Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08


surrender of Santiago the report shows
that Shafter demanded the surrender
on July 3, and renewed this demand
on July 4. On the morning of the 11th
another demand was made On the
evening of that day General Miles ar
rived, and on the 18th and 14th OF July,
he, with General Shafter, met the
Spanish commander under a flag of
truce to discuss the surrender. On the
afternoon Of July IA, General Miles left
General Skaters headquarters and
soon thereafter went aboardship pre-
paratory to sailing for Porto Rico, July
II, Toral surrendered $4,000 men upon
our terms and later the American flag
was hoisted by order of General
Shafter.
The secretary coming down in his
history to the middle of August, when
an order was issued and is now in ex-
ecution to muster out 100000 volun-
teers. says:
THUS an army of about 250,000 vol
unteers and recruits for the regulars
was called into existence from civil
life, and, including the regular army,
the total force was 274,717 men. 1t
was organized, armed, and equipped
(no supplies being on hand other than
those for the regulars, save Springfield
muskets), and $4,000 men of this force
were transported by land and sea to
battlefields in the tropics 10000 miles
apart, where they won their victories
the period of 113 days from the declar
alton of war to the signing of the pro-
tocol This great achievement can be
credited 10 no Individual; it belongs to
the nation.
1.-The deaths in the army from May
L to October 1, including killed, died
of wounds and of disease, were 1910,
the smallest dea.h rate recorded of
any army in history, a remarkable fact
when it is considered that over $4,000
of our troops, born and reared in the
temperate zone, were campaigning in
tropical climates, subject to rain and
heat almost unprecedented.
The secretary says, of the volun-
teers, that to furlough them in winter
would be hardship, so he recon-
mends that in lieu of the furlough the
officers and men be given two months
pay at the time of the discharge, thus
admitting of their prompt discharge
in their present camps in the south.
Under the head of increase in the
permanent establishment, the secre-
| tary says:
In view of the needs of a military
force in the islands occupied by the
United States, il is earnestly recon-
| mended that the regular army be per-
| manently increased to 100000 men and
the requisite officers; that portion of
this army be recruited from the in
habitants of those islands to be mus
tered into the service of the United
| States.
Secretary Alger thinks that the gov
eminent will be greatly taxed to sup
ply food to the destitute, especially in
Cuba. The effort should be made, he
thinks, to give the people work in
stead of allowing them to dwell in
| idleness, living upsn charity. He
| recommends the building Of railroad
| the entire length of Cuba, with
| branches to principal cities. thus furn-
ishing employment to large number
| OF Cubans. Its cost is estimated at
| $50, 600, 900.
/ Some recommendations that occur
in the report are that provision be
made for a statue of General Grant;
/ that Chief Clerk Tweedale be made
lieutenant colonel: that provision be
made for a second assistant secretary
OF war and that an appropriation be
made for the construction of the Lake
Union Washington ship canal