Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-12
SEC. ALGER'S REPLY
Occupies Attention Of War
Investigation Board.
He Gives Special Prominence to Plan
Of the Campaigns.
Enclcses kilograms Showing Why and When
Original Plans Were Changed.


Washington, Oct. 11.-Major General
VIM. M. Graham was the only witness
before the war investigating commits
sion. today. He was first in command
at Camp Alger, Va, at the beginning
of the war and detailed the conditions
which prevailed at that camp. There
was only one railroad running to the
caop and the station was about one
and a half miles distant. No running
streams Were nearby but there We're
many fine springs and small brooks
formed by the springs.
He thought the water supply was
sufficient when the camp numbered no
more than five regiments of troops but
as the troops increased in number It
became necessary to dig wells. There
was delay in digging the wells, 40 Of
which were sunk, one for each regi-
merit. The supply was ample for all
purposes except bathing. The wells
were well cased and there was no sur
face pollution of them. Before the
wells were sunk Gen. Graham said,
there undoubtedly was some inconven-
fence ON account of the necessity of GO
1t was also his impression that there
had been some complaints of sickness
| on account of the water famine which
had continued, from the goth of May
until the 25th of June, with varying
degrees of intensity. He had been
through campaigns in which the water
supply was not equal to that at Camp
Alger. Gen. Graham did not believe
that the spring and well water had
been responsible for the sickness at
Camp Alger, but was inclined to attri-
butte much of the trouble to the fact
that the soldiers insisted upon taking
the water from the little streams run
ming through the camp.
There had been considerable typhoid
fever at the camp, but it did not origi-
nate there and the first cases were
isolated. During the entire stay at the
camp less than 4 per cent. of the COM
| mand was sick. There were So deaths,
| five being those of officers. Much OF
the sickness was, in his opinion, due
| to delicacieS sent to the soldiers from
home, and he issued an order prohibit
| ing the sale of ice cream, pies, etc, in
| the camp and all the milk sold there
| was analysed.
When the typhoid fever began to be
| considered an epidemic he issued strict
| orders for the detailing of guards for
| the care of the sinks, making any negli-
| gent officer punishable by arrest Many
other precautions were taken to pro-
| tect the men from contamination, in
Guiding the removal of the sick to a
proper distance from the kitchens.
| At this point the commission ad-
journed for the day, Gen. Graham not
| having concluded.
| The commission devoted it's fore
| noon session to the examination of
| Secretary Ayers statement and the
papers furnished by him in reply to the
commissions inquiries. The accom-
panying papers include the reports
| from the various bureaus of the war
department and also various letters
and kilograms bearing upon the con-
| duct of the war.
Secretary Alger. in his report, replies
to various questions propounded by the
| commission. but gives especial promi-
nence to the plan of campaign and to
the changes that We're made in the
original plans. He states that Tampa
was chosen as the base of operations
because of its proximity to Havana,
at which point it was originally in
tended the first attack should be made
The determination to make change
was due to he developments on the
southern coast Of Cuba and to Ger
vera's course in locating his fleet in the
bay at Santiago. When it became
quite certain that he was securely en-
trapped in the bay Admiral Sampson
wired the fact to the secretary of the
navy asking that troops be Immediate
ly sent. The text of this message is
given, as is the text of various other
kilograms. showing the cause of the
delay in getting the expedition Off
the report that Spanish warships were
lying in wait for the transports.
The reports show that General Miles
advised in the beginning that the first
move should be made against Porto
Rico and after that island should be
subjugated. the American forces should
be landed on the north coast of Cuba.
at some point from which they could
NOV conveniently either to the cas-,
or to the west.