The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-22

result was one of the greatest victories,
for the men engaged, of modern war
fare. The number of prisoners taken
exceeded the attacking force by nearly
two to one.
When yellow fever broke out and the
fever list increased into the thousands
it was for a time supposed that it was
principally yellow fever. The bringing
of troops north at once after the sur
render, under such conditions, would
have been certain death to a vast num-
Der, but upon inquiry. it was ascer-
tanned that very few of these cases,
comparatively, were yellow fever, when
it was at once decided to bring the
army home as speedily as possible. Ev-
erything that human ingenuity could de-
vice has been done to succor that army;
not the ingenuity of the secretary of war
but the result of the combined counsel
of those who have had a lifelong exper-
fence in the field.
Some men have been neglected on
transports coming home there is no
doubt-an against positive orders-due,
no doubt, to carelessness and negh-
gence, but largely on account of not
having the medical force to spare many
of whom were sick) from the camp at
Santiago. Many medical officers sent
with transports were taken i'll on the
way home.
To give you little idea of the work
that has done I append the following:
The work of the adjutant generals
department has been to muster and or
der to their stations, to be precise, 216,-
4UU volunteers anu E4sSOo 1OI the SQAdE
army-this, with reduced force, as
many staff officers from all of the de-
partments had been promoted and Or
dered to the field.
The chief of engineers reports an ex-
penditure of So $50, 900 for harbor defen-
ses. building emplacements of heavy
guns, mortar batteries and mines.
The surgeon general has had the enorm-
Gus work of fitting up hospitals, organic
ing the medical corps, employing male and
surgeons who are employed from civil life
besides those commissioned as corps, di-
medical supplies and answering the de-
mands from all over the country and from
camps at Santiago, Porto Rico and Ma
most beyond comprehension.
and distributed up to August l, 110.907 .235
pounds of rations, which have been trans
ported and distributed to all armies in the
field here and a Santiago, Porto Rico and
Manila, besides the large quantity distrib-
uted among the destitute Cubans.
The quartermaster generals report is
TOO long to even give an approximate idea
or MS work. IN the way OF transportation
to Honolulu, Manila, Santiago and Porto
sent 2,O38 men, with artillery equipment
and supplies. BY rail in this country
mere nave Deen transported sou oInceTs,
Z5SS6z enIlSUed men; also 4O,0Sz animals.
besides thousands of wagons, artillery and
nance, medical and signal service stores
The total number of articles of clothing
and camp equipment distributed to the
has been 6.274,4S3. of which I can only
men 90 5o rev as 1QIlO~S:
423; hats, 1874, 1O6: canvas field uniforms.
g 81 29 90 shoes, paoirss 5ll87s; undershirts,
The total weight of food and forage dis
tributed daily to the army is, approx
mately, 900 tons.
Added to this is the large fleet of trans
ports chartered and purchased, the man
agement of the same in conveying troops
supplies and ammunition.
The paymaster has promptly paid the
army, and is deserving of very great credit
for his work.
The signal corps has provided most eff
fcient service, furnishing cable, telegra phi,
telephone and signal services to the differ
ent commands in the field.
If you had a day two to spare I
would like to sandwich in a little work for
you. I would like to send you these
statements in detail. which I think would
bewilder you, if anything can. Sincerely
yours r. A ALGER.