The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-23
GEN. C0Rb|N'S TESTIMONY.
HE Is RIGIDLY QUESTIONED BE-
FORE THE WAR INQUIRY.
Says the War Department Did Not
Seriously Contemplate War Untii
1t Was Actually at Hand-Reg1-
lar Army Fairly Well Equipped.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 22-Adjt. Gen.
Cortin was The first witness before the war
invesisat.ns, COMMITTEES today, and was
rightly questioned regarding The selection
OF Camp A.ger. Va. He testified that the
remov al OF camp Alger was dictated hy the
secretary of war himself ana It's originsl
estah}i shnlen: was recommended Is Capt.
See burn. OF Niles staff. lie (C0vbiu) had
So ID al the time Il could rot bee a good
camp ground. because there was not suf-
ticient range for ride practice, He had un
dersto0d from me secretary IF war that
Gen Niles had something T. 10 with ats
selection
''D.d Miles protest or do anything agains,
the selection Of the camp
''Not &c my knowledge" was the answer.
Corbln addSd that he did not know the
reason faE the discontnuance OF the camp.
AS - Camp Wtkon, Corb.n said that The
tr0ons and horses there about August 5
were hose left behind In the South tro:n
expeditions 10 Santiago and Porto EHeo.
and trans porta;iou Tor these had no.. aS
far as he knew. To-! 10 railroad congestion
rage OF supplies for troops, subsequently
arriving. He said one reason tor is So
lection Was lis excellent facilities for W.
Ter TRANSPORTATION. tie SAID the camp at
Tampa was never designed for ANYTHING
bat for = point of emDarkatiun. and said
the first complaints 10 had heard from
Camp Thomas. Chickamauga, were in the
press.
Asked when he first seriously appre bend
ed there would h. hosti.iiies, Gen. Corbjn
said he might say be dl not seriously con-
template var until il vas "A fact for he had
hoped 70 the last moment Il would be avert
81. ON April IL the army. for one OF its
size. was well equipped.
Seriously speaking" said Corbin. Il do
not think the war department contemplated
war until IT Was declared by congress. and
appropriations We're available There vera
~ general preparations except SC far as
the department was abe 70 meet the pos
shlIties that coufrUrte 4;
Col. Den5y here suggested 10 CorDin that
ha observed the latter was cautious and
vcttcenf and explained. IT'S net our OBJ
jet 20 crIticise strategy. The strategy Of
The war may have been right and may nave
been wrong. our object = to determine
v1e-hcr the war department acted eff
c.cutly''
He sa.3 that when tae Shafter exueti-
tion started IT took ali The transports il was
possible "a obtain TIE supply was net
equal 70 the demand T. had t,een planned
10 carry ABOUT &.,eo troops AT that time
instead Os the = .esi taken Tie referred 10
Ire letter " i@S dated JUNE u laying
oGt q plan - campaign 81 the war. aud
satG i vas cO5 approved.
10 You know anything about Gen.
Mics dispatch 81 june =. / think a letter
- the secretary Of war. IN winch he pIr-
Ioses - have ,he army march clean
through Cnba ani take 50.eDo prisoners ana
work them and treat them kindly" Gen.
tnraH vas asked.
Yes. sir was he answer TIA; letter
was received ard dd not receive the ap-
prOVdi ~ t1r secretary = wa
"Nol say tee prOpo~t i0r made hy Gen.
lies % AIRY on Fa~ campaign n zoe
manner whica h. Indicated in that letter
was ds2pprove.c''
.'It was Dot sY1r5ve3.'' vep.I.d Gen Cor
Il ooa'a ssk you whe.aer the plan %
cams airn 3Eains. SaStiaeo was recon-
H1saIy1 ly Gen AftleS@''
- do nat chsnk the 1ry7gpe~tat3--,
u8l iu mat letter ~ MAJ q were 4T-
proved. aRS Che Ysp.y.
tisu Corbiu said there had been a
shortage u uniforms. canvas ana fentaee.
The factories had Dot made tue advance
preparations that hal bee0 expected
TaeEr 0aG never heeu a'v tfvtsoE.. concern
ivE provisions re salE T1sa matter -
rs-s.e2l supplies and ne Heal nfsi ~rs was
.+ft go tho surgeon general arf fae pvesi-
1~ns lg every case would ua- listen 70
appointing nesficas offlcsr unless rec
Commended ay t1e surgeon general ou the
GROUND of fitness. liz bad no suggestion
IT, :.14Aa h4Sat uu shss- reports bat vxa=
a-rat5 80 svF a1Hf1e~ var f9r fer IL
wae.,3 re. res,.l; SO Ne. or with SO .jttle
s,ses ef Eca
Atvrr-iux % Gen. Mills Complaint taat
PAS masters were urt seu- so. Porto Ei~n
- Suggested ~ hiru. Gen Carosn said
they wsFe ordered Immediately 6ut taey
weCt 10y W9y % Santiago WsseEe one EeH
s.. with yeAcw fever. The health Officers
GsssEytflt. se3 ths vessels, carrying them
ari t-1 Miles - said. Rad tno1gh. fl
Test ~ ts.@ 80 s5yi8=zssrS ssat "a e,1.sls.
ashore AZ Ponce IL avoid possible lufec-
gsoD.
More ,Feoss. sid iAs witness. we're ssat