Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-12-08
OFFICIAL WAR History.
Secretary Alger Reviews the Events
of the Recent Important Vic
tories of Our Army.
GIVES DUE CREDIT TO ALL CONCERNED.
Death Rate Among Troops from May
10 October Was the Smallest IA
History - recommends That the
Regular Force BE Increased 20
100000 AIen-other Suggestions.

Oh SECRETARY AlEGF Is a pEaCIicaity complete
official history of the Spanish-American
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 with short ex-
plan tory notes setting forth the reasons
for various movements, and then, 10 COM
plete the record of events, he has included
~ the body Of his report the report OF Gen.
Miles, OF all the generals who participated
IN the campaign in Cuba, Porto Rico or the
philippines, and finally the reports OF all
OF the bureau officers OF the war depart
ment. Nowhere is there shown a DISPOSE
ton to critieise, the official dispatches be-
ing allowed TO tell their own story and
generally the secretary finds much to
praise and cause for sincere congratulation
IN the results obtained.
Great Achievement.
The secretary. coming down in his HIS
tory to the middle OF August. when an or
der was issued and is now In execution to
muster out 100, 600 volunteers, SAYS: Thus
an army of about 250O00 volunteers and
recruits for the regulars was called into
existence from civil life, and. including the
regular army, the total force was 274,T7
men. It was organized, armed, and
equipped (no supplies being on hand other
than those for the regulars, save Spring
field muskets). and 5000 men OF this force
were transported by land and sea to bat
tlehelds in the tropics 10000 miles apart.
single defeat, and ali within the period of
us days from the declaration of war to the
signing OF the protocol.
Credit for the victory.
This great achievement can be credited
to no Individual; il belongs the nation.
II was accomplished through the .ntelfi-
gence and patriotism oil all who served,
from the commander In chief to the private
in the ranks. 1t also speaks volumes for
the prompt, patriotic and intelligent assist
ance Of the people who furnished, in so
short a period, the supplies necessary to
prepare this great army for the field. To
the heroic men who served In distant lands
the country will ever offer a true need Of
praise, but the mighty army in camp,
ready and eager to take the field should
also be given equal credit. 1t wa5 sheir
presence. ready at an hours notice for any
emergency, that overawed the enemy and
| proved TO him that further resistance
would be IN vain.
Death Rate Of the Army.
.srhe deaths in the army from May TO
October !, including killed, died OF wounds
and OF disease, were 2.910. the smallest
| death rate recorded of any army In history,
remarkable fact when 1t is considered
that over $4,000 of our troops, born and
reared in the temperate zone, were cam
| paigntng in tropical climates, subject 10
| rain and heat almost unprecedented .
Wants Army of 100000 Men.
Under the head of increase in the perma-
nent establishment the secretary says: In
view OF the needs of military force in the
islands occupied by the United States, IL
! Is earnestly recommended that the regu-
| lar army be permanently increased to
100000 men and the requisite officers. that
port. of this army be recruited from
| the habttants OF those ISLANDS, to be mus
tered into the service OF the United States.
commanded by officers OF our army. dis
erection. however, 10 be given to tha pres
| ident 30 make appointments of officers
from the force so recruited.
Estimates.
The statement OF expenditures and esti-
mates presents some formidable figures
| Tho expenditures for the fiscal year ended
| june 80 last were So. 534. 7S4. and tho esti-
mates for the next fiscal year. beginning
5aly l. 1889, ara s195.250.S77. OF his
| great estimate the sum OF $50, $4,000 IL
| charged TO pay of the army. The estimate
| OF extraordinary appropriations required
! for tho six months ending Juno 30, 1893 are
| $aa la, $50, aud the estimate for that period.
| combined with those for tho next fiscal
| year, reach a total o. $685. 427.9l7
Recon- IA n dations.
Next follow a number OF reports OF va
rtous officers and officials 10 the score
| tary OK war some of which are Endorsed by
tho se4s etary. OF Inc military academy.
for Instance, he Endorses the reoommsnda-
Iaon fox an increase OF the number OF ca
dets By 40 annually. TO be appointed by
tina president, and one by each senator to
supply tha officers needed for the army OF
| ths future
Tho secretary says the Red Cross and
other relief associations contributed in
very large degree to the care and com
forts of our sick soldiers and should re-
eeiys the grateful thanks OF the nation
Tbs secretary calls attention 10 Surgeon
General Sternbergx circular OF instructions
to tho army, issued April %. and says had
It been strictly followed less sickness Guild
have resulted.
Our Dead In Cuba.
Ths graves or the soldiers al Santiago
IN Porto Rico and the Philippines have
been marked, and their remains will be
brought home as soon as the plans are
completed
The entire report of the secretary OF
war forms one OF the most voluminous
Documents Of the kind ever issued from the
war department..