Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-12-08
MIR. ALGER'S REPORT.
War Secretary Gives the Country a
History Of the Recent Hostilities.
He Denies That There Was an Insunioisu0
Number OF Surgeons Rt sRntIAgO-Re-
port Largely Made Up OF Dis
patchea-Little Criticism.

Spanish-Amercan war. The secretary
has given to the public not only all
the official dispatches that passed di"
rectly between his own Office and COM
manding officers in the field and camp,
but has supplemented these with short
explanatory notes, setting forth the
reasons for various movements, and
then, TO complete the record of events,
he has included in the body of his re-
port the report of Gen. Miles, of all
the generals who participated in the
campaign in Cuba, Porto Rico or the
Philippines, and finally, the reports of
all the bureau officers of the war de-
partment. Nowhere is there shown a
disposition to criticise, the official dis
patches being allowed to tell their
own story, and generally the secre-
tary finds much to praise and cause
for sincere congratulation in the re-
suits obtained.
The report proper begins with what
may be described as a chronological
history of the war; consisting of
number of short paragraphs begin
ming with the declaration of war on
April 81, and setting forth the date
upon which any event of Importance
occurred, but making no comment
whatever upon the facts. The only
exception to this rule is in n reference
to the casualties at Santiago. Some
criticism having been made that there
was lack of surgeons present, the
report states that there were 40 SUR
geons in attendance, and that Of ], 4S1
wounded only IS died of their wounds.
Touching upon the surrender at San
tiago, the report shows that Shafter
demanded the surrender on the Sd and
renewed this demand on the 4th. On
the morning of the 18th another de-
mand was made. On the evening of
that day Gen. Miles arrived and on the
18th and 14th of July he, with Gen.
Shafter met the Spanish commander
under the flag of truce, to discuss the
surrender. On the afternoon of the
14th Gen. Miles left Gen, Skaters
headquarters and went aboard ship
preparatory to sailing for Porto Rico.
July II Toral surrendered $4,000 men
upon our terms aud the American flag
was hoisted by Gen. Shafter.
The secretary, coming down in his
history to the middle of August, when
an order was issued and is now in exec
cution, to muster out 100, 900 volun-
teers, says:
Thus an army OF about $50, 900 volunteers and
recruits for the regulars was called into exist
ence from civil life and including the regular
army, the total force was PATTI men 1t was
organized. armed and equipped mo supplies
being on hand other than those for the regu-
lars, save Springfield muskets), and So 900 men
Of this force were transported by land and sea
to battleields in the tropics TO- COO miles apart,
where they won their victories without single
defeat and all within the period OF ll0 days
from the declaration Of war TO the signing OK
the protocol
The deaths in the army from May to Oc-
tober /, including killed. died Of wounds and
disease, were 900, the smallest death rate re-
corded In any army in history, a remarkable
fact when it is considered that over 5000 OF
our troops, born and reared in tho temp crate
zone were campaigning in tropical climates,
SuDJGCJ w rain anu utub dlulOob uupIbCtutuJtus
The secretary says of the volunteers
that to furlough them in winter would
be hardship, so he recommends that
in lieu of the furlough the officers and
men be given two months pay at the
time of their discharge, thus admit
ting 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 military force in
the'isands occupied by the United States, 1t Is
earnestly recommended that the regular army
be permanently increased to 100000 men and
the requisite officers; that portion OF this
army be recruited from the inhabitants Of those
islands, to be mustered into the service Of the
United States commanded by officers Of our
army discretion, however to be given to the
president to make appointments OF officers
from the force 50 recruited
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 upon charity. He says:
Would 1t NOS be wise economy for the govern
ment OF the United States to construct a suo-
stantlal railroad practically the whole length
OF the island Of Cuba, with branch roads to the
leading cities on the coast? Such o road
would, OF course, cost large sum- perhaps
30, 10000, but 1t would give employment to the
people Of Cuba, teach them habits Of industry
be an inducement for them to cultivate their
farms and thus furnish supplies for the
laborers and for market when the road is COM
structed The road would be good property,
and when it has served its purpose for the
government could be sold for its cost II such
an Improvement is not made the government
will no doubt, expend fully that much In
charity.
The statement of expenditures and
estimates presents some formidable
figures. The expenditures for the
fiscal year ended June so last were
S62, 534, 7s4, and the estimates for the
next fiscal year beginning July 1, 1899,
are S195, $50, 377. OF this great estimate
the sum of $50, 4SO, 900 is charged to pay
of the army. The estimate of extra
ordinary appropriations required for
Abe six months ending June 80, 1899,
are $50, IN, $50, and the estimates for
that period, combined with those for
the next fiscal year, reach total of
$255, 1921.
Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. s-CoL and