The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-22
ALGER SHIFTS THE BLAME.
Secretary of War Makes Il Sign1f-
icant Speech at Knoxville.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Sept. 2l.-The
secretary of war, who today inspected
Camp Poland and reviewed the enlist
ed men encamped there, made a speech
to the commanding officers at Gen. Nc
KEGS headquarters during the morn
ing, in which he fixed the blame for
the sickness in the different camps
throughout the country on the COM
handing officers.
Secretary Alger was given an en-
thusiastic reception by the citizens of
Knoxville and by the commanding Off
GERS of the camp on his arrival. He
went from the depot direct to the camp,
and shortly afterwards, accompanied
by his staff and the officers of the
camp, all on horseback, the secretary
rode over the drill field and inspected
the troops. He then reviewed the
grand parade arranged in his-honor,
and afterwards made a speech to>~the
commanding officers. He next visited
the hospitals and regimental quarters,
and made~a thorough inspection of the
condition OF the camp and men.
Gen. Alger congratulated Gen. Nc
Kee on the splendid condition of his
camp and of the troops. He expressed
satisfaction at the location Of the camp
and the showing made by the men,
The parade at Camp Poland was wit
messed by an immense conCOurse of peo-
pie, and Gen. Alger commented upon
this fact. He said it indicated to his
mind that the people of Knoxville were
glad to have the soldiers here. The
commands in review were: The Sec
ond Ohio, Third North Carolina, Sixth
I Virginia, Sixth Ohio, First West Vir-
ginia, First Georgia, Fourth Tennes-
see and Thirty-first Michigan.
After the review Gen. Alger asked the
m q n N off 70 Of
Gen. McKee's headquarters, and at the
latter's tent on the high eminence over
looking Camp Poland on one side and
Knoxville on the other the secretary
was surrounded by the officers and the
Knoxville citizens committee. He re-
moved his hat, and in a delicate and
careful manner of speech, he said:
I came here to visit this campo for
the purpose of acQuainting myself with
the conditions, and to see for myself
just how the troops are faring, and to
hear from the officers any recommended
tiOns which they may think may bene-
fit the camp.
II want to hear what the command
ers have to say about division hospitals,
and regimental hospitals more espe-
cially There has been a great deal of
talk about the condition of the camp
hospitals.
Il want to say that had the war de-
partment been acquainted with the con-
ditions said to have existed at Chicka-
manga the troops there would have
been moved long before they were.
I'VE received only good reports at
Washington from the commanding Of
ficers. and it was supposed that the out
side reports were exaggerated.
THE commanders of camps are re-
sponsible for the condition of their
camps, and if the men are not we'll
cared for, and If the hospital and sani-
tary conditions are bad, the command
ing officer must answer for 1t.
1.-The war department has been and
is ready to supply the demands of the
troops for medicines and sustenance,
and there is no reason why conditions
other than the best possible should ex-
ist.''
Secretary Alger and party left for
Chattanooga at o'clock.