Willmar tribune., 1899-02-22
THE WAR BOARD REPORTS
The Commission Appointed by the
President Makes Public the
Result of Its Work.
HONESTY IN ALL BRANCHES IS SHOWN.
Only q Few Errors Occurred in the
War-No Intentional Neglect Is
Found-Gen. Miles II Censured for
Not Doing His Whole Duty-San-
tiago Campaign Reviewed.

submitted to the president last Wednes-
Gay by the commission appointed by
him to investigate the conduct of the
war department in the war with Spain
was made public last night. The re-
voluminous document containing
about IS, 900 words, and an official alb
stract, prepared by the secretary of
the commission, was furnished to the
press for its convenience.
The Organization.
In telling of the organization and
methods employed by the commission
the report says:
The commission organized on septem-
ber "a, electing Gen. Grenvlle Dodge pres
ident, Charles DENLY vice president and
Richard Weightman secretary. Gen. James
A. Beaver was designated to conduct the
examination of witnesses: Lieut. Col. r.
B. Jones, chief quartermaster of volun-
teers, was detailed by the war department
c. Mills. U. S. A., was appointed by the
president as recorder. On Monday, Sep
tember 26. the commission convened in
regular session.
The War Department..
1.-The records of the war department,
which have been laid before us, show that
the secretary of war extended to all chiefs
of bureaus cordial and full support, and
promptly responded to every prompt de-
mand made upon him by the commanding
officers.
mo testimony has been presented show
Ing intentional neglect of duty nor any at
tempt to serve personal interests. The
charges made that the secretary of war
was pecunarily interested in contracts,
nd hor fron nfi nf %
war department have been thoroughly ex-
amined and found baseless.
In the judgment of the commission there
was lacking in the general administration
of the war department during the con-
tinuance of the war with Spain that COM
plete grasp of the situation which was es-
sential to the highest efficiency and disci-
pline of the army
other Departments.
In regard to the adjutant generals de-
partment the report shows the greatest
amount of work done by Brig. Gen. H. c.
Corbin and his assistants. In the face of
all this it says there have been very few
complaints against this department.
The commission finds that the depart
ment of the inspector general Brig. Gen.
j. C. Breckenridge. was not as efficient as
it should have been. There seems to have
been question as to the authority by which
inspections were to be ordered, and in
one case the instructions of the secretary
of war were ignored.
The medical department comes in for a
share of reproval. for lack of supplies and
shortage of nurses. Suggestions are made
of precautionary measures to avoid such
conditions in the future.
No evidences of corruption in the letting
OF contracts. the selection Of camp sites
or other business transacted were found
by the commission. volunteers and reg
hor t1,yo A4lt -
intrusted to their care.
Suhsistence.
OF the department under charge of Gen.
Eagan as commissary general, the report
says: THE commission has carefully in
Vestigated the subject of the condition.
quality and quantity Of the food supplied
to the army. Almost without exception it
has been shown by the testimony taken
that wherever the troops were ordered,
Whether to the various camps in the United
States or in Porto Rico. Cuba and Manila,
the rations prescribed by law were on the
transports and at the camps with the SOL
diers.
Gen. Miles Censured.
Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles. the command
for months the charges and complaints
regarding the meat. 1t is stated that al
though he claimed to know the soldiers
were being fed meat which might injure
their health. he permitted the matter to
pass unnoticed for months. until he was
called before the inquiry board. Gen.
Miles is also found to have retarded the
work OF the inspector generals depart
ment by claiming to himself the sole right
to order inspections. DR.. Daily, of Gen.
Miles staff. is also scored for delaying off,
ciai reports on what he claimed to have
found in the beef
Review of the Camps.
In its review of the camps, the COM
mission finds that Chickamauga park.
Camp Thomas. was bad owing to its loca-
tion. Camp Alger was "undesirable:'
Camp Cuba Ltbre. Jacksonville. Fla. is
Fernandina. Fla, was IA
vorable: Miami. Fla. unsuitable: Tampa.
Fla. was acceptable; Camp Wikof. Mon
tauk Point. ''an ideal place, but occupied
before 1t was ready" Admission. Ala. {:
Huntsville. Ala: Knoxville. Tenn: Lex
ceilent.
The Santiago Campaign.
''The result OF the Santiago campaign
was the complete realization Of the several
objects contemplated: The capture of the
city with its Notifications and munitions
OF war. together with immense supplies Of
foodstuffs and ammunition (the former es-
timated by Gen. Wood at 200 900 rations):
the surrender Of the entire province Of
Santiago de Cuba. with all the troops gar
risoning the same (amounting, as already
stated. to between q, 900 and 24;OO0); the de-
struction by the navy of Admiral Cervera' S
feet after its departure from the harbor.
and the general generalization of the
Spanish forces and the discontinue of the
Spanish government and people, leading
almost Immediately to overtures for peace
by Spain. All this was accomplished with
out the loss of a prisoner. a gun or a
color. and with list Of casualties aggre-
eating in killed less than 250. in wounded.
less than l.4N0-losses which. in comparison
with results. are less than have ever here
tofore occurred in modern warfare"
Conclusion.
The report closes as follows: I'm con-
cluding It's labors it is with much pleas
ure that the commission reports that not
wtthstanding the haste. with which the
nation entered upon the war with Spain.
the resulting and almost inevitable con-
fusion in bureau and camp. the many diff
culties Of arming. assembling and trans
porting large bodies of hitherto unframed
men. the carrying on of active operations
In two hemispheres. the people of the
United States should ever be proud OF
Its soldiers. who. cooperating with Its sail
ors. put an end to Spanish colonial power
enfranchtsed oppressed people. and taught
the world at large the strength and nobil.
ity Of the great republic" ~ r
i Actress IL Bankrupt. .%&"1,