Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-25
SEC. ALGER WRITES.
Washes His Hands of Any Responsibility
For Suffering in the Army shows the
Enormous Work Done.

New York, Aug. 2t-Chauncey NJ. De
lpcw has received the following letter
from the secretary of war and has con-
lscntcd to its publication. The letter which
was written in reply to Il request for in
formation on tho subject referred to is
las follows
War Department, Washington, Aug. 1S.
NV Dear Mr. Dcp"w: The great pres
sure of business has up to now prevented
me from sending to you the statement
you were kind enough to ask for, as to
what had been accomplished in the way
lcf outtltting the army for the field, the
conduct of campaign, etc. Also, the chiefs
of divisions have been too much driven
with work to compile the data required,
lone not in the midst of the worl: can
hardly realize what an undertaking 1t *
to call 10000 men into the field at one
time, coming from all the States and to
have them mustered and gathered in
camps on so short notice, and this too
when we had scarce any camp outfit for
their accommodation, all having to be
provided for by the war department. As
you know, when war was declared. there
was no equipment whatever for the vol
untecrs in store. That this was success
fully accomplished, with very little acci-
dent, is Il matter of record Subsequent
calls, including the regular army (Which
numbered about 1900 men when war was
ldcclared) made a total of $500 men. To
accomplish all in so short time has been
la great work.
OF course gathering this vast number
of men together. in a large measure un-
der unframed regimental and company
commanders for actual field duty-owing
to the lack of knowledge as to sanitary
conditions to be observed, the careless
ness in not observing instructions which
were furnished as to proper care of the
men has added greatly to the work Of the
medical department. Thus from the homes
lof 1850" volunteers has been constant and
Igrcat anxiety as to what might happen to
their soldier, and hundreds of inquiries
made by letters and kilograms have been
lfcCcived every day concerning individual
soldiers The feeling on the part of these
individuals that the war department is
Irresponsible for the care of their men in
Individually has naturally aroused sympathy
in case OF sickness and death, and has
lcrcated much sorrow There Is nothing
Iyoung men IN robust health are so prodi-
gal as of their health, until 1t is gone.
Men 60 into camp feeling that they can
stand anything and everything, and can
not be made to believe to the contrary
until stricken with disease.
Every effort has been made from the
beginning to furnish every camp with all
appliances asked for but of course the
commanding officers in the field are the
ones who have the direct charge of these
men. For instance, one army corps com
mander has given orders and enforccs
tncm, respecting sanitary aitalrS ana he
, has to-day but a fraction over per cent
on the sick list. Others have been less
successful and the consequence Is typhoid
/ and other fevers have been bred and
, spread to a considerable extent. one reg
, ment in the ChCkamauga camp has II col
Onel who cnforCes sanitary rules in his
regiment, Obliging the men to boil all the
water they drink keeping the camp clean
: ly, and the result, less than % sick, and
/ his camp, too, in as unfavorablc Il place
as amy in the command. Others more ia
, iVorabiy situated have ten times that num-
Der on the sick list. one of the regiments
of the last call, not yet removed from its
State, sends bitter complaints of typhoid
fever.
Concerning the Santiago campaign, when
the ships left Tampa they had on board
three months provisions and an abund-
lance Of hospital supplies. They had light
ers to unload with at point of debarka-
ton Three lighters We're lost in severe
storms ON the way. As soon as were no
tined of the fact, two lows of lighters
were sent from Mobile and New Orleans
, and ono of these was wrecked. The army
, disembarked, getting off portion of its
supplies and medical stores, and immedi-
, ately marched to the front to fight the
, Spaniards, The great difficulty of landing
supplies was subsequently met The wind
, sprang up every morning at 10 and made
Il high surf, rendering almost impossible
, the use of small boats with one lighter,
which was all they had left for this pur-
! pose. OF the packers who were employed
60 per cent soon fell sick, and heavy rains
, falling every day, the roads Of they could
be called such) became impossible for We
hicleS, pack animals had to be employed
Y TO carry food to the army, which being
= extended to the right around Santiago in
creased the distance from the coast every
$ day, and made the task more difficult.
However, the result and the subsequent
',t,l hne. hrAlr
Z showed the great wisdom of Gen. Shafter
Q in moving forward to make the attack
while his men were In vigor. 1t was n
= movement bordering on audacity, but it
/, succeeded and the persistence of the at
tack / have no doubt, greatly dsheart-
e ened the Spaniards The result was one of
2 the greatest victories for men engaged in
) modern warfare. The number of prison.
ers taken exceeded the attacking force by
nearly two to one.
When yellow fever broke out and the
2 fever list increased into the thousands 1t
was for a time supposed that 1t was prin-
0 cipally yellow fever. The bringing troops
north at once after the surrender under
l such conditions. would have been certain
death to a vast number, but upon inquiry
It was ascertained that very few Of these
cases comparatively were yellow fever.
when 1t was at once decided to bring the
I army home as speedily as possible. Every
, thing that human ingenuity could devise
has been done to succor that army-not
) the ingenuity of the secretary of war, but
the result of the combined counsel of
those who have had lifelong experience
in the field.
That some men have been neglected on
transports coming home there Is no doubt
all against positive orders, due perhaps
to carelessness and negligence, but large
~ on account of not having the medical
force to spare (many of whom were sick)
from the camp at Santiago. Many medic