Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-10
ALGER AND SHAFTER CONFER.
CInseted Together for an Hour at
Camp Meade-TrOOps Mt Camp
f. Meade Reviewed.

CAMP MEADE, PA, Sept. 9.-Secretary
of War Alger and General Shafter were
at Camp Meade to-day. They witnessed
review of the troops and made a hurried
tour of the camp. General Alger resumed
his journey at noon to Detroit and Cen
eral Shafter went to Washington. They
were closeted together an hour this morn
| ing in .he .secretary's private car. which
was run onto a siding at Camp Meade
| station. While General Graham was ar
| ranging for the review. Secretary Alger
| and General Shafter had another confer
ence. lasting thirty minutes. What passed
| between them neither would say, except
| that it was Il private matter. General
Shafter said the secretary was very dear
| friend and that they had been in the civil
war together as coloneis. He is at work
on his report OF the Santiago campaign,
and expects to complete it tomorrow.
Speaking of the controversy with General
Miles, he said:
1T is all poppy-cock. There is no fric-
ton between General Miles and myself.
at least, there was not when he left San
uago. Our relations have always been
pleasant, and l do not understand the
meaning of all this talk. The general may
have been talking, but believe that much
of It is due to antagonistic newspapers
whose motives are certainly not patriotic" !"
Secretary Alger is accompanied by Mrs.
Alger and their son, Captain Fred Alger,
who is suffering from camp fever and was
too weak to witness the review.
General Shafter has with him Major
Miley and little Cuban boy whom he
took fancy to while in Santiago and
adopted. General Alger and General Shat
ter were driven to General Graham's head
quarters in an open carriage. with Colonel
YaJo al ai5
to the secretary. After being received by
General Graham and his staff, the secre-
tary was asked if he would like a review.
He said he would, and his entire corps of
90 900 troops was massed in two great fields
and marched before General Graham and
staff and his distinguished guests. 1t was
an inspiring sight. and Secretary Alger
and General Shafter were very much pleas
ed. They said they were delighted with
the camp and the superb arrangements.
Secretary Alger complimented Chief Sur
geon Girard on the sanitary conditions Of
| the camp. and gave directions to extend the
water system to the general and regimental
hospitals. He said 1t was too early TO de-
| termine whether this would be made
permanent barracks. He would have TO
| know more about the climate and its eff
fects upon the boys before he established
| d permanent rendezvous.
When asked what he had to say about
| the criticism Of the war department, the
secretary replied that the people have no
| idea OF the great task OF equippins and
sending an army across the water. The
| war department. he added, asks no ia
vors; all 1t wants and expects is fair treat
! ment.
| General Shartsr was delighted with the
| appearance and condition of the men at
| Camp Meade and said it was an ideal loca-
| ton He expects to meet General Miles to-
| morrow in Washington. He said the San
| tiago campaign vas one OF the most sue
! cessful in history His army was in po.
| sition where he could not retreat and il
| was necessary to force the fighting. Many
| chances We're taksn which would not have
been taken in the face of any other army
| than that of Span.
| PITTsBURG, PA. Sept. 9.-secretary of
War Russell A. Niger and party reached
retary's hone in Detroit, for about a ter
| days stay.
The secretary, III an interview. said: Il
| do not care about DE charges and counter
charges seen in tie newspapers. Absurd
and nonsensical stories have been published
which have had tn; effect of alarming the
| soldiers friends at home.
Just one compliant has been made by a
| soldier 10 the department and that was a
| soldier at Tampa. n. rather. by his broth
| err who said he WIS starving to death. 1t
| WAS found to be grdssly exaggerated: most
| " fever patient onYalescing and asking
for just that kind of food which is not
"The cause OF tie most of the COM
| plants is a Wholesome desire on the part
OF the soldiers for iIrloughs."
Secretary Alger, II response to a ques-
ton, then said the reason he had asked
President Mckinley to order an investi-
| CATION was that the. had been SO much
publicity 10 alleged mismanagement and
complaints in the army that he desired the
| light to be turned "a.
'I desire" lie said the widest, fullest
and freest Investigation, that the whole
| world may know the ruth
He was asked: DC you desire to have
| included in the investigation the charges
made by General Miis?"
The secretary replie: II do not discuss
my affairs with Genral Miles with the
| newspapers.