Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-29
ALGER'S INSPECTION.
VERBAL REPORT THEREON MADE
TO THE PRESIDENT.
RESULTS QUITE SATISFACTORY.
"The Main Trouble" In the secre-
tary's Opinion, "Perhaps, the Mat
of Themselves"

WASHINGTON. September 2s.-Secre-
tary Alger has returned 10 Washington.
He came to the War Department imme-
diately after breakfast, and was soon
besieged by number Of persons who
had been waiting for his return. The
Secretary looked much improved by his
trip, although it was filled with hard
work after he left Detroit. He said that
he had gained a good deal of information
as TO conditions in the camps and hos
pitfalls by his inspection. which might
take shape in official action soon. lie
went to the White House and had a
long talk with the President about army
conditions.
The Secretary made a verbal report to
the President on the inspection OF the
army camps, which he has just concluded.
During the interview Secretary Long
came over from the Navy Department.
with a friend. and Joined the party in
the cabinet-room.
RESULTS SATISFACTORY.
On leaving the White House Secretary
81
the condition Of the camps, generally
lie refrained from specifically charging
exaggeration OF the conditions OF camp
life, but said the results OF the trip OF
inspection were quite satisfactory. He
had visited, he said, every one OF the
camps. the hospitals, and the sick. He
was gratItied, especially, TO find the men
in the hospitals steadily improving, and
that there were SO many convalescents
Most or the men in the hospitals, ne said,
were in good spirits, cheerful, and happy.
and brightly looking forward TO the
time when they would be well again.
In a general way, the camps were kept
satisfactorily, but there were. he con-
coded. numerous points which might be
improved upon. citing, especially. the
unsatisfactory condition Of the sinks at
some points.
CAMP CUBA LIBRE.
At Jacksonville. he said, the reports
seemed 10 show fairly large proportion
OF sick, but he said the percentage OF
sickness was accounted for by the fact
that the men sick. OF ali regiments de-
parting and mustered out were kept In
the camp.
The main trouble" said Secretary AL
ger, which l found was, perhaps, the
matter OF the troops not taking care OF
themselves. AT some points the eating
cents outside the camps. conducted by
private enterprise proved too tempting
for soldiers, and the results OF improper
and injudicious taking OF food soon mani
tested themselves in the condition OF the
men. These are sometimes things which
cannot be helped. Where there was more
rigid discipline along these lines the i'm
proved state of affairs was very evident"
No SCENE" AT LEXINGTON.
The Secretary said the report OF scene
in General Breckenridge's headquarters In
Lexington. when he was inspecting that
camp, Is absolutely without foundation.
There was no scene, there were no high
words, and there was no excited Lam
guage. The Secretary says the story was
made OF whole cloth. Secretary Alser
and Generals Ludington and Sternberg
all have letters from General Wiley, who
was reported as having made accusations
against them. expressing his regret that
any such report was circulated. The one
10 Secretary Alger is as follows:
Headquarters First Brigade. Third Dr.
vision. First Army Corps. Camp Hamil-
ton. KY. September 22-My Dear General