The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-09-08
4 strained DeGs ss~.

Secretary Alger has written = de-
Tense Of Shafter and the War depart
ment. Ii contains bald euiogy of
the Generals great wisdom" q lot
Of confusing gensralities about shoes
and blankets, aud closes with these
characteristic words: 81 would like
to seDd you these statements in detail,
which | think would bewilder you, if
anything can"
There 10 no necessity for bew iiderIpg
statements. The appointment OF Shat.
ter is the origin Of prima facie case
against Secretary AlgeP. Why was
that appointment made! The Santi-
ago campaign Was the first great op-
pOrtunity for the American army In
participate effectively in the war with
Spain. Ii WAS recognized in advance
~ . severe and perhaps supreme feat
| Of the efficiency Of our untFied army.
1t was expected that the cOmmandeS
selected would be quaiiAed ny Oaturs
and training 70 achieve the best possi-
BILE RESULT, q man with record, dear
to his subOrdinates. as an organizer ~
we'll as fighter, Of demonstrated mil.
tary skill and known tact In dealing
with men.
Gen. SbafteS bad none Of these attri.
butes. He has no past record - IN or.
ganizer or leader. Until three months
ago his name WAS unknown, even a
the rank and file Of the regular army
He had managed to live ia negative
pTefeFment without fighting and even
without forcing recognition either u
| . progressive theOrist or Q molder oI
men. Disqualified ply sinlly. with M
experience ~ leader, unknown and
untrssted By the regular army which
formed the bulk of bis comwaud-why
Was Gen. Shafter selected, over tb.
heads Of distinguished and superior
officers, to lead the Santiago campaign
The testimony Of every observer o
the scene points unmistakably At Shat
ter's inc0mpetency. Officers, soldiers
nurses and correspondents contribute
mass Of evidence which proves tha
the Santiago army WAS execrabIy hand
led, neglected and wantonly exposed
that the successes Of FL Caney and So,
Juan were due to subordinate officer
who acted independently or actuall
dis0beyed orders TO save their men an
avoid defeat, and 70 the peerless cous
age and Intelligence Of the mes In th
ranks, who seized the small opportuni
ties giqen them and made the best Z
. bad bargain. Even the foreign aI
tacbet, pr0fuse in praise Of the person
al herOism Of the American eoidie
his ingenuity and grasp Of despesai
chances, are courte0usly silent abol
the pitiful condition Of the troops IN
the apparent incspsciiy Of the con
: mandiDg General.
General Shafte1 is Q personal frien
! and business associate of M. Algel
they are both from the same Stat
: There are the only apparent ress0I
: for Skaters selection, and IL the Sc,
Fetary OK War can furnish any betti
= he has not done 90 - yet. The Amer
: can people have arrived at the cOncl
q sio1 that personal politics govern.
0 Mr.. Alger's appointments and condu
!. Of the war: that their army Was O
posed to unnecessary hsrdsbips
cause the military preparations q
leadership Of the Santiago oampail
= were bot h a. bad and inadequate a q
motives which governed them.
's 1t is all very well to stand By &
: governments in peace and in var, b
q tho rights Of thousands Of our s0ldie
are Of gr~aier moment than conve
'e ti0nal Fespect that may or may not
= due to . Cabint p0liticIan.-St. Lo,
= Republic.