The times., 1898-09-10
kLGER AND SHAFTER MEET
Hold a Protracted Secret Con-
ference at Camp Meade.
MILES MERELY A SPECTATOR
The GeneraI-in-Chief Passsye Dur
ing the Negotiations at Santiago
-Shafter Admits Having Violated
Many of the Principles of War
Pleased With the Camp.

Harrisburg Pa, Sept. 9.-Secretary Al
ger arrived from Washington on special
car about O'Clock this morning and re-
mained on his car until about $50 when he
started on tour of the camp. MAJ. Gen
william III. Shafter and his aide, Major
] d. Miley, arrived in the city last night
and remained at the Commonwealth unui
this morning when they boarded trolley
car and went 10 Camp Meade.
Gen. Shafter Joined Secretary Aiger in
his car and had a conference Of about an
hour. Gen Shafter said that the matters
talked about were purely personal and
not for the public.
AS to the controversy with Gen. Miles
Gen. Shafter said:
1T is all pOppycock, at least there was
no trouble between Gen Miles and myself
when he left Santiago. Our relations
have been most amicable and j cannot un-
derstand what all this controversy means.
Gen. Miles may have been talking but
believe that much of it Is due TO the an
tagonistie newspapers whose motives are
certainly not patriotic. i believe their
purpose is TO stir up strife
Gen. Niles upon his arrival in Washing
ton. He went into some details to explain
just what had occurred during the visit of
Gen Miles to Santiago. He said Gen.
Miles was a spectator during the negotia-
1ions and had not interfered in any man
laer with the conduct of the campaign.
He declared that the Santiago campaign
was of the most successful in history. He
admitted that he had violated many Of the
principles of war during the campaign
but under the circumstances 1t was neces-
sary TO do so. He added that when sue
cess follows such violations they are gen
erally overlooked
Our army was generally in a position
where it could not retreat and il was nee
essary TO force the fighting" he said.
Many chances We're taken which would
not have been taken in the face of any
army other than that of the Spanish en-
emy.
AN English army for instance, would
have attacked US two or three times while
they had the opportunity, but the Span
ish did not. They made a desperate re-
sistance at FL Caney because they sup
posed they would be murdered if cap
tured. One dying Spanish soldier said
that If they had known how they were to
be treated they would have surrendered
long before"
Secretary Alger w-slld say nothing re-
garding his side Of the Miles controversy.
Gen Shafter Is his way to Washington
and left for that city this afternoon. He
expects TO be ordered 10 the command of
the Department of the East at New York
in a few days
Secretary Alger is accompanied by Mrs.
Alger and their son, Capt. Alger. who
returned from Santiago suffering from a
severe attack of fever. He is now con-
valescent
They Will go directly to Detroit and af-
ter a rest of a few days Secretary Alger
will start on a tour of the camps.
He was delighted with Camp Meade,
and expressed himself in the most compli-
mentary way OF the arrangements for the
comfort OF the troops.
When Secretary Alger and Gen. Shafter
were driven to corps headquarters Gen
Graham met them most cordially. and
asked the Secretary if he would like a
review. He indicated a desire to see the
boys and at once the orders We're issued.
All the division and brigade command
ers were communicated with over the
wires. running to all parts Of the camp.
and an hour later the regiments were
massed on a green plain, three miles from
headquarters. It was necessarily hur-
ried review because Secretary Alger was
compelled to get back to Harrisburg at
] o'clock. He reviewed the FIRST division
as IL IlGLCaCu pdSl Al GO1OiIi4l hA NplIl-
panies and then rode down the lines Of
regiments, which were waiting tLeir turn
for review. He was well received and
Gen. Sharuer expressed much p,easure in
the camp situation.
Secretary Alger said today regarding
criticism of the War Department, that the
War Department asked no favors, but
wanted fair treatment He discussed the
Tations OF the soldiers and other matters
Of detail and insisted that the men got
plenty TO eat and that it would be better
for them If their friends and others would
refrain from giving them so much food
that is really injurious to men in the
field. He said officers would be held
strictly accountable for the sanitary con-
ditions of the camps
The troops retained for service. he add
ed, would be reorganized into corps, dfvi-
sions and brigades and placed in comforta-
bic camps until needed elsewhere