The record-union., 1898-06-19
ALGER INDIGNANT.
Says There is no Truth in the Re-
port That He is Dissatisfied.

WASHINGTON, June 1S.-Secretary
Alger accompanied by General Miles,
went to the White House to-day to see
the President. The Secretary was in
dignant at the published reports that
the President and himself were dissat-
isfied with the course adopted by Cen
eral Miles and had decided to relieve
him of the command Of the army. The
Secretary said in the presence Of Cen
eral Miles to a representative of the
press:
There is not word Of truth in it,
meaning the statement to which his at
tention had been attracted AS a
matter of fact, the purpose cf the Ad-
ministration in recalling General Miles
to Washington at this time is to con-
suit with him as to the future conducc
| Of the campaign. It is plain that the
campaign itself has grown far away
| from the original lines on which it was
drawn and recent deve! opmenss have
led to the belief on the part OF the Pres
ident that the plans might be amend
/ ed somewhat with benefit.
The War Department is proliting by
the experience gained in .he oryaniza-
tiOn and dispatch of Genera. Shafter' 5
expedition, by the concentration cf
! troops in the great camps; by the de-
relopment Of weak places in the staff
\ systems. and it is desired that future
! Cperations be conducted with view
10 avoiding frictions, improving the
| methods of equipping the volunteers
and generally facilitating the organi-
zation of an effective army. It has
been suggested that owing to the
heavy demand for troops, which have
far exceeded the number originally be-
lieved to be sufficient. there Will be oc-
! caSion to issue another call for volun-
teers. Having in Inlnl the length of
time required to develop raw material
! into seasoned soldiers, as revealed by
the experiences at Chickamauga, Tam
ia and Camp Alger, there is no doubt
the President will be forehanded in
this matter and that upon the exis-
| tence of a reasonable doubt as to the
sufficiency of the present military
force he vii take steps 10 incraase it,
But before any effort is made 10 raise
more troops the War Department will
see to it that the ampiest facilities are
provided and that the equipment VIII
| be ready for the men The material
/ secured under another call would not
| include National Guardsmen and the
men would not only be absolutely
\ green, but would be wholly without
military equipment Of any kind. The
preparations being made by the War
/ Department TO meet any possible de
\ nands in the future as revealed in the
\ very thorough report of the board
headed by Major Hopkins appointed to
look after suitable camping sites, un-
/ doubtedly has given rise to the raports
/ that additional military camps are to
| be established. The department has
| put things in trim TO establish ut short
notice several additional camps. but
! so far ii has not ordered any troops
| To them, and is not likely to unless
| there should be further call tor vol
unteers
The projected dispatch of the relief
Eexpeditions with food and supplies 10
the suffering Cubans is no new feature
or the campaign, as seems to have been
supposed in some quarters. From the
first the President has had in mind the
/ probable suffering of the reconcentra-
dos whose lot was likely to be made
doubly hard by the war unless our peo-
pie came to their relief 1t was his pur-
pose TO lose no opportunity in sending
supplies 70 their people, and the report
ed preparations Of expeditions in Flor
ida 10 carry these are nothing more
than the natural execution of the Pres
idents plans.