Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-18
Published Reports of Dissatisfaction
Denied.
INDIGNATION OF SECRETARY ALGER
Interest in the Landing of the
Shafter Expedition.
PORTO RICO TAKING ALARM

this me rning to see the President. The
Secretary was indignant at the published
reports that the President and himself
we're dissatisfied with the course adopted
by Gen. Miles end had decided to relieve
him in the command of the army. The
Secretary said in the presence of Gen.
Miles to representative of the press:
There is not word of truth in It," mean
ing the statement to which his attention
had been attracted.
As a matter of fact, the purpose of the
administration in recalling Gen. Miles to
WashiI gton at this time is to consult with
him as to the future conduct of the cam
paign. 1t is plain that the campaign itself
has grown far away from the original
Ines on which it was drawn. and recent
developments have led to a belief on the
part of the President that the plans might
be amended somewhat with benefit The
War Department is profiting by the ex-
perience gained in the organization and
dispatch of Gen. Skaters expedition; by
the concentration Of troops in the great
military camps: by the development of
weak places in the staff systems, and it is
desired that future operations be con-
ducted with a view to avoiding friction,
improving the methods of equipping the
volunteers and generally facilitating the
organization of an effective army.
To Have Ample Camp Facilities.
1t has been suggested that owing to the
heavy demands for troops which have far
exceeded the number originally believed to
be sufficient, there will be occasion to is
sue another call for volunteers. Having
in mind the length of time required to
change raw material into seasoned SOL
diers, as revealed by the experiences at
Chickamauga, Tampa and Camp Alger
there is no doubt the President will be fore
handed in this matter and that upon the
existence of a reasonable doubt as to the
sufticiency of the present military force,
he will take steps to organize addi-
tional force. But before any effort is
made to gather more troops, the War De-
partment will see to it that the amplest
camp facilities are provided, and that the
equipment will be ready for the men. The
material secured under another call would
not include National Gua1 dsmen, and the
men would not only be absolutely green,
but would be wholly without military
equipment of any kind. The prep
arations being made by the War De-
partment to meet any possible demands in
the future, revealed in the very thor
ough report of the board. headed by Maj
Hopkins, appointed to look after suitable
camping Sites have undoubtedly given rise
to the stories coming from different points
that additional military camps are to be
established. The department has put things
in trim to establish at short notice several
additional camps. but SO far 1t has not
ordered any troops to them, and is not like
ly to unless there should be further call
for volunteers.
Relief for the Cubans.
The projected dispatch of the relief ex-
petitions with food and supplies to the
suffering Cubans is not new feature of
the campaign, as seems to have been sup
posed in some quarters. From the first the
President has had in mind the probable
sufferings Of the poor reconcentrados,
whose lot was likely to be made doubly
hard by the war unless our people came to
their relief. 1t was his purpose to lose no
opportunity in sending supplies to these
people, aud the reported preparation of ex-
peditions in Florida to carry these are
nothing more than the natural execution of
the Presidents plans.
Difficulty In Obtaining TrOOpships.
1t begins to look as If the War Depart
ment might have some difficulty in obtain
ing the necessary transports for the Porto
Rico expedition unless some Of those which
have been sent to Santiago are utilized
for that purpose. An earnest appeal was
made to the coastwise companies to favor
the War Department and submit PROPOSE
tions looking to the charter of such vessels
belonging to them as had not already been
secured by the government.
The replies to the governments tele-
grams. however, have been far from satis
factory, the steamship companies feel
they already have gone as far as practi-
cable in surrendering their ships and that
to release those still in service would sub
ject them to great loss and bring their
business almost to a standstill.
In this dilemma the department has been
compelled to resort to ships of foreign reg
lister for the transport service and a num-
Der of English bottoms are now under in
spection. Congress will be asked to give
an American register to vessels so secured.
They will be materially benefited thereby,
as after the war they may engage in the
coastwise trade in competition with Ameri-
can built vessels.
Lack of Supply Ships.
The lack Of availabIs ships to carry the
supplies is just now delaying the award of
the contracts by the commissary depart
ment of the army for furnishing rsfriger-
ated meats for the army in Cuba as well as
for the starving natives. The commissary
general prefers not to close the contracts
until ships for carrying the supplies are in
such condition as to be rsady promptly for
transportation purposes. Some difficulty Is
being encountered by the department in OBJ
tanning vessels, and 1t may be that resort
to inpressrlent will be necessary. The pro-
posals received by General Eagan Wednes-
day from the various meat-dressing estab-
lshments of the country contemplated that
the government should furnish the vessels
After they have been obtained refrigerat-
| ing apparatus will have to be installed to
keep the meat fresh and palatable during
| and after its shipment to Cuba and until 1t
| is furnished to the troops. General Eagan
| says refrigerated meat only can be satis-
| factorily used for feeding the troops, as ex-
perience has shown that cattle killed the
| day before and left over night is not edible.
Landing the Shafter Expedition.
| For the moment the landing of General
Skaters army Of invasion on Cuban soil