The times., 1898-12-23
AN INTERESTING STORY.
Adjutant General Corbin Before the
Alger Relief Board.

ing to the testimony Of Adjutant General
Corbin.- It took the general all the morn
ing sessiont to tell his story.
To begin with, there We're no prepara-
tions made by the War Department look
ing to actual hostilities with Spain until
Congress passed its belligerent resolu-
tiOns in April. Previous to that the War
Department officials hoped and believed
there would be no war. AS a matter of
fact the department took no preparatory
steps until war was declared. The de-
partment previous to and until that time
was thoroughly equipped to care well for
the regular establishment, but 1t was ut
terly powerless to look after an army of
$4,000 men, the number that took part in
the war. The moment war became ineY-
liable the department began preparations
for clothing, feeding and arming its SOL
diers, and sthe work was done speedily
and well. according to his judgment. As
for provisions, there never was the
slightest trouble in procuring them. But
manufacturers. like the War Department
officials, had not anticipated war, and
there was a lamentable shortage in ma
The cry about the corned beef supplied
the soldiers, Gen Corbin thought, was
exaggerated. He admitted that fresh beef
would have been better could 1t have
been laid down at the camps really fresh.
And as for the refrigerated beef, which
had also brought so much criticism upon
the department, about all the beef in
commerce today Is of the refrigerated
kind. Previous to the war the regular
army used both canned and refrigerated
beef, and there was never complaint
about it. They are, in fact, used by the
armies of the world. Corned beef is used
by families all over the West and is con-
sdered excellent food.
In reply to a question by Col DENLY,
| Gen. Corbin said. with emphasis. that If
| beef shipped TO the troops at Porto Rico
| spoiled IN transportation. the commander
of the army there unquestionably had the
right to buy beef to take its place
But" said Col DENLY, the troops
| had no money. There were no paymas-
ters there
| Then he could have taken it or
| bought it in the name of the United
! States. He had plenty of authority to do
/ that replied the somewhat nettled Gen.
! Corbin.
Asked why the Santiago expedition had
been set adrift without medicines ambu-
! lances or other necessities, Gen. Corb n
! became cautious. His delay in answering
| brought from Col DENLY the remark
( that, as adjutant general of the army. he
/ was supposed TO know all about these
things" Gen. Csrbin finally exp aimed
| that as to transports. all We're procured
/ by the Government that Were offered.
! These were not sufficient TO carry all the
/ troops to Cuba that 1t was the O. iginal
! intention to send. 1t was the desire to
throw Il body of 800 men into Cuba, but
the Jack OF vessels thwarted this. The
| surgeon general alone had in hand the
matter of medical supplies.
With regard to Cen Miles's dispa.c1 o.
June q to Secretary Alger, in which he
/ proposed that the American army march
across the island. Gen. Corbin said the
| suggestion did not meet the approval CT
| the Secretary. and that was the reason
1 nothing ever came of 1t. General Mies's
letter OF May 21, outlining plan Of cam
/ paign against Santiago, was then referred
10 by Col. DENLY. Gen. Corbin admitted
that that suggestion also was ignored by
Secretary Alger.
Gen. Corbin stated, with reference to
the movement of troops in the field that
| il was the custom OF the War Depart
ment to call into consultation the various
| heads of bureaus. These consultations, he
! declared were of frequent occurrence,
and they resulted in perfect under
standing by all concerned.
/ Gen Dodge referred to the statement
that Gen. Miles's request for paymasters
al Porto Rico was also ignored. Gen.
Corbin replied that that was not fact.
Paymasters We're Immediately ordered
there. but that the vessel on which they
shipped had touched at Santiago and be-
came infected with yellow fever. Gen.
Miles himself directed that they be held
back Other payma were sent by the
first ship.
With regard to supplies and equipment
Gen. Corbin asserted that the War De-
partment was constantly aware of the
exact condition of affairs at all the
camps Daily telegraphic reports were
received concerning them and they were
Immediately referred to the heads of bu-
reaus Effort was made to hastily sup
ply every need OF the soldiers. When a
failure occurred it was due to the fact
that articles requested could not be had
Thus far Gen. Corbin had in his testi-
mony sailed along in pretty smooth
water. But at this point he was confront
ed by a hard proposition. Col. DENLY
wanted to know what the duties of the
inspector general were. Gen. Corbin knew
all about such things. Col. DENLY as
sumed Gen. Corbin remained silent.
"They should be in time of war, as well
as in time of peace, to particularly look
into the sanitary condition of the camps
and report their condition" he finally an
| swered
Col. DENLY then wanted to know why
1t was that the condition of the camp al
| Chickamauga was not made known by
the inspector general. Gen. Corbin was
plainly and painfully puzzled He finally
| admitted that he had never seen re
port from Camp Thomas, but that suct
reports had been made to the command
i ing general there, and that 1t was hi:
duty to see that defects We're remedied.
When confronted with the statemen'
that the inspector general had showr
himself to be an inefficient officer Gen
| Corbin thought the charge was unjust.
The subject of the selection of sites fol
camps being broached, Gen. Corbin sait
| that he had not favored the location
| chosen for Camp Alger. 1t lacked suit
able ground for rifle practice. Major Sea
burn. of Gen. Miless staff, had recon-
mended the site, and he CLEANED from
what Secretary Alger had told him tina
Gen Miles was concerned in its selec
ton. Nothing to Gen. Corbins knowl
edge. was said or done by Gen. Miles Il
prevent the camp being located there
AS for his own part. he simply obeyet
| orders in the matter. Gen. Miles haI
| never recommended the removal of tina
camp. The removal of the camp was du'
to the action of Secretary Alger. Gen
Corbin said he heard no complaints abou
the Chickamauga Park camp until July
. Then, to the best of his recollection, the!
came to him through the newspapers
. AS soon as 1t was aseertained that typhoit
fever existed there preparations for tn.
removal of the troops were begun. Gen
Corbin said he was not blessed with
reliable memory. He could not say whei
the camp was abandoned. He could no