The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-09-28
Secretary Alger Is Requested
Through the Heads of De.
partmentS
TO Practically Give Statement
Of All Operations During
the War.
Alger Himself Requested to Give
Reasons for Certain General
Movements.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.-The war in.
vestigating commission resumed its
Iabors at 10 o'clock a. III. in the Lemon
building and at the close of the morn.
ing session, gave out a number of doc.
uments bearing upon the work to be
undertaken. These comprise the letter
Of Secretary Alger to the president, re.
questing that the investigation be
made; a brief address to the public in
the shape Of a resolution; a letter from
Chairman Dodge to the secretary in.
closing a list of inquiries to the secre.
tary a1d to the various heads of the
divisions of the war department, call.
ing for specific information bearing
upon the conduct Of the war.
Information Desired.
Tie commissions letter to Secretary
Alger is dated at the office Of the con
mission and is as follows:
To the Secretary Of War:
Slr-Pursuant to authority conferred
upon is by the president, we have the
homer to request that you direct the
adjutant general, the Quartermaster
general, the commlssary general, the
surgeon general, the chief of ordnance
and the chief of engineers, to furnish
US as soon as practicable information
as to the condition of their several de.
partments at the time of the declara.
toe OF war with Spain, and the opera.
ton Of those departments from that
time until the present.
We desire the information to include
the following, viz:
lst.-The m and places of the
mobilization OF the regular and volun.
teer troops.
2nd.-The organization of these
troops into the various subdivisions of
the army, the personnel of the brigade,
division, corps and army commanders,
and of their stats, whether appointed
from the permanent establishment,
from the national guard, or from civil
life.
3rd.--The amount and kind of camp
and garrison equipment and other sup.
plies that were on hand at the begin.
ming CT the war, the amount subse.
quently purchased, when and where
purchased, whea and where delivered
to your department, and when and
where actually issued to the troops.
4th.-Slmilar information in regard
to furnishing the troops with arms and
Announcements.
5tn. Which of the volunteers were
armed and equipped in the various
sfato n N n. and 1rh1ch IN thn ,o,,a,,1
camps.
9th. Upon whose recommendation
or Judgment the various general rem.
devious were selected, and the reasons
tor such selection.
7th.-Ful! particulars relative to the
transportation Of troops by sea, giving
an account Of the provisions made 70,
theiaccommodatlons and care of the sick
and wounded.
SHAN account Of the quantity,
quality and kind of food furnished the
troops, and in case that any of them
failed Of being plentifully and season.
ably supplied, state the reasons there.
tor.
9th.-As to the proper tentage, beds,
linen, medicines, food and all neces.
sary equipment and supplies for the
use Of the hospital corps Of the army.
Ii there was any lack Of these things
at any time, state the reason therefor.
10th. Whether the medical staff
was efficient and sufficient at all times
70. the proper care Of the sick and
w,uoded, and If not state the reasons
therefor.
llth.-Such information relative to
the condition and operations of the
ordnance and engineering departments
as will be Of value to us in our inves.
legations.
We have outlined briefly a portion
only Of the information that we trust
you will be abe to give Us. 1t will be
satisfactory to have it communicated
to US in whiting, or by the chiefs Of the
several bureaus in person, with the sub.
N sslon of such records confirming
their statements as they may be
pleased to hand Us.
TO aid you in complying with this
: qlest, there is submitted herewith a
list Of special questions for which, as
tar as is possible, answers are desired.
Questions for Alger.
To Secretary Alger the commission
ha addressed six queries for his reply.
Information desired from secretary
8 war:
lsr.-Plan Of campaign proposed i'm.
medlately after the declaration of war:
was 1t intended to move at once en-
Havana or that a campaign should be
post Goned until the autumn?
I'd. -When was the Santiago cam.
paign determined upon?
34.-Why was Tampa selected as the
base Of operations?
4lh.-Why were summer camps or.
ganized at Fernandina, Jacksonville
aud Tampa?
5th.-When was the Porto Rico cam.
"a gn determined upon:
6th.-Why were the troops held on
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