The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-30

times with proper food? If not, why
not?
What. if any, complaints in writing
have been received by the oommissary
general?
There are interrogations Of a similar
nature addressed to the Quartermaster
general.
The request of the adjutant general
calls for specific Information as to the
number Of volunteer troops for the
war including officers and men. and
as to their distribution. Specific infor
nation is asked concerning the expe-
ditions to Santiago, Porto Rico and the
Philippines, the inquiries in each of
these cases calling for the number Of
regiments of regulars and of volun-
teers with maximum number of troops
operating in each campaign specified,
with the organization of the command,
its commanding general, corps, diviS-
ion and brigade commanders, the num-
ber of officers and enlisted men killed
and wounded and the number who
have died from wounds or disease. The
adjutant general is also requested to
supply the following information: Lo-
cation of camps in the United States,
by whom selected; number of regi-
ments and number of officers and en-
listed men of regulars ana of Volun-
teers at each camp; organization of
camps, names Of commanding generals,
together with names of division and
brigade commanders, length Of time
each camp was maintained and num-
Der Of deaths by disease at each camp.
The commission adjourned at 80
o'clock until tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
Washington, September 2S.-Secre-
tary Alger has returned to Washing
ton. He came to the war department
Immediately after breakfast and was
soon besieged by number Of persons
who have been waiting for his return.
The secretary said that he had gained
a great deal of information as to con-
ditions in the camps and hospitals by
his inspection, which might take shape
in official action soon. He went to the
White house and had long talk with
the resident about army conditions.
He made a verbal report to the presl-
dent 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.
On leaving the White house Secre-
tary Alger said he was much gratified
with the condition of the camps gen.
orally. He refrained from specificaI-
ly charging exaggeration of conditions
of camp life, but said the results OF
the trip Of inspection were quite satis-
factory. He had visited he said, every
one of the camps, the hospitals and
the sick. He was gratified, and es-
Decially so, to find the men in the
hospitals steadily improving and that
there were so many convalescents
where the odds against them from their
maladies had been great. Most of the
men in the hospitals, he 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 sat
isfactorily, but there were, he conced-
ed, numerous points which might be
improved upon, citing especially the
unsatisfactory condition of the sinks
at some points. At Jacksonville, he
said, the reports seemed to show
fairly large proportion Of sick, but he
said the percentage of sickness was
accounted for by the fact that the men
sick of all the regiments departing and
mustered out were kept in the camp.
"The main trouble" said Secretary
Alger, (which found was perhaps the
matter of the troops taking care of
themselves. This was one Of the great
difficulties encountered At some points
the eating tents outside the camps,
conducted by private enterprises.
proved too tempting for soldiers and
the results Of improper and injudicious
selves in the general condition of the
men. These are things which some
times cannot be helped and where
there was most rigid discipline along
these lines the improved state of af-
fairs was very evident.
Secretary Alger said the report Of a
scene in General breckenridge head
quarters, at Lexington, when he was
inspecting that camp is absolutely
dot
scene, no high words and no excited
language. The secretary says the story
was made of the whole cloth. Secre-
tary Alger and Generals Ludington
and Sternberg each have letters from
General Wiley, who was reported as
having made accusations against
them, expressing his regret that any
nying them in toto.
THE WAR COMMISSION.
Only four of the commission appoint
ed to investigate the conduct of the
war were present at the forenoon ses-
sion today, and in the absence of re-
plies to the interrogatories sent to the
secretary Of war and his subordinates.
very little business was transacted.
Colonel DENLY was elected vice chair
man of the commission and in the alb
Sence of Chairman Dodge, presided
over today's session.
The only important matter brought
to the attention Of the commission was
a report by General Wilson, of the
engineer department of the army, of
which he is the chief. No statement
was called for from him, because there
were no charges against this depart
ment, but General Wilson being a
member of the commission, concluded
that to furnish one would be an ap-
propriate proceeding. The document
was held for disposition by the full
commission and, consequently, was not
given to the press.
A few letters were received from per-
sons offering to come before the COM
mission. These were replied to with a
circular letter Of which the following
is a copy:
Dear Sir:
Referring to your communication
of -, the commission re-
quests that, upon receipt Of this, you
will forward a written statement, Civ
ing in as specific and complete a form
as may be practicable, all facts based
upon your own personal experience and