Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-03

be paid in United States currency is ap-
proved and will be adhered to.
r. A. ALGER, Secretary of War.
August General Miles telegraphed that
he had been informed that naval vessels
at Ponce had been ordered around to San
juan In order that there might be no
conflict Of authority. he requested that no
aggressive action be taken against that
place; that no landings be made or COM
munication be held with the Spanish COM
| manders on the island Of Porto Rico by the
navy. That portion devoted to the tele-
graphic correspondence of the war closes
with few dispatches indicating the finish
| of the Santiago campaign.
Reports of Subordinates.
Next follow number OF reports Of vari-
| Gus officers and officials to the secretary
of war, some of which are indorsed by the
secretary. OF the military academy, for
| instance. he indorses the recommendation
| for an increase in the number of cadets
| by twenty annually. to be appointed by the
president, and one by each senator to sup
ply the officers needed for the army of the
| future.
OF the adjutant generals recommenda-
| tions, the secretary says they are judicious
and merit the favorable consideration of
| congress. Instead Of increase of pay for
| officers serving in the West Indies and
| recommended by the adjutant general, the
| secretary thinks that the pay of those off,
| GERS. as we'll as those in Alaska, should be
| increased so per cent while they are so
| serving. because of the additional expense
| they are put to.
He says the question of payment for
! damages to farms and other property by
movement of troops will be made the sub>
| ject of a special communication to con-
| Ia md hat inst of
SO. should be allowed for the apprehen-
| sion of deserter.
Some Interesting Figures.
Treating of the auartermaster generals
report, the secretary picks out an inter-
| esting fact. He shows that the govern
| ment purchased $500 horses and mules.
| 5179 wagons, $50 ambulances and S.01S tons
| of coal and chartered seventy-seven YES
| sells and purchased sixteen steamships. The
! use of the Missouri was generously donat
! ed to the United States, with the services
of her captain and her crew. by her own
| err B. n. Baker, of Baltimore. She is a
| valuable hospital ship.
The cost of transporting the Spanish
prisoners to Spain was s1,5l3,s6o.
The graves of the soldiers at Santiago.
in Porto Rico and the Philippines have
| been marked and the remains will be
| brought home soon as the plans are COM
| pleted.
In the subsistence department. the sec
retary finds an urgent need for a regiments
| al commissary and also for commissary
| sergeant for each regiment.
| Discussing the surgeon generals report.
| he says il was mistake to detail regI-
| mental surgeons to large hospitals, but this
| could not have been avoided and division
and general hospitals. which were indis-
pensable, maintained. Ample provision
should be made to supply the places of
surgeons who fall sick. One of the great
Inercies of the campaign was the women
nurses. The report says that until one has
| had experience or made careful observa-
| tion he cannot realize the work that these
| noble women did for sick soldiers in
| the hospitals: but they cannot be We'll en-
| ployed at regimental hospitals in a CAM
paign. Both the division and general hos
| pitals are absolutely necessary in the opin-
| ion of the secretary, but the general hos
pital should be provided with separate
| wards for each regiment so that COM
| rades could be kept together.
Praise for the Red Cross.
The secretary says the Red Cross and
! other relief associations contributed in d
| very large degree to the care and COM
| fort of our sick soldiers and should re-
| ceive the grateful thanks of the nation.
| The secretary calls attention TO Surgeon
General Sternberg's circular of instruc-
| tions to the army, issued April .. and
| says, had it been strictly followed. less
| sickness would have resulted
| He feels that force of practical en-
| gineers, skilled in electricity, should be
| provided and that a large number of en-
| gineers should be educated at West Point,
| SO that an officer can be placed perma-
| nently with each river and harbor project.
These projects should also receive the
| recommendation of board of skilled en-
gineers before appropriations are made for
them.
The manufacture OF the Krag-Jorgensen,
! or a similar magazine gun. should continue
until We have. at an early date. at least
| JeJ,r0 of these arms in our arsenals, with
| a full supply of ammunition.
| The entire report of the secretary of
| war forms one of the most voluminous
documents of the kind ever issued from
| the war department.
MILES, REGULAR ARMY BILL,
| (.Ovn nm n ding (:eneraI H.. nra~u Ir,