The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-12-09
GEN. ALGER REPORTS
Secretary of War Tells of the Work
Of His Department.
History of the Campaign Related
Without Criticism-Credit of VIC
tory Belongs to No One Man
Wants Army of 100000 Men.

passed directly between his own office and
commanding officers in the field and camp,
but has supplemented these with short ex-
planatory notes setting forth the reasons
for various movements, and then, to COM
plete the record of events, he has included |
in the body of his report the report of Gen.
Miles, Of all the generals who participated |
in the campaign in Cuba, Porto Rico or the
Philippines, and finally the reports of all |
of the bureau officers of the war depart
ment. Nowhere is there shown DISPOSE
ton to criticise, the c1ficial dispatches be-
ing allowed to tell their own story, and
generally the secretary finds much to
praise and cause for sincere congra tula ton
In the results obtained
Had Big Force of Surgeons.
The report proper begins with what may
be described a chronological history of |
the war, consisting of a number of short
paragraphs, beginning with the declar4 ton |
of on April q, and setting forth the
date upon which any event of Importance
occurred, but making no comment what
ever upon the facts. The only exception to
this rule is in a reference to the casualtioI
at Santiago. Some criticism having been |
made that there lack of surgeons |
present, the report states that there we're
l4O surgeons in attendance, and that of
1.4S1 wounded only 1S died of their wounds.
Surrender of Santiago.
Touching the surrender at Santiago the
report shows that Shafter demanded the |
surrender the Sd, and renewed this de- |
mand on the 4th. On the morning of the |
1th another demand was made. On the |
evening of that day Gen. Miles arrived, and |
On the 18th and 14th of July he, with Gen.
Shafter met the Spanish commander un-
der rag of truce to discuss the surren-
der. On the afternoon of the 18th, Gen.
Miles left Gen. Skaters headquarters
and soon thereafter went hoard ship pre-
paratory to sailing for Porto Ttico. July II. |
Toral surrendered $4,000 men upon our
terms 9nd the American flag was hoisted |
by order of Gen. Shafter.
A Great Achievement.
The secretary coming down in his his |
tory 20 the middle of August, when an or
der was issued and is now in execution to |
muster out 100000 volunteers, says: Thus |
an army Of about 100000 volunteers and |
recruits for the regulars was called into |
existence from civil life, and. including the |
regular army, the total force was 24,717 |
men. 1t was organized, armed and |
equipped (no supplies being on hand other |
than those for the regulars, save Spring
field muskets), and $4,000 men of this force
were transported by land and sea TO bat
tlefelds in the tropics 10000 miles apart |
where they won their victories without a |
single defeat, and all within the period of
113 days from the declaration OF war to the !
signing or the protocol.
TO No Individual Belongs the Credit.
This great achievement can be credited |
to no Individual; ii belongs y the nation. |
1t was accomplished through the -ntelli- |
gence and patriotism oil all who served, |
from the commander in chief to the priv ate |
in the ranks. 1t also speaks volumes for |
the prompt, patriotic and intelligent assist |
ance of the people who furnished, in so |
short q 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 enemy and /
proved to him that further resistance |
would be in vain.
Death Rate of the Army.
1.-The deaths in the army from May to
October l, including killed. died of wounds |
and of disease, were 2,91O, the smallest |
death rate recorded of any army in history |
remarkable fact when it is considered |
that over $4,000 of our troops. born and |
feared in the temperate zone. were cam
paigning in tropical climates, subject to |
rain and heat almost unprecedented
The secretary says OF the volunteers that
to furlough them in winter would be a |
hardship, sc he recommends that in lieu
of the furlough the officers and be |
given TWO months pay at the time of their |
discharge, thus admitting of their prompt |
discharge in their present camps in the |
south.
Wants Army of 100000 Men.
Under the head of increase in the perma- |
nent establishment the secretary says: I'm |
view of the needs of military force in the |
islands occupied by the United States. ii
is earnestly recommended that the regu
lar army be permanently increased to
100, 900 men and the requisite officers that
a portion Of this army be recruited from
the inhA bitants of those islands, to be mus
tered into the service of the United States, |
comma nded by officers of our army, dis
erection. however to be given to the pres
ident 20 make appointments OF officers
from the force so recruited.
These men are acclimated. understand
the language and habits of their country
men, and their enlistment will not only
give them employment but also have the
tendency to enable the government to get
into closer touch with their people than 1t
would otherwise be able to do. This would
also raIieve our own people from serv-
ing in those climates to large extent and
would moreover enable the volunteers
to be mustered out of the service ana re-
turn to the avocations of civil life.
Another suggestion is that there should
be employed in the United States service
a const. bulary force for the cities of Cuba,
Porto Iico and the Philippines who have
had the experience and can speak the Ian
guage of the islands.
Relief for Cubans.
Secretary Alger thinks that the govern
nent will be greatly taxed to supply food |
to the destitute especially in Cuba. The
effort should be made, he thinks, 10 give
the people work instead of allowing them
to dwell in idleness, living upon charity.
He says: Would it not be wise economy
for the government of the United states
10 construct a substantial railroad. prac-
tically the whole length of the island of
Cuba with branch roads to the leading
cities on the coast? Such a road would, of
course cost a large sum, perhaps ,2O,OOO,-
600: but 1t would give employment to the
people of Cuba, teach them habits n! in
dustry be an inducement for them to Guilt
vate their farms and thus furnish supplies
for the laborers and for market when the
road is constructed. This in my judgment
is absolutely essential to the pacification
and development of that great island. 1t
will bring it's minerals. lumber and agri-
cultural products to market and open up
communication with all parts of the Island
with the least possible delay. The road
would be good property. and when ii has
served its purpose for the government