The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-29

ges Against Him, but Will Court
Martial Miles Unless the Com
manding General Repudiates the
Alleged Interview-Davis In an
Indirect Way Defends Alger.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2S.-The out
cry against the bungling methods of
the war department has had its first
result. The surgeon general has not
been able to ignore the charges of i'm
proper care in the army camps and
has asked for an Investigation of con-
ditions in the hospital at Chickamau-
ga.
The following statement, prepared by
the surgeon general, has been issued by
Acting Secretary Allen:
No complaints from the army as to the
condition of the sick or the conduct Of af-
fairs pertaining to the medical department
have been received by the surgeon general.
Referring to a published statement that the
hospitals at Camp George H. Thomas Chick
amauga National Park. Ca, were not sup
piled with sufficient blankets, mosquito bars,
ETC., the surgeon reports that up to Aug
there had been sent to that camp S42S cots
and bedsteads, 6,5S6 gray blankets, 1889 cot
ton sheets and $3.50 mosquito bars.
The reports required by regulations and
orders and such other reports as have been
received have not indicated any lack of care
or attention by this department.
In view, however, of the statements that
have been published about Camp Thomas, the
surgeon has requested that an investigation
be made, and it has been ordered.
Secretary Alger still declines to dis
cuss for publication the criticisms Of
the war department, but he said that
the possibilities and almost certainties
of terrible raVages from fevers had
been fully discussed by the war Off
cials and by the press before the army
went to Cuba, and the government had
held back against sending great army
to Cuba when the same agitators who
now complain that men have died were
demanding that an army of 100000 be
sent to Cuba. He was thankful that
so few men had died from disease in
Cuba and that so many of the sick who
had returned were suffering from no
worse complications than malarial
fever.
When asked about the interview Of
Gen. Miles criticislng the war depart
secretary Anger Sdlu.
"I do not believe that Gen. Miles ever
gave such an interview. He is a train
ed soldier and a discreet man, and
would not make such statements as
attributed to him without seriously
weighing his words and recognizing the
consequences. Gen. Miles is not a fool,
and I do not believe he ever said what
has been reported"
But suppose he comes home and ad-
mits that the interview is correct?"
'T cannot discuss such a supposition
apply to such cases. said the secretary
in a way that left no doubt of his
meaning.
Should Gen. Miles admit that the
published interview with him is correct
he would be court-martialed at once.
There would be no other course left to
the secretary of war.
The secretary's attention was called
to the interviews Of ex-Seeretary Sher-
man.
II cannot discuss the actions or the
criticisms of Mr.. Sherman" said he.
"He is an old man, and he has paid
little attention to the conduct of the
war. I cannot discuss his criticisms,
even though they are personal to my
SELF
DISCUSSED BY DAVIS.
"The &C mplaints about the ratio ms
for the army are much like those we
had in the early days of the Civil war;"
said Senator Davis. Of Minnesota. "It
takes time to adjust these matters,
and more time for American men to
adapt themselves to the army ration
than for the war department to arrange
for the proper distribution of supplies.
Did you ever Investigate the army ra-
ton? 1t is very liberal, and no one
man can day after day dispose Of his
rations. I remember that in the Civil
war my regiment in the beginning al
ways had big surplus, for the men
consumed only about 65 or 70 per cent
Of the rations allowed. The question
was how to dispose Of the surplus. We
finally hit upon a plan that worked
admirably. We drew only 70 per cent
of our rations, or 70 rations for 100
men, and we received credit for the
80 per cent left This we received in
cash, and it went into the company
fund held by the officers designated to
take charge of It. An army ration was
worth 25 cents, and each day our reg1-
ment had SIS In money to be disposed
Of as the men saw At. This fund came
In very handy, especially when the
regiment was In camp and the men
desired something outside of the army
ration. The boys had many feasts Of
pie and other supposed delicacies, and
they had money for tobacco and other
things which made camp life more en-
durable.
But this has been short war, and
the men were not fully adapted to their
new conditions when the war ended
and without the stimulus Of battles
and dangers the men became home
sick in their longing to return to their
homes. I am glad to see that the war
department in it's reports has taken
account Of this disease, for 1t Is a dis
ease, and should be recognized in the