, 1898-12-03
ALGER's REPORT
SECRETARY OF WAR REPORTS ON
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN
WAR.
Detailed Review Il the Recent Conflict
Treats on Many Points and De-
bated Questions-Miles' and Shat
ter's Work in the Confict-Corres-
pondence.

Washington, Dec. 2.-The annual re-
port of Secretary Alger is a practically
complete history of the Spanish-Ameri-
can war.
The secretary has given to the public
not only all the official dispatches that
passed directly between his own Office
and commanding officers in the field
and camp, but has supplemented these
forth the reasons for various move
ments, and then, to complete the record
of events, he has included in the body
of his report the report of General
Miles, of all the generals hat partici-
pated in the campaign in Cuba, Porto
Rico or the Philippines. and finally, the
war department.
Nowhere is there shown a disposition
to criticise, the official dispatches be-
ing allowed to tell their own story, and
generally the secretary finds much to
praise and cause for sincere congratu-
lation in the results obtained.
The report proper begins with what
may be described as the chronological
history of the war, consisting Of a num-
Der of short paragraphs, beginning with
the declaration of war April 81, and
setting forth the date upon which amy
event of Importance occurred, but max
ing no comment whatever upon the
facts. The only exception to this rule
is in a reference to the casualties at
Santiago. Some criticism having been
made that there was a lack of surgeons
present, the report states that there
were one hundred and forty surgeons
in attendance, and that Of 1,431 wound
ed, only 10 died Of their wounds.
The secretary, coming down in his
history to the middle Of August, when
an order was issued which is 20 in
execution, to muster out 100, 900 volun-
teers, says:
THUS an army Of about 250,0 900 vol
unteers and recruits for the regular
army was called into existance from
civil life, and including the regular
army, the total force was 274,717 men.
1t was organized, armed and equipped.
No supplies being on hand other than
those for the regulars, save Springfield
muskets. Fifty thousand men Of this
force were transported by land and sea
to battle in the tropics, 10000 miles
apart, where the won their victories
without a single defeat, and all within
the period of 113 days from the declara-
tion of war to the signing of the proto-
col.
This great achievement can be
credited to no individual; it belongs to
the nation. 1t was accomplished
through the intelligence and patriotism
of all who served, from the commander
in-chief to the private in the ranks. 1t
also speaks volumes for the prompt,
patriotic and intelligent assistance of
the people who furnished, in SO short a
period, the supplies necessary to pre-
pare this great army for the field. To
the heroic men who served in distant
lands, the country will W. offer a true
need of praise; but the mighty army on
camp, ready and eager to take the field,
should also be given equal credit. 1t
was their presence, ready at an hours
notice for any emergency, that over
awed the enemy and proved to him that
further resistance would be in vain.
HEALTH IN VOLUNTEER CAMP.
"The deaths in the army from May l
to October l, including killed, died OF
wounds and disease. were 2.910. the
smallest death rate recorded Of any
army in history, a remarkable fact,
when 1t is considered that e $4,000
or our troops, borne and reared In the
temperate zone, were campaigning in
tropical climates. subject to rain and
heat almost unprecedented"
The secretary says Of the volunteers
that to furlough them in winter would
be a hardship, 50 he recommends that
in lieu OF the furlough the officers and
men be given two months pay at the
time of their discharge. thus admitting
of any prompt discharge in their pres
ent camps nithe south.
Under the head Of increase in the per-
manent establishment, the secretary
says:
I'm view Of the needs of a military
force in the islands occupied by the
United States. it Is earnestly recon-
mended that the regular army be per-
manently increased TO 100. 900 men and
the requisite officers; that a portion OF
this may be recruited from the inhabi-
tants Of those islands to be mustered
into the service of the United States,
commanded by officers Of army
discretion, however, to be given to the
President to make appointments Of Of
hcers from the force SO recruited"
Another suggestion Is. THAT there
should be employed in the United
States service . constablary force foI