The times., 1898-12-16

Tctdiy oI WAT 10 prevent any niiu irotu
becoming a conspicuous hero enough TO
disarrange his political schemes, was the
cause of the adjutant generals opportu-
nifty. Among the consequences Of the
exclusion of the commanding general
from direct control of the army, the per-
version of the inspector generals Office
in his own interest, and the appointment
OF the sons and friends of politicians to
important positions which retired army
officers and men who were prominent in
the Civil War offered to fill, We're the
menace of disaster from the incompe-
tency of the commander of the expedi-
tion-a disaster that was avoided only
by the timely Intervention of General
Miles and the rare courage and impetu-
osity OF our soldiers; the failure to carry
supplies from Tampa for the army. in
cluding the wounded and the sick; the
failure to take proper and obvious sani-
tary precautions, and the inevitable rag
ing OF epidemic disease; the horrors of the
transports, and the fearful suffering and
numerous deaths in the infected camps.
From General Breckinridge, from full
score of surgeons, from Generals Sanger
and Wade, from medical commission,
and from field and line officers, the coun-
try has learned many of the details of
the unparalleled sufferings imposed on
the armies in Cuba and in the American
camps. Only the day before Adjutant
General Corbin made his astounding
bluff" before the Military Committee.
Major HartsuG had related to the Alger
Relief Commission his story of the af
flictions OF the men at Chickamauga
and his unavailing efforts to obtain sup
plies. He distinctly affirmed that there
was not single article belonging to the
soldier, we'll or sick, of which there was
ever a sufficiency during the three
months in which he was the chief sur
geon there; that he. General Brooke.
and every other superior officer wired
and wrote almost daily to the officials
at Washington for supplies, but with
out the least success.
The same story is told by Major Pope.
the chief surgeon on Skaters staff, in
relation to the Cuban expedition. He
sives--in the column adjoining that in
which the sweeping denial of Corbin ap-
pears-the details of the defects in the
service, his efforts to correct them, and
his failure. This accords with the testi-
mony of at least score of army Of
ficers. including that of Colonel Roose-
Welt, whose report is in the possession of
this same adjutant general. Even the
Secretary of War. in his erasive letters
of explanation, admits enough to dis
prove the statement of the adjutant gen.
eral So do the surgeon general, the
quartermaster general, and the commits
sary general The very fact of the ap-
pointment and months OF inquiry OF the
Alger Relief Commission is Il direct and
conclusive disproval of Corbin's amazing
statement that no officer or soldier has
complained of the treatment of the army
If that were true, why these months of
costly sessions and journeys and this
yoiuminous testimony of officers and
soldiers? The BLUM is noteworthy. but
1t has too tragic n side, there are too
many dead heroes involved, to allow us
to look at ii humorously. Ii is worse
than impudent-it is insulting TO the
committee to whom il was made and to
the American people who mourn SONS
who died a needless death, and others
who have been wrecked for life by
avoidable conditions.