Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-09-01

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made that has not been complied
with. There has not been necessity
called for that has not been furnished;
but the Secretary of War could not be
everywhere to see that his orders
were carried out.
"The press and public seem to have
overlooked the fact that every camp
that has been established-and this
applies to Santiago-has been under
command of an officer of the regular
army. That at Tampa was in charge
of General Coppinger, q regular army
man; that at Chickamauga, where
there has been most sickness, was in
charge of General Brooke, regular
army officer, and when Gen. Brooke
was relieved he was succeeded by
General Wade, and then General
Wade was succeeded by Gen. Breck-
inridge-both of the regular army.
"Camp Alger was in charge of
General Graham. The camp at Jack
sonville was In charge of General
Fitzhugh Lee, who is a graduate of
West Point, and has turned out to be
the best corps commander we have.
He has kept his command in better
shape than any of the others"
"He had the advantage of artesian
wells," was suggested.
"He had no advantage at ALL" re-
torted the Secretary sharply. "He
simply did his duty, and looked after
the health of his men, as he should.
He ordered the adoption of certain
simple sanitary regulations, and saw
that they were obeyed. The result
was that he kept his great army corps
stationed as it was, where one would
naturally expect disease to break out,
with only per cent of bis men sick,
while camps further north have been
overun with disease.
"These camps were all in charge of
regular army officers. 1t was part of
their business to look after the health
of the men; to report on the condi-
tion of their camps and to see that
the men had everything they needed.
If anything was wanted all that had
to be done was to ask for 1t. Yet
nothing is said about these officers.
To see the public prints one would
suppose that the only person to be
criticised was the Secretary of War"
"Will an investigation be ordered
to fix the responsibility for the mis-
management of the camps9'' the Sec
retary was asked.
sI could not order an investigation
now, but hope Congress will order
an investigation, and hope 1t will be
q thorough one. I have nothing to
fear from it."
"Did not the commanders of the
camps report to you as to the condi-
ton of their men2"
"Yes, they reported; but 1t was not
until the newspapers began to bring
news as to the real condition Of things
that the War Department knew any
thing about it."
"Who is responsible, Mr.. Secretary,
for ordering the advance on Santiago
before supplies had been landed?"
General shafter; and the country
owes large debt Of gratitude to him
for having done so. If he had not or
dered the advance he would have
been there, dying In the trenches be-
fore the city. General Summer, Gem
eral Wheeler, General Young, all told
me personally that the only thing
that saved our army and won the day
was General Skaters insistence upon
making the advance while our men
were strong and in good condition. It
was the impetuosity Of their attack
that struck terror to the hearts of the
Spaniards and finally caused them to
YIELD"
Commenting upon the criticisms of
himself, Secretary AIger concluded
by saying:
"I am not the man to run In the
face Of fire. Some newspapers and
some people are endeavoring to force
me out Of the Cabinet; they cannot
do 1t. They are endeavoring to be-
smirch my reputation; they cannot
do it.
'If the opportunity arises I win fight
back. II attacks arc made upon me
by the press OF which the law can take
notice I win send my accusers to jan.