The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-27
SAVANNAH OR CHARLESTON.
DEPARTMENT WILL SHIP TROOPS
FROM ONE OF THE TWO PORTS.

Two Cfties-A Thorough Inspection
of Snvannah's Advantages Made.
Charleston VIII Be Looked Over
To-day-The Secretary Wen Pleas.
ed with savannah, But Would
Give No IntimatiOn whether 1t
VIII BE SeIected-Sticks to His
Claim That COmmanders Were Re-
EponsibIe for the Ill Health of the
Armies-The Secretary and Gener-
al Miles Are Not UnfriendIy.
''If your city is not selected as the point
of embarkaton for the army you will have
the satisfaction of knowing that you Will
have missed it by only one. The only
ports the department VIII consider are Sa-
vannah and Charleston. I can tell you
nothing about what l may have formed in
the way of an opinion, favorable or un-
favorable That would not be fair to all
the parties concerned, nor is il yet time
for me to do so Reports covering the en-
tire subject will be submitted the war de-
partment by officers whom we have had
out for an inspection of the ports named,
and the selection of that from which we
will ship troops will be made after a care
full comparison of the advantages offered"
This was what Secretary of War Russell
A. Alger had to say at the De Soto last
night to a representative of the Morning
News. 1t was just after the secretary had
returned from an all days trip around Sa-
vannah, to Thunderbolt and to Tybee He
and his party were accompanied by com
mittee of Savannah gentlemen, who acted
done to make the party enjoy its stay in
the city.
Gen. Alger is not away from Washing
ton with the purpose, primarily, of inspect
ing personally the two ports mentioned
This inspection comes in incidentally to
his trip to the camps and hospitals of the
army. Having been to Jacksonville, he
decided it would be a good plan to take in
Savannah and Charleston on his way back
to Washington. BY doing this he would
gain his own knowledge of the facilities
offered by each part and could add this
to the information that will be conveyed
in the reports to be made to the depart
ment by Col. Frank j. Hecler, chief OF
the division of transportation of the quar-
ter masters department. Col. Hecker has
visited both Savannah and Charleston, and
has gathered the information desired for
his reports. He was with the secretary's
party here
Gen. Alger was asked how long 1t will be
before the report will have been gone over.
He replied that it would probably take
about a week or ten days, and at the end
of that time the department will be ready
TO make an announcement of its choice.
He said ii is proposed to ship the army of
occupation from whatever place may be
selected and it will be made base of sup
plies for the army. Transports will sail
regularly between that port and Cuba.
What about your trip South; how have
you found matters at the camps and hos
pltals?"
What 1 have seen has confirmed the
opinion expressed some time ago, that
where there has been any cause for COM
plant on account of sickness in the camps
and in the conduct of the hospitals ii has
been the fault of the commanders. They
CID not look after matters properly and
take sufficient precautions against disease.
II they had kept their camps in proper
sanitary condition there would have been
no trouble. Germs would not have sprlng
into existence, or they would have been
killed. Where there are no germs there
cannot be the disease from which the
army suffered. I have been in every hos
pital in the country now, and have seen
every sick soldier in them. All blame for
the conditions that proved so hurtful rests
with the commanders 1 have named"
Gen. Alger says the reported ill-feeling
between himself and Gen. Miles is a great
mistake; that it does not exist. He Gays
he has seen no indication of IL anywhere
except in the newspapers. Il have not
seen Gen. Miles since his return from Por-
to Rico, though l saw him soon before he
left for there. The campaign in the island
was conducted according to my under
standing of what was right, and 1 sus-
tained the general. We have no differ
ences.'
In regard to the investigation Of the war
department, Gen. Alger said he wrote the
President, asking for the investigation
He had seen the criticisms that were be-
ing made, and he wanted to see a COM
mittee go into the matter and vindicate
the department He wants the inVestiga-
ton 10 be fun and complete.
Gen. Alger expressed himself greatly
pleased with Savannah and the reception
extended him here. He spoke very pleas
autiy Of the gentlemen by whom he had
been entertained, and said his ideas of the
South's hospitality had been completely
borne out. He was not at all surprised
by the treatment he received as it was
no more than he had expected from Sa-
vannah.
The Georgia regiments in the service, the
tHst aud Second particularly, he spoke
of very highly. He said the reports re-
ceiyed by the war department We're very
fattering, and that his own inspection of
the commands had convinced him that
what had been reported was perfectly
true. "Georgians, though, have always
made good soldiers" he said. I'VE found
that out in the civil war"
The secretary and his party arrived here
early yesterday morning from Jackson
vile. They were met at the depot, where
they had spent the night In their special
car by Capt. d. c.. Purse, Commissioner
of the Freight Bureau; Aldermen William
Duncan and w. w. Owens, representing
the city. the latter acting as Mayor; and
Vice President John NJ. Egan of the Cen
tral Railroad. The party was taken to
the De Soto for breakfast at o clock AT
the hotel the party, which consisted of
Gen. Alger, Gen. George NJ. Sternberg,
surgeon general Of the army; Cen l. NJ.
Ludington, quartermaster general; Col
Hecker, Mai George H. Hopkins mill