for the pay
masters not to come ashore at Ponce to
avoid possible infection. More troops,
said the witness, were sent to Porto Rico
than were desired by Gen. Miles, but
only few more. Gen. Corbin was asked
how it happened, If there was anything
wrong ut Chickamauga, or Camp Alger,
that the inspectors general did not re-
port 1t. He replied that he did not see
any OF bne Inspectors fepOrtS lrOiu Cnlc-
kamauga.
Gen. Dodge asked if daily reports were
received as 60 equipment and supplies by
telegraph from the various commands
Gen. Corb1D--sYes, sir, and as fast as
they were received by me a copy of each
was sent the same day to the heads of the
departments concerned. Often the secre-
tary himself endorsed them with the
order to hurry along the things needed.
Very frequently the secretary would call
for the official and discuss with him the
best way of attending to the matter.
want to say that all deficiencies reported
were due to the lack of 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.
Gen. Corbin then volunteered to supply
the commission with any records in his
Office. At any time he would he pleased
to furnish everything desired.
Col Uenby: what are the duties OF
the inspector generalP''
Gen. Corbin hesitated and then slowly
responded: :,
lit should be in time of war, as well
as in peace. to inspect the camps of sold
fers and report their condition.
Col. DENLY: ''Are the duties of his
subordinates the same?; z
Cen Corbin-ss Yes sir; their reports